Pick it up, put it down

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Age
2-5
Equipment
Lots of different things to pick up (balls, stuffed animals, books, etc)
Something to create a beat (drum, clapping hands, banging on metal etc)
Physical Activity

Flexibility, strength
 

How to Play

Spread all the equipment out in the space. When the adult makes the beat, the children move to the rhythm. When the beat stops, the children have to pick up the closest object to them as fast as possible. When the beat starts again, the children places the object on the floor and begins to move again. 

Change it up / Alternatives / Additional Options
  • To enhance the activity, use visual cues to illustrate the time to pick up and put down. These can be simple objects such as coloured pieces of paper, or more complicated such as using different coloured lights. 
  • If you have someone who has a gross motor limitation or uses a wheelchair, place tables or other high areas around the space that they can place their objects down on and pick them up from. 

Source – Adapted from Early Impact Learning