Fold me like laundry
A calming, playful ritual where you gently "fold" your child’s body up part by part as if they were laundry. It helps release tension, invites giggles, and creates a mindful moment of connection when big feelings take over.
Sometimes the best tools for helping kids reset are the simplest and most playful.
In this game, your child lies down and you gently "fold" them up piece by piece - legs, arms, head - like a piece of laundry being tucked away.
Each fold comes with gentle narration ("First your knee, then your toes!"), squeezes, and lots of opportunities for bonding and laughter.
After holding the “folded” pose for a few moments, you can slowly "unfold" them in reverse, helping their body feel calm and regulated again. The ritual can be adapted for silliness or for soothing, depending on your child’s needs.
It’s a mindful, imaginative reset tool that blends humour with physical comfort - one of those special connection games that often work better than words when emotions run high or winding down for bedtime.
Play
Step 1:
Invite your child to lie flat on their back with their arms and legs open like a star.
Step 2:
Gently fold one body part at a time - lift up their whole leg, bend their knee in, curl their toes; bend their arms at the elbow, squish their fingers - till they're curled up like a hedgehog, playfully narrating what you’re doing as you go. (e.g. "Now your fingers!")
Step 3:
Once they’re curled up, pause for 10–20 seconds, celebrating out loud that your “laundry” is neatly folded.
Step 4:
Pretend time has passed and you need to use them now, starting to slowly unfold them in reverse, returning their body to a relaxed, open position.
Step 5:
Optionally end with a playful twist - like them “springing” back into a fold while you pretend to be surprised and confused. ("What?! Shirts aren't supposed to fold themselves!")
Extend
Laundry Basket surprise: Pretend to put the “folded laundry” into a (safe, roomy) laundry basket for extra giggles.
Role Reversal: Let your child fold you up like laundry.
Calm Breathing: Add deep breaths together before unfolding.
Surprise Unfold: Add funny commentary (“Hmm, maybe I’ll store this laundry in the cupboard… wait, what’s moving in there?!”).
