Cushion Clock
Solo living room game for tiny sole-of-the-foot control in every direction.
At a glance
- Put 4 cushions round your child like a clock, at 12, 3, 6 and 9, one big step out. Your child stands in the middle with the ball.
- Using only the sole, your child rolls the ball out to touch the 12 cushion and pulls it back. Then 3, 6 and 9.
- One lap of all four is one clock. Count the clocks in 60 seconds, then try to beat it next time.
- Progress 1: Practice foot only for the whole 60 seconds.
- Progress 2: You call 12, 3, 6 or 9 and your child goes to that cushion and back.
If it's not working: Move the cushions closer, about half a metre.
- your child
- dribble
- 1in this order
Your child stands in the middle with four cushions round them like a clock, one big step away at 12, 3, 6 and 9. Using only the sole, they roll the ball out to touch the 12 cushion and pull it back, then do the same to 3, 6 and 9. All four is one clock. Drawn bigger than life so it reads on a phone.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- Your child stands in the middle with the ball.
- Place the 4 cushions like a clock, at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, each 1 m (one big step) from the middle.
A clear 2 m by 2 m patch of floor (about 3 giant steps each way) in the living room.
How to play
- Using only the sole, your child rolls the ball to touch the 12 o'clock cushion and pulls it back to the middle, then does 3, 6 and 9.
- One lap of all four is one clock.
- Count the clocks in 60 seconds, then try to beat that number next time.
- Finish with one lap using the practice foot only.
Make it easier
- Move the cushions closer (half a metre).
- Allow any part of the foot.
Make it harder, step by step
- Practice foot only for the whole 60 seconds.
- You call 12, 3, 6 or 9 and your child goes to that cushion and back.
- Go anticlockwise.
Three things to say
- Soft touches, like stroking a cat.
- Keep going when the ball runs away.
- Only beat your own score, nobody else's.
Colts habit
Work hard for the full 60 seconds.
Both feet
Finish with a practice-foot lap.
Heads up
Feel the ball, look at the next cushion.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- One cushion at a time is fine and no clock is needed.
- 2016 to 2017
- Alternate feet on every cushion.
Safety: Use a soft or indoor ball. Clear breakables from the patch of floor.
My best
Clocks in 60 seconds. Last time and this time. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.