Two Trees Leaning Together

In pairs, children are two trees holding hands who lean back at the same time as a counterweight and sway together in the wind. It builds balance, trust in a partner's grip, and swaying together.

How to play

1. The teacher demonstrates with a child: face to face, toes close, holding hands; both lean back a little at the same time and come back (2 min).
2. Pairs sway side to side like trees in a breeze, without letting go (1 min).
3. Counterweight: they lean back very slowly with straight arms and come back together at “Straight trunk!” (2 min).
4. Switch partners: find another tree about your height and try squatting and rising together while leaning (2 min).
5. Strong wind: they sway forward, back, and side to side following the teacher's voice, always holding on (2 min).
6. The wind stops: the trees let go slowly, sit on the mat, and breathe (1 min).

Rules

• I hold wrists, not clothes.
• We both lean at the same time, slowly.
• Nobody lets go suddenly.
• If I feel scared, I stand straight and say so.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: in a wheelchair, holding hands with a standing or seated partner, they lean back a little and sway.
• Size differences: pair children of similar height and weight.
• Visual impairment: hand contact gives the information; the partner announces “Leaning back… coming up.”

Learning goals

• Keep balance by leaning on another person.
• Sway in sync with a partner.
• Trust a classmate's grip.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Mats: 6

Teacher tip

Put mats behind the pairs in case someone lets go. The usual problem is one leans and the other doesn't: have them look at each other and count “one, two, three” together.

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