Control · Week 11 · Program week 35
Ziggy the Gecko
Grip and let go · Perseverance
Grip, breathe, count to three, and release while the exit is still easy.
35 minutes · ages 3–8
Try this at home
We held for a short count and let go exactly when we said we would.
- 1Couch edge or wall. Count “one, two, off.”
- 2Hands leave on “off.”
- 3If you slip early, make the next one a wall push.
Stay on the floor. If it feels wobbly, make the challenge smaller.
Talk about perseverance
Why do strong people practice stopping while they still can?
Look for this: The release matches the count, and feet are ready.
The story
Ziggy counts to three and drops his feet fully down. He never waits until his fingers slip.
Hold for a moment. Let go on purpose.
What happens in class
Gather and story · 4 min
- Ziggy counts to three and drops his feet fully down. He never waits until his fingers slip.
- Control is ending the hold while you still could have stayed. Slipping is not the goal.
- Children sit where they can see you and the equipment. Show the careful version once.
Warm-up · 5 min
- Count to three out loud with a clap, then stop exactly.
- Wall press for three, release on three.
- Practice putting feet flat on the floor quickly.
Skill practice · 14 min
- Hands on the low edge. Feet close.
- Together: “one, two, three, off.”
- On “off,” hands leave and feet are flat.
- If fingers slip before three, the next hold is easier: wall push only.
Game · 7 min
- They pick a count of two or three before they start, and hit it.
- A partner listens for the word “off.”
- Celebrate exact endings.
Cool-down and character · 5 min
- Stretch fingers open.
- Perseverance that can stop is safe perseverance.