Washing My Feet in the Cool Stream

Barefoot and seated, children imagine dipping their feet in a cool stream and washing them with their hands: toe by toe, the sole, the heel and the ankles. It works on self-massage and getting to know their own feet.

How to play

1. Take off your sneakers and sit on the floor: we've walked a long way and found a stream (1 min).
2. Dip your feet in the cool water and wiggle your toes as if splashing slowly (1 min).
3. Wash each toe, from the big one to the tiny one, rubbing it gently (1 min).
4. Rub the sole in little circles with a closed fist and squeeze the heel; then the other foot (1 min).
5. Take your feet out of the water, pat them dry and let them rest in the sun (1 min).

Rules

• Everyone washes their own feet.
• I rub gently, no pinching.
• No splashing stream water on others.
• We do it quietly, listening to the water.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: if they can't reach their feet, they wash their hands and arms with the same story.
• Autism: socks can stay on, or they can use a scarf to rub if direct touch bothers them.
• Visual impairment: describe the stream in detail and guide their hand to the first toe.

Learning goals

• Learn the parts of the foot.
• Relax the feet with self-massage.
• Enjoy a calm sensation.

Teacher tip

Do this when the floor is clean and not cold, or on mats. Playing water or stream sounds in the background makes the image even stronger.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary