Free Brain Break2:00

Pixie Pumps: Slow Calf Raises Brain Break

Pixie Pumps is a 2-minute Brain Break for kids: slow calf raises.

Difficulty: Beginner
Energy: Low energy
Length: 2 minutes
Category: Balance / Body Control

Ages: Ages 4–6

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How to do Pixie Pumps

Rise onto tiptoes and lower the heels slowly, with optional arm variations.

Why it helps

Strengthens ankles and calves while improving steady two-foot balance.

What the coach says

The words of this video, from its captions.

Before we ride, we have to water the flowers. First, we need to warm up our ankles with pixie pumps. Stand tall with your feet together. We're going to push straight up onto our tiptoes as high as we can without wobbling, and then lower our heels super slowly. Rule number one, squeeze your tummy and stay completely balanced on two feet. Rule number two, do not let your heels crash to the floor. We are going to do 20 pumps total. For the first 10, keep your hands right by your sides. Okay, watch me. Hands by your sides, push up to the sky without wobbling and lower down slowly. Let's do 10 like this. Ready? Push up and down. That's one, push up, down, two, keep your chest tall, three, four, squeeze those calves, five, six, stay balanced, seven, eight, nine, 10. Now. put your arms straight out like a leather tee. This makes balancing harder. Let's do 10 more. Up and down, 11, up, down, 12, 13. Keep those arms up, 14, no wobbling, 15, 16, 17, 18. 19 and 20. Awesome pumps. Great ankles.

Framework alignment

PLAYfun: Balance, Stability & Body Control
SHAPE: Standard 1 — Develops a variety of motor skills
Indicator: 1.2.5

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