Doll Rescue Team

1. 1

   Meet a friend outdoors for an animal-rescue teamwork game.

2. 2

   Place several toy animals under a tree, on a bench, and beside the grass. Use a small backpack as a “stretcher” and explain, “The animals are hurt and cannot move. You need to carry them back safely.”

3. 3

   Let the children decide which animal to rescue first and how many to carry at once. When they have a plan, each child holds one end of the backpack and they carry the animal back together.

4. 4

   If an animal starts to wobble, invite the children to stop and discuss new jobs. One might lead the way while the other steadies the animal.

5. 5

   If they disagree about which animal to rescue next, encourage them to suggest a solution: Should they help the nearest animal first or the one farthest away?

6. 6

   Once they agree, encourage them to remind each other of the plan and set off toward the next animal together.

What to notice

• Plans with a friend how to share the jobs and carry a toy animal back safely Relationships with Other Children
• Coordinates movements with a friend to keep the toy animal from falling Gross Motor

Tips

• Children may grab for the same object or disagree while working together. Observe before stepping in and give them a chance to talk and try their own solution.
• Their plan does not need to be perfect. Discussing and adjusting it together is part of learning to cooperate.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Planning the rescue order, dividing roles, and transporting toy animals together gives your child experience coordinating with a peer toward a shared goal.
• Movement: Adjusting their own movements to carry a toy with a partner gives your child practice coordinating the body with another person’s pace and position.