Stop And Go Freeze
What you need
- open floor space
How to do it
- Say 'go!' and run together on the spot or across the room.
- Shout 'stop!' and freeze like a statue.
- Repeat, mixing up how long you run each time.
- Let your toddler shout 'stop!' for you too.
Why it matters
Learning to run then freeze on a word helps your toddler's body catch up to their brain, which is the skill behind sitting still when it matters.
What they're learning
- impulse control
- Freezing on command practises the stop-and-think pause they'll need for road safety and turn-taking games.
- listening under motion
- Following a spoken instruction while their body is busy running is harder than it looks, and it builds classroom listening skills.
- gross motor speed
- Sprinting short bursts builds the leg strength and coordination behind running games at nursery.
What to look for
Watch for them freezing within a second or two of your call, even if a wobble follows.
A tip
Keep the runs short (5-8 seconds) so freezing stays fun and doesn't feel like a punishment for stopping.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: walk instead of run, and give a countdown before 'stop'
Harder: add 'go slow' and 'go fast' calls to mix up the speeds
