Move & balance

Push and roll together

Push and roll a large soft toy across the floor together.

10 minutes

What you'll need

Large one-piece soft toy labelled suitable for children under 3 · Clear floor space

Before you start

Can move independently in their usual way

Best fit: either · active energy · medium caregiver effort · low mess

How to play

  1. Sit together on a clear floor.
  2. Push the toy slowly toward each other with open hands.
  3. Pause immediately when your child releases or turns away.
Make it easier

Place the toy close enough for one gentle push.

Standard

Push and roll a large soft toy across the floor together.

Extend it

Roll the toy around one flat floor marker without pulling or attaching anything.

What you might notice

Graded force, shared timing and stop signals.

Keep it safe

Use no towel, scarf, cord, tugging or resistance. Inspect the under-3 one-piece toy, keep play on a clear dry level floor within arm's reach, stop mouthing or throwing, and store it afterward.

Why it may be useful

This adds a short burst of active play with room to practise balance, coordination and whole-body movement.

practice guidance

General movement guidance for healthy children; adapt for individual abilities and environments.

Truelove et al. (2017) — Defining and Measuring Active Play Among Young Children: A Systematic Review

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (2026) — Recommendations for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (birth to 5 years)

Raising Children Network (2025) — Toddler play: ideas, games and activities

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