Beanbag Balances
A simple activity to develop balance. Children can be as creative as they like with the balances they come up with! Use ziplock bags with rice, small soft toys or other beanbag type objects you might have at home.
How to play
Step 1
- Children spread out, facing you
Step 2
- Select a balance challenge, such as:
- With a beanbag on your head, sit down
- With a beanbag on your head, take 4 steps forward
- With a beanbag on your shoulder, turn around
- With a beanbag on the back of your hand, write your name on a piece of paper with your other hand
- With a beanbag on your back, crawl to the couch
- With a beanbag on top of your foot, hop twice
Step 3
- Children must attempt the challenge without dropping the beanbag
- Once the children have all attempted, introduce a new challenge
Variations
Make it easier
- Keep the challenges simple! Try balancing it on top of your head and dropping it into your hands
- Join in with your child - demonstrate good balancing technique for them to copy
Make it harder
- Try balancing the beanbag on the top of your foot!
- Try transferring beanbags between partners (hands/feet) without dropping them
- Create an obstacle course in your area to navigate while balancing
Activity information
Age: 3-5 years, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Participants: 1
+
Equipment: Beanbags
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching
General tips for balancing include;
- Head up
- Aeroplane arms
- Eyes forward looking at something ahead of them e.g. the clock or a tree
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
- Let the child choose somewhere to balance the beanbag on
- Use music to create a musical beanbag balancing mashup!
- Let the child choose a challenge to complete
- Have a variety of objects available to balance - try small soft toys, a small bag of rice, or even a water balloon for a fun challenge!