The Door Race

What you need

• timer or phone (optional for solo challenge)

How to do it

1. 1'First one to the door with bag, shoes, and coat wins. Go.'
2. 2For one child: 'Beat your time from yesterday.' Count or time them.
3. 3Celebrate the result, whatever it is.
4. 4For siblings: make it cooperative — 'Both of you beat last week's time.'

Variations

• If they won't race: start the countdown and gather your own things at speed anyway — 'I'm not waiting, ready or not' — most kids can't resist jumping in once you're visibly ahead.
• How it ends: whoever's at the door first opens it — 'You made it, out we go' — turning the win straight into departure instead of a separate celebration.

What your child develops

• Intrinsic motivation via competition — competitive instinct overrides exit resistance
• Goal-directed movement — racing toward a defined finish develops intentional motor planning
• Self-improvement — comparing against personal bests builds persistence

Safety notes

• No running near stairs or if the doorway opens onto a traffic area.