Actitivities for balance

Hoppity Hopping

Hippity Hop Toy

This is a toy that looks like a big balloon with
handles.

Rolling

Cut the bottom out of a large cardboard box
so that her head is free at one end and her
feet are free at the other. Let her roll down
a grassy hill in it.

Or roll her up in a blanket for a different rolling
experience

Swinging on a Blanket

Two adults hold the corners of a blanket and give
the child a ride. A hammock can work also.

Swinging (never force a child, but encourage
swinging)

Spinning

Spin in a tire swing. Use a sit n spin. Monitor this
carefully though as it can be overstimulating

Sliding

How many ways can she slide? Sitting up, lying down,
frontwards, backwards, holding onto the sides, not
holding on, straddling the sides with her feet, etc.

Riding vehicles

Trikes, bikes, scooters, etc. help with balance and
motor coordination

Jumping on a trampoline or mattress

Walking on unstable surfaces

A sandy beach, a playground *clatter bridge,* a
grassy meadow, a water bed are some examples
of surfaces where children have to adjust their
balance as they move on them

Rythmic rocking in a rocking chair

Riding, balancing, walking on a seesaw or
balance beam

Balancing on a teeter-totter

Center a one by three foot board or square of
plywood over a four by four or railroad timber
(Don't use a cylindrical piece of wood underneath
as the board will slip off). Let your child walk back
and forth, jump up and down and balance in the
center at the fulcrum

Sitting on a T-stool

A T-stool helps a child to improve his sense of
balance and posture and his ability to pay attention.
It's challenging at first, but becomes easier with
practice. To make a simple T-stool, cut two 12
inch pieces of two by four wood and screw the pieces
together to form a T shape. Stand it up to make a
T and have the child see if he can sit and balance it.

Perching on a sitting ball

A twelve in size playground ball can be used to
sit on while your child watches tv or listens to a story
(The ball's diameter should equal the distance between
the child's buttocks and the floor when his knees are
bent and his feet are flat on the floor)

Balancing on a large ball

She can lie on her stomach, on her back or sit and
bounce

Tummy Down, head up activities

Have him lie on his tummy to rock to Row, row, row
your boat, to draw on paper while listening to music,
using crayons (which require him to bear down to
mark), or to play with legos or other small toys

Have him draw with a long stick while he is on the
swing. Or have her throw sponges into a laundry
basket from a swing or while sitting on a large
ball. Have him bat at a suspended ball with a large
cardboard tube or play t-ball

Ascending and descending stairs

Somersaulting

Tightrope walking on low walls or on a balance
beam

Jogging




--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits