Move · Videos · Technique · 10 min

Animal Walks A to K: Crawl, Hop and Play

Animal Walks A to K: Crawl, Hop and Play — video by Playapy Play · 9:31

Video by Playapy on YouTube · Open on YouTube

A pediatric occupational therapist shows 11 animal movements from alligator crawl to kangaroo hop, with the strength each builds and an easier or harder option for some. Playful floor and hopping games for children, and fun for adults to try along.

  • 10 min
  • Beginner
  • High impact (jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forFun workouts

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Step by step 10

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Alligator crawl: lie on your tummy and pull yourself along with your arms, not your legs. 0:44
  2. Bear walk: hands and feet on the floor, arms and legs as straight as you can, making a triangle. 1:33
  3. Crab walk: sit with your hands behind you, lift your tummy and bottom, then walk forwards or backwards. 2:04
  4. Duck walk: squat with a straight back, elbows bent and hands by your face, and waddle forward. 2:45
  5. Elephant walk: on hands and knees, lift the hand and knee on one side together, thump down, then the other. 3:28
  6. Frog hops: squat with the knees wide and hands on the floor between them, then push off and leap. 4:20
  7. Gorilla walk: on your fists with the wrists straight, lift the knees and move forward; knees down to start. 5:06
  8. Horse trotting with high knees stamping down, then the iguana crawl, easier as the legs can help. 5:58
  9. Jaguar walk: from a bear position, walk the hands forward and bring one foot up to them, then the other. 7:16
  10. Kangaroo hops: hands up by your face, knees bent, and hop forward again and again. 8:28

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Alligator crawl: lie on your tummy and pull yourself along with your arms, not your legs
  • Bear walk: keep your arms and legs as straight as you can, making a triangle with the floor
  • The iguana crawl is easier than the alligator because your legs can help

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 5 takes load

  • Shoulders takes loadalligator, bear, crab and gorilla walks
  • Wrists & hands takes loadbear, crab, gorilla (on fists), frog
  • Hips takes loadduck walk, frog and kangaroo hops, jaguar walk
  • Knees takes loadduck walk squat, frog and kangaroo hops
  • Ankles & feet takes loadfrog and kangaroo hops, horse trot
  • Elbows movesalligator and iguana crawls on the elbows
  • Lower back movesalligator crawl, crab walk hip lift
  • Jumping or hopping. Impact goes through the ankles, knees and hips.
  • Kneeling. Pressure on the kneecaps — a folded towel or cushion under the knees helps.
  • Weight on your hands. The wrists bend back under load. Fists, push-up handles or your forearms ease it.
  • Down on the floor. You get down to the floor and back up again.

Easier option from the coach: Iguana crawl is easier than alligator; gorilla can start with knees down

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Playapy; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety