Tummy, Bottom and Knee Travelers
On mat pathways, kids travel using different body parts: crawling on their tummy, scooting on their bottom, on their knees, on their back. Kids discover which parts help them move, and practice crawling and whole-body coordination.
How to play
- Lay mats in two or three parallel paths so there's no long line: travel down on the mats and walk back along the outside.
- Teacher demo: "Today we travel on our tummies, like snakes." Several kids start each path at once and walk back (3 min).
- Second trip: "On your bottom!" Sitting, kids push with hands and feet (3 min).
- Third trip: "On your knees!" and then "On your back!", lying face up and pushing with the feet (5 min).
- Free trip: each child chooses a body part to travel on and says which one they used at the end (3 min).
- To finish, everyone lies on the mats and feels which parts touch the floor (1 min).
Rules
- Start once the child ahead has moved well along.
- Nobody lies or stands on a classmate.
- Always walk back outside the path.
- Travel only on the mats.
Variations
Easier
Only tummy and bottom, with the teacher alongside cheering.
Standard
Four ways to travel and choosing one at the end.
Harder
Travel on two chosen parts, like bottom and one hand, or in pairs holding hands.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: help the child onto the mat if possible, or roll the path in the wheelchair moving the named part.
- Low vision: mark path edges with ropes and have a buddy call from the end.
- Different skill levels: short paths for kids who tire; for skilled kids, add a foam cushion to crawl over.
Learning goals
- Travel using different body parts for support.
- Recognize which body parts help them move.
- Coordinate arms and legs while crawling.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 12
Teacher tip
Ask for comfy clothes without zippers that day. A simple story helps: snakes, crabs, seals… each animal travels on a different part.
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