Jack in the Box

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Age
2-4
Equipment
None
Physical Activity

Jumping

How to Play

Give each child a spot or place to stand. Tell the kids they are a jack in the box and have to bend down low until someone opens their lid. When all the kids are squatting, you can open all the children’s boxes at once by shouting a command or go around individually to each child to open their box by tapping them on the shoulder. 

Change it up / Alternatives / Additional Options

-    If a child needs assistance, hold their hands for support in jumping. 
-    After the first box is opened, add more jumps when the box opens the next times to build numeracy skills and difficulty
-    Change the movement to hopping
-    If you have a participant who uses a wheelchair, encourage the child to jump to the best of their ability. This could be by getting low in their chair and sitting back up, pushing out of their seat or other explosive movements (depending on function).
-    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 – adapted from Kids at Play (Australian Capital Territory Government)