Hopscotch without a wobble
You will follow a hopscotch route with one foot in single squares. Keeping each landing controlled can be harder than remembering the order.
- Move
- Starter
- About 15 minutes
Grown-up needed: yes for checking the space and supervising movement
The film shows chalk and a small stone. This page uses a route made by a grown-up and a soft rolled sock, so follow the page.
What you need
- A grown-up-made ten-square route on a clear nonslip surface
- A soft rolled sock marker
- A grown-up
The rule
One foot in single squares.
How to do it
- Ask a grown-up to prepare and check a suitable route.
- Walk through the square order first.
- Place a soft sock marker in the first target square.
- Hop gently through single squares only if comfortable.
- Use paired squares as the route indicates.
- Stop and step out when balance or comfort changes.
Why it works
Landing involves slowing your downward movement and positioning your weight over the supporting foot or feet. Bending comfortably at the joints allows muscles to control that slowing over a movement rather than an abrupt rigid stop. A single square asks for one-foot support, while paired squares can provide a wider support area. The marked sequence also gives a planning task. These observations describe the movement without guaranteeing that one technique prevents every fall or suits every child.
Make it harder
- Explain the route before moving.
- Compare single-square and paired-square support.
- Predict where a change in the route would require a different landing plan.
Ask Taz
- Why does a single-foot landing need balance?
- Why do comfortable bends help control a landing?
- Why does planning the route help the movement?
For grown-ups
A grown-up prepares the route without loose edges or slippery marks. Use a soft marker instead of the film’s stone, and choose observation or walking if hopping is unsuitable. Stop before tiredness affects control. Ask at dinner: “Where did the route ask you to change your support from one foot to two?”
Taz is an AI and can be wrong, so stay close by. Read how safety works on Taz.
Show us yours
Film your hands and what you made, not your face or name. Ask a grown-up before posting anywhere else.
Questions parents ask
Does the child need to reach the film’s target?
No. The film shows an example, not a required performance. Begin with a short comfortable attempt and stop whenever needed. The useful result is a description of what happened, and the stated time estimates preparation and discussion as well as the activity.
Can we adapt the movement?
Yes. Choose a comfortable version with a grown-up, or discuss the film instead of doing the action. Say clearly when the adaptation changes the stated challenge rule. Avoid making the activity faster, longer or less stable simply to make it harder.
Do we need to share a video?
No. Talking about the attempt at home is enough. Follow the privacy line above for any optional sharing.
More to try
See all Taz Challenges, or look through the science labs. One place for every why. Ask for early access at aitaz.com