Follow the Leader

A great brain break, or transitional activity that requires no equipment. 

follow the leader set up image
Set up

Children line up behind the leader (educator). Ideas for movements include;

  • Running
  • Jumping
  • Walking backwards
  • High knees
  • Heel flicks
  • Hopping
  • Skipping
  • Walking on tip-toes
  • Animal movements (crawl like a bear, jump like a frog)
  • Transport movements (fly like an aeroplane)
How to play
Step 1:
  • The educator begins moving around the space, while the children follow. 
  • Try different locomotor skills, ideas for movements include;
    • Running
    • Jumping
    • Walking backwards
    • High knees
    • Heel flicks
    • Hopping
    • Skipping
    • Walking on tip-toes
    • Animal movements (crawl like a bear, jump like a frog)
    • Transport movements (fly like an aeroplane)
Step 2
  • Children remain in the line and follow the movements 
Step 3
  • The educator continues, swapping leaders and changing locomotor skills as desired
Variations
Make it easier
  • This game can be done as a transition activity in a classroom - use smaller, more controlled movements
Make it harder
  • This game can be done as a warm up activity outside - you can allow children to move more freely (in the line!), and get creative with their movements
  • Change movements quickly, or call out trick challenges, such as "walk like an elephant", but you walk on your tiptoes like a giraffe, to encourage children to keep their eyes on you
Activity information
Age: 0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-5 years
Participants: 1 +
Duration: 5 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Balancing Running Jumping Hopping Galloping
Skill teaching

Explore balance teaching cues, or any trickier poses before playing. Use the following teaching cues to support this;

  1. Head up
  2. Aeroplane arms
  3. Eyes forward looking at something ahead of them e.g. tree
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
  • Choose movements accessible to all children
  • Let a child have a turn at being the leader
  • Call out "change directions!" and the line flips, with the back of the line becoming the leader
  • Make a story up as you go along - “We’re going on a bear hunt ...”