Jogo Behaviour Support Blog
Frozen Shoes Activity Friday, 2 August 2013
Frozen
Shoes
(adapted from Orlick, T. (1982) The Second Cooperative
Sports & Games book, New York: Random House)
This game is a fantastic
game for developing self-regulation. Self
regulation is a necessary skill for children to learn and it reportedly helps
with their academic attainment. The game can be played by groups, families and
pairs. It is an inexpensive, simple and fun game that can be played in the
classroom, outside, at home or in the therapy room.
How to play:
Each person walks, hops, spins, runs, or dances around
while balancing an upside-down shoe on her head. If the shoe falls off, the
child is frozen and a friend must pick up the shoe and replace it on the frozen
child's head-upside-down-to unfreeze her.
To increase the challenge for older children, this
game can be played in pairs or small groups. Two or three people link together
and move around as a unit, each with a shoe on his head. If anyone drops a shoe
his whole group is frozen, and another group must unfreeze them as a unit. To
do this rescuing, the group must all squat down together, pick up the dropped
shoe(s), and replace them on the frozen group's heads, without losing their own
shoes in the process. If one of the helpers' shoes drops to the floor, both
groups are frozen. Adding music that makes you feel like moving gives a little
spice to the game.
Variations:
Other items could be used instead of shoes.
Benefits of playing this game:
- Develops children’s self-regulation skills
- Develops play skills essential for healthy development
- Develops working together skills
- Develops their language and communication skills
- Develops relationships and social skills
- Develops gross motor skills
- Develops sharing and waiting skills
- It is fun, cheap, highly beneficial and simple.