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Practice games

Flamingo Freeze

Balance on one leg like a flamingo while a grown-up counts, then swap legs.

At home 5 min 1 to 2 players Indoors Garden Park With a grown-up On your own Under 5s and 2016 to 2021

Moving Well Work hard

At a glance

  • Your child stands on one leg, arms out like wings, next to a wall or sofa to grab if they wobble.
  • Count slowly out loud. When the lifted foot touches down, remember the number, then swap legs.
  • Do it again, looking at one spot on the wall. Try to beat last time's count on each leg.
  • Progress 1: Your child holds a ball above their head while balancing.
  • Progress 2: Your child passes the ball slowly round their waist while balancing.

If it's not working: Keep one hand resting on the wall or sofa while balancing.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips

Set up

  • Stand somewhere clear, near a wall or sofa to grab if wobbly.

Anywhere.

How to play

  • Your child stands on one leg with arms out like wings.
  • You count slowly out loud.
  • When the lifted foot touches down, note the number and swap legs.
  • Try again, looking at one spot on the wall.
  • Beat last time's count on each leg.

Make it easier

  • Keep one hand resting on the wall or sofa while balancing.
  • Lift the foot just a little off the floor instead of high up.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Your child holds a ball above their head while balancing.
  2. Your child passes the ball slowly round their waist while balancing.
  3. Then they pass it round their waist and under the lifted leg, like a figure of eight.

Three things to say

  • Look at one still spot and keep the standing knee soft.

Colts habit

Work hard, hold it a count longer.

Both feet

Both legs get a turn, every time.

Heads up

Eyes on one spot on the wall.

For your birth year

Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.

Under 5s
Let them hold the grown-up's hand or the sofa. Skip noting the number: every wobbly flamingo gets a big cheer.

Safety: Stand near a wall or sofa to grab if wobbly. Clear toys off the floor.

My best

Count on the left leg, last time and this time. Count on the right leg, last time and this time. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.