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Pillow Jumping Path

Lay pillows on the floor in a line or pattern. Child jumps from pillow to pillow without touching the floor.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home: lay pillows on the floor in a line or pattern.
  • Age2 to 6 years
  • Time5 to 15 minutes
  • EnergyActive
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors
  • Prep5 min

Arrange 5-8 pillows or cushions on the floor as a jumping path. Your child hops from one to the next without touching the floor between them. Change the layout each round to keep it interesting.

How to do it

  1. Place 5-8 pillows or cushions on the floor in a row with small gaps between them. Start with gaps your child can comfortably jump.
  2. Explain that the floor between pillows is off-limits: jumping only.
  3. Let your child jump the path from start to finish.
  4. Reset the path: move pillows further apart, into a curve, or into a zigzag.
  5. Challenge your child to jump with feet together, or hop on one foot when they're ready.

What you need

  • Pillows or cushions
  • Clear floor area
  • Soft floor surface

Signs it is working

Your child jumps deliberately from pillow to pillow rather than running across them. They look ahead to plan the next jump. They ask to reset the path when they reach the end

If it is not quite clicking

Your child slips on cushions that slide on hard floor: Put a folded towel under each cushion to anchor it, or use pillowcases as non-slip pads. The gaps are too large and your child gets frustrated with falling off: Move the pillows closer: confidence first. Your child runs the path rather than jumping: Add a clap between each jump (land, clap, land, clap) to force a pause that reinforces the jump pattern

Make it yours

Younger, 2-3 years: Use very large cushions with no gap at all so it's a "stepping stones" path rather than a jumping path; the movement and balance are enough challenge. Older, 5-7 years: Introduce one-footed hops, hopping in reverse, or carrying a soft toy the whole way without dropping it. Siblings: Set up two parallel paths; siblings race side by side. Designed stopping signal: Agree on three full path runs as one game before starting. After the third run, announce "last run!" so the child can anticipate the end. When three runs are complete, that is the natural game-complete signal.

Try this with your child.

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