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Practice games

Stepping Stones Trail

Step on every stone, go around the rocks and through the grown-up tunnel, then walk back and go again.

At home 5 min 2 to 3 players Indoors Garden With a grown-up Under 5s

Moving Well Me and My Ball Be brave

At a glance

  • Lay cushions or paper plates as stepping stones and a few cones as rocks. Stand at the far end, legs apart, as the tunnel.
  • Your child steps on every stone, goes round the rocks and through your tunnel, then walks back and goes again.
  • If a rock gets touched, everyone throws their hands up and shouts Whoosh!
  • Progress 1: Stage 2: carry a ball, roll it through the tunnel and crawl after it. For the youngest, that is the whole game.
  • Progress 2: Stage 3: nudge the ball with a foot, walk to it, nudge again, then one last nudge through the tunnel.

If it's not working: Fewer stones, closer together, and no rocks.

Stepping Stones Trail: set-upGtunnelstonesrocks1231 every stone, 2 round therocks, 3 through the tunnel.
  • your child
  • Ggrown-up
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  • 1in this order

Stepping stones in a line, a couple of rocks to go round, and the grown-up standing at the far end with legs apart as the tunnel. Your child steps on every stone, goes round the rocks and through the tunnel, then walks back and goes again. Stage 1 has no ball; in stage 2 they carry the ball, roll it through the tunnel and crawl after it.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips

Set up

  • Lay a few flat markers (or cushions, or paper plates) as stepping stones and a few cones as rocks.
  • At the far end, the grown-up stands with legs apart as a tunnel.

Indoors or garden.

How to play

  • The child steps on every stone, goes around the rocks and through the tunnel, then walks back and goes again.
  • Stage 1: no ball.
  • Stage 2: carry the ball, roll it through the tunnel and crawl after it. For the youngest, that is the whole game.
  • Stage 3: nudge the ball with a foot, walk to it, nudge it again, and one last nudge through the tunnel.
  • If a rock gets touched, everyone throws their hands up and shouts Whoosh!

Stages

Stage 1No ball.Stage 2Carry the ball, roll it through the tunnel and crawl after it. For the youngest, that is the whole game.Stage 3Nudge the ball with a foot, walk to it, nudge it again, and one last nudge through the tunnel.

Make it easier

  • Fewer stones, closer together, and no rocks.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. At stage 3, make the tunnel a little narrower.
  2. Add a second tunnel on the way back, so the ball goes through twice.

Three things to say

  • Body first, then the ball in the hands, then the ball at the feet.
  • One instruction at a time.
  • Every wobble gets the same cheer as a perfect go.

Words that work: "Whoosh!"

Colts habit

Be brave: go again after a wobble.

Both feet

Nudge with either foot.

Heads up

Look at the next stone.

Safety: Flat, soft markers only, nothing that slides or trips. Clear the floor. The grown-up stays close.

Keeping score: Not counted. Cheers only.