Ask Ollie
Spooky Animal Stretch Night
Here's one to try together!
Droop like a sleepy bat, arch like a cat, and curl up like a hedgehog for a calm Halloween wind-down.
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- Risk of dizziness when folding forward and standing back up
- Avoid forcing neck turns or overstretching; move slowly
- Clear floor space to avoid bumping into objects
What you need
- Blanket, 1 blanket or soft rug (optional)
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Clear a patch of floor big enough for everyone to lie down with arms and legs spread. Dim the lights if you like.
- Stand tall, then fold forward and dangle like a sleepy bat.
- Sway side to side like a bat in the breeze.
- Roll up slowly, then get down on your hands and knees. Ask: Why do you think we stand up slowly?
- Arch your back up high like a spooky Halloween cat!
- Now let your belly sag low, like a cat having a snooze. Ask: How does this feel different from the arch?
- Sit down and turn your head slowly, like a wise old owl.
- Kneel and curl into a tiny round hedgehog ball.
- Lie on your back like a starfish and breathe slowly. Then show a friend! Ask: Which night animal will you be next?
Play it again
- Animal swap: take turns calling out a pose, and everyone copies the leader.
- Moonlight mode: do the whole routine by flashlight or string lights in a darkened room.
- Story stretch: tell a bedtime story where each new animal turns into a new pose.
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