Executive function
Toddlers observe a game of freeze.
Be Prepared: Arrange for an adult to help you with the activity.
[Invite several toddlers to watch a fun game.]
We are going to learn about a new game! Our game is called the Freeze Game.
What do you think it means to freeze?
[Pause for toddlers to respond. Positively acknowledge their responses.]
We can freeze our body by stopping what we are doing and holding our body still. Please watch me freeze my body.
[Demonstrate moving and then freezing your body in a still position. You may wish to be silly. This should be a fun activity!]
We are going to use music to play our game! I am going to dance when I hear the music. I am going to freeze when the music stops! I will listen carefully to the music so I know whether to dance or to hold my body still.
[Play music as you move around in dance-like motions for several seconds. Have another adult stop the music as you freeze in place.]
I had fun dancing! What did I do when the music stopped?
[Pause for toddlers to respond. Repeat and expand their comments. Emphasize the word freeze.]
I am going to play the game again! Watch what I do when the music plays and when the music stops!
[Move with enthusiasm to show you are having fun with the game! Remember, toddlers do not care how you look when you dance. They will simply enjoy the time with you!]
We learned about a new game today! You watched me dance when the music was playing. What did I do when the music stopped? (froze, stood still) I listened closely to the music to know when to dance and when to freeze. This is a fun game!
Executive function
Toddlers participate in a game of freeze with caregiver guidance.
Be Prepared: Arrange for an adult to help you with the activity.
Invite several toddlers to play a game called the Freeze Game. Demonstrate what it means to freeze your body. Invite toddlers to watch you demonstrate how the game is played. Example: “I am going to dance when the music is playing. Listen for the music and watch what I do when the music stops!” Have another adult manage the music. Dancing enthusiastically and freezing in a silly pose will increase the toddlers’ interest in the activity!
After demonstrating how the game works, invite toddlers to join you in the Freeze Game. Example: “Now I am going to play the music again, and you can dance with me! We need to listen carefully! What do we do when the music stops?”
Play the music and encourage toddlers to dance with you. Remind toddlers to be careful to not bump into each other. Offer verbal prompts. Example: “We can hear the music. It is time for us to dance.” “Our music has stopped. That means it is time for us to freeze our bodies.”
Freeze in an exaggerated position when the music stops and encourage toddlers to do the same. Draw attention to what you are doing.
Continue to play the game for several minutes while toddlers are engaged and enjoying the activity.
Acknowledge toddlers’ efforts to listen to the music and remember what to do. Example: “We listened carefully to the music, and we remembered to stop moving our bodies when the music stopped! This is a fun game to play together!”
Executive function
Toddlers participate in a game of freeze with minimal caregiver guidance.
Invite several toddlers to play the Freeze Game. Demonstrate how the game works. Example: “We dance when the music plays. We freeze our bodies when the music stops. How do we freeze our bodies?” You may wish to invite toddlers to practice shifting from moving their bodies to freezing their bodies. Emphasize the importance of listening carefully to the music and remembering what to do.
Play the music and encourage toddlers to dance any way they wish without bumping into each other. This option is an opportunity for toddlers to engage in the Freeze Game with minimal guidance from you. But do not hesitate to offer verbal support if it appears toddlers need a reminder of what to do.
Continue the game for several minutes or until toddlers lose interest. Conclude the activity by reminding toddlers that we worked hard to listen carefully and remember what to do with our bodies. We had fun!
This simple game involves important aspects of self-regulation: paying attention to whether music is playing, remembering what to do, and holding one’s body in a still position. Watch toddlers’ approaches to each of these tasks and offer verbal support or demonstrations as needed. This is one reason it is helpful to have another adult help with the activity.
It is helpful to keep the activity lighthearted, but not so lighthearted that toddlers do not try to participate in intended ways. Give more attention to freezing than to dancing because the “holding still” element of the activity is more challenging and likely to need the most practice. In addition to showing a freeze position, point out toddlers’ freeze positions. Example: “Look at Ava’s freeze position! She remembered to freeze when the music stopped. Let’s all practice making a freeze position!” Practice in making a freeze position is most helpful when toddlers transition from body movements (versus a standing position) to holding their body still. Anticipate that freezing one’s body will be very challenging for some toddlers and positively acknowledge their efforts.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: music, music player, space for several toddlers to move freely
Invite several toddlers to play the Freeze Game. Encourage toddlers to take turns dancing and being in charge of turning the music on and off. Participate enthusiastically with toddlers as they play the game.
Materials Needed: music, music player, space for children to move freely
Children of all ages will enjoy the Freeze Game. Older children can offer examples for toddlers to imitate. Babies and younger toddlers will enjoy watching children dance as the music plays and freeze when the music stops. Invite older toddlers and children to take turns being in charge of turning the music on and off.
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