Pin the Heart on the Human - Game Preparation
1. Draw the shape of a large paper doll cut-out on a large piece of paper or trace around a preschooler on the paper.
2. Stick the large piece of paper to a wall with tape. Place the paper on the wall at a height at which preschoolers can reach all parts of the body shape on the paper.
3. Cut out heart shapes out of red paper, enough hearts for each preschooler to place one heart. Cut the heart shapes 2" – 5" wide depending on the size of the paper doll cut-out on the piece of paper.
4. Place a strip of tape (rolled so that the tape is sticky on both sides) on the back of each heart.
5. You will need one or two blindfolds (a dark colored bandana, dark colored knit hat, etc.) to cover the eyes of each preschooler on their turn. If you can find two blindfolds, then you can be covering the eyes of one preschooler while the other is playing the game.
Include Other Simple Body Parts
"Pin the Heart on the Human" can be played only using the heart shape, but you can also cut out shapes of other simple body parts or organs and include them in the game. You may want to teach preschoolers that
- the longest bone is in the thigh
- the smallest bones are in the inner ear
Pin the Heart of the Human – How to Play
- Tell the preschoolers to stand approximately 12 feet away from the "Human" (paper doll shape on paper.)
- Hand the preschooler a heart shape with tape on the back.
- Tell the preschooler that you will blindfold them and turn them around facing the Human. Their task is to tape the heart on the human without looking.
- Turn the preschooler around a few times by holding their shoulders.
- Stop the preschooler and point their body in the direction of the paper doll figure.
- Tell the preschooler to walk forward and tape the heart on the wall.
- After the heart is taped, preschoolers can remove the blind fold and see where they taped the heart.
Life Sized Art and Health Education
Expand this activity for preschoolers by providing preschoolers with their own life sized tracing to decorate.
1. Trace each preschooler's body outline onto a large piece of paper.
2. Hang each paper on the wall and let preschoolers play the game of Pin the Heart on the Human on their own body shape.
3. Let preschoolers decorate their body shapes with markers, crayons or other art supplies.
4. Older preschoolers can choose to draw pictures of things they love in or around their body shape.
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Helpful Tips for Parents
- Set up permanent physical activity invitations in the backyard or play area: a balance beam, stepping stones, a low climbing structure, a tire swing. Permanent setups encourage daily use.
- Limit passive sitting to less than 30 minutes at a stretch during waking hours. After 30 minutes of stillness, all preschoolers need a movement break before re-engaging with focused activities.
- Never use physical activity as punishment (running laps for misbehavior). This creates negative associations with exercise that can persist into adulthood.
- Outdoor play surfaces (grass, dirt, sand, bark chips) are better for development than flat concrete or carpet — uneven surfaces challenge balance and proprioception naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
My preschooler doesn't like getting dirty or sweaty. How do I encourage physical activity?
Some children have sensory sensitivities that make physical activity uncomfortable — this is worth exploring with an occupational therapist if it significantly limits the child's participation in physical activities. For most children, physical preferences develop through positive experience. Start with physical activities that don't feel "gross": dance, gymnastics, swimming, climbing. Avoid forced exposure to disliked activities — positive movement experiences are the goal, not specific activities.
Related reading: See also our dance party activities and our swimming and water safety guide for more ideas on this topic.
🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop
- ❤️ Cardiovascular Health — Vigorous physical activity that elevates heart rate and quickens breathing builds cardiovascular fitness — and active preschoolers develop not just physical health but the energy, sleep quality, and mood that support learning.
- 🏅 Physical Confidence — Successfully completing a physical challenge — climbing something scary, jumping a gap, learning a new skill — builds physical self-efficacy: the belief that effort leads to capability, which transfers to all learning domains.
- ⚖️ Balance & Coordination — Activities that challenge balance — hopping on one foot, walking a line, navigating obstacles — develop the vestibular and proprioceptive systems that underlie all coordinated physical movement.
- 💪 Strength Building — Age-appropriate strength challenges — climbing, pushing, carrying, and holding body weight — build the muscle development that children need for endurance, injury resistance, and the hand strength that fine motor tasks require.
by Kelly Pfeiffer
Adapt the game of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and teach preschoolers the location of basic internal body parts. Great for a Valentines Day party game, a preschool health unit or even a celebration of the heart, "Pin the Heart on the Human" will provide fun and a bit of health education for preschoolers. Add extra health lessons by including other simple internal body parts in this educational game. "Pin the Heart on the Human" can also be expanded into a life sized art activity that celebrates the unique body shape of each preschooler.
