Stretch Like a Florida Lobster.
Stretch like a Florida Spiny Lobster! Kneel on the floor with your toes together and your knees hip-width distance apart. Sit back on your heels as you lower your chest between your knees. Extend your straight arms to the front of the room like lobster antennaes. Rest your forehead on the ground. Relax and breathe. (If you are at your desk, stretch your arms long in front of you as you rest your head on your desk.)
Stretch like a Florida Spiny Lobster: Your five senses help you understand the world. Stretch your arms (antennae) long in front of you as you TOUCH the earth. Close your eyes and be silent as you listen for SOUNDS around you. Notice the thoughts in your head. What SIGHTS or images do you see? Notice that your tongue helps you TASTE healthy foods. Now bring your attention to your breath as it comes in and out of your nose. What do you SMELL? Focus on your deep inhales and long exhales. Make the breath smooth and long as you count 5 breaths. Listen to your breath. Be still like a Florida spiny lobster.
Spiny Lobster Vocabulary & Facts:
Florida spiny lobsters get their name from the spines that cover their bodies to help protect them from predators. Humans are their biggest predator (YUM), but sharks love to eat them, too!
Lobsters are invertebrates, which means they have no backbone.
Lobsters have a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton which protects their insides. They shed their exoskeletons and grow a new one as they get bigger. This is called molting.
They have two long antennae to scare off predators and two smaller antennae that sense movement in the water.
Lobsters are nocturnal. They come out at night to hunt for crabs and clams.
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is an interactive listening and movement game that helps children build focus, confidence, calmness, and self-awareness through playful stretching and positive self-talk. Designed for ages 3 and up, this engaging resource can be used in the classroom, counseling groups, therapy settings, or at home by teachers, counselors, parents, and caregivers.
After learning the beach-themed poses, a leader calls out poses in any order, encouraging participants to listen carefully, move mindfully, and practice deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation. Children stay engaged while developing important social-emotional and self-regulation skills in a fun, active way.
Participants will:
Understand and practice controlled breathing
Respect personal space by moving safely without touching others
Strengthen self-control using nonverbal communication
Improve focus and attention
Increase self-awareness
Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk
Build joy, strength, gratitude, and confidence
Each pose is paired with empowering affirmations so children can embody positive mindsets as they move. Examples include:
Coconut Tree, Eagle, Airplane – I am focused
Sports Boat, Charge Your Battery, Flying Fish – I am full of energy
Hurricane – I step aside for others
Crab – I let my light shine
Paddleboard – I am responsible for what I say, think, and do
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is a joyful way to help children move their bodies, calm their minds, and grow strong from the inside out.