Jump on Shadows
On a sunny day outdoors, try to jump on your own shadow or chase and step on the adult's shadow. Switch roles. Works in any open outdoor space.
- Age2 to 8 years
- Time5 to 15 minutes
- EnergyActive
- CostFree
- WhereOutdoors
- PrepNone
On a sunny day, try to jump on your own shadow or step on each other's. Shadows move as you move, making it genuinely hard. Works in any open outdoor space with sunshine.
How to do it
- Go outside on a sunny day. You need direct sunlight casting clear shadows.
- Start by asking your child to jump on their own shadow: they'll notice it moves with them, which is the discovery.
- Switch to chasing each other's shadows: you move your feet to step on their shadow; they try to move fast enough to keep it out from under your foot.
- Take turns being the shadow-chaser and the shadow-protector.
- Explore: what happens to your shadow when you jump? When you spread your arms wide? When you stand back-to-back?
Signs it is working
Your child understands that the shadow moves with them and starts actively moving to protect their shadow or to chase yours. They discover shadow behavior (getting longer in the afternoon, disappearing overhead at noon) and comment on it.
If it is not quite clicking
Shadows are faint or hard to see (overcast light, or harsh overhead sun near midday): Move to a time of day with lower sun angle for longer, clearer shadows: morning or late afternoon is best. Child is very young and doesn't grasp that the shadow moves with them: Crouch down and point to the shadow first: "That's your shadow: it follows you everywhere."
Make it yours
Younger, 2-3 years: Focus on finding and naming the shadow; jumping on it is a bonus. Point to your own shadow and theirs; the concept itself is the activity. Older, 5-7 years: Try "freeze the shadow": one person freezes their shadow while the other tries to step on it. Add: whose shadow is longest right now? Walk toward the sun vs. away from it; what changes? Siblings: All shadows on the ground at once; first one to step on someone else's shadow scores. Stopping signal: Before you go out, agree on the end cue: "When I say 'shadows rest,' we stop and take a drink of water." This gives children a concrete, anticipatable signal so the end of the game feels expected rather than abrupt.
Try this with your child.
Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.
Try it in the app