Animal Stretches #

When our feelings become too big, it can feel like they are going to burst out of our bodies. It can feel like we might lose control.

Stretching can help us use up some of that emotion. It can help us to calm our bodies.

Let us give them a try!

Don't forget to breathe slowly as you stretch!

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Elephant Stretch #

• Bring your hands together in front of your body and link your fingers together. This is your trunk.
• Now with your trunk stretch up as high as you can. You want to pick the best fruit at the top of the trees. So, s-t-r-e-t-c-h!
• After all that good fruit, you must be getting thirsty. Reach down with your trunk to get some water from the ground.

Can your trunk touch the ground?

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Monkey Swing #

What is a monkey’s favourite thing to do? Swinging from branches in the trees.

So, let us pretend we are monkeys.

• Stretch your arms out from side to side as far as you can. You have to s-t-r-e-t-c-h to grab the next branch! Now let us swing through the trees. Move from side to side as you go!

Oh no! A lion! Quickly curl into a ball as tightly as you can. We don’t want the lion to see us!

• Has he gone? He is gone now, we can stretch and swing again from side to side.

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Frog Jump #

This time, we are going to pretend that we are frogs!

• Place your feet wide apart.
• Crouch down as low as you can. How close can you get your bottom to the ground?
• Place your hands in front of you. Can they reach the ground too?

Now push up through your feet and jump as high as you can. Don’t forget to stretch your arms!

• Come back to a crouching position. Can you jump 3 times in a row?