Rocket blast-off

From the house

• A clear patch of floor
• A cushion to land on

How to play

1. Crouch down low together with your hands pressed into a point over your heads, like the nose of a rocket.
2. Count down slowly, “Five, four, three, two, one…”, rumbling the engines louder each time.
3. “Blast off!” Jump up as high as you can and zoom around the room.
4. Zoom to the Moon and land softly on the cushion. Ready for another countdown?

Fit it to your child

• Easier: Count down from three and hold their hands as they jump.
• Harder: Count down from ten, and after blast-off float around the room in slow motion, like astronauts in a space station.

Words to use

• rocket
• five, four, three, two, one
• blast off
• up
• land

Why it helps

Waiting for “one” before jumping builds self-control, and counting backward like a real launch crew stretches their number sense.