Choo-Choo Clean-Up

Age
0-5 years
Child Development
Physical health and well-being; social responsibility (working with others, express positive regard for environment/property).
Equipment
Any toys or things that need to be cleaned up
Physical Activity

This activity aims to develop the fundamental movement skills of locomotion (walking), balance, and coordination.

How to Play

1. The “clean-up train” is made up of at least one adult and one toddler, with no more than four people in total.

2. Each person holds on to the shirt or waist of the person in front of them to hold the train together.

3. The front person acts like the engine while holding a small bucket or basket.

4. The train chugs along through a room (or outdoors) looking for toys to put away.

5. The front person stops and picks up the toys, and then places them in the bucket.

6. The whole train moves to put the toys away where they belong.

7. Let everyone have a turn being the “engine.”

Change it up / Alternatives / Additional Options
  • To do this with a larger group, create more trains or give each train a specific type of toy or colour of toy to pick up.
  • If you have a participant who uses a wheelchair, ensure the participants behind the chair do not hold on to the chair as this will make wheeling the chair very difficult. Or, the child behind could assist by pushing the wheelchair.
  •  If you have a child with another type of disability not mentioned above, they may be able to participate in this activity without adaptations or modifications.

Source: MOVE