Sack Race Treasure Hunt
Use old pillowcases to allow children to explore jumping in a sack in a fun, no pressure environment. Good for any skill level.
Scatter toys and balls all around your environment. Give each child a pillowcase/jumping sack. Place one bucket centrally in your playing space - this is the treasure chest. Children get in their pillowcase, holding it up by their waist - ready to play.
Step 1:
- When you say "Go!", children jump around the house/yard, looking for the toys you have hidden
- When they find one, they collect it, and jump back to the bucket, dropping it in there
Step 2:
- Continue looking for all the treasure!
Step 3:
- Play again after letting children rest, hiding the treasure in new places
- Hide the treasure closer to the bucket
- To give children a rest - if playing with more than one child, allow them to take turns (a relay!)
- Spread the treasure out over greater distances
Jumping in a sack may be difficult for some children, as they aren't able to use their arms. Let them have a turn first, taking their time to explore this new movement. Encourage them to;
- Jump like a kangaroo (arms stay close to the body)
- Keep their eyes up
- Keep their feet together (under their shoulders, as opposed to a leaping action)
- Everyone works together to collect all the treasure as quick as they can - can all the treasure be collected in 5 minutes?