A child’s instinctive love of play provides the motivation for healthy, fun ways that a child can improve both strength and balance at home. For moms, dads, grandparents and other caretakers, the following list includes activities that can engage a child’s interest and inspire them to participate.
These activities are especially beneficial for young ones who are missing their developmental milestones. This can happen when any of these health conditions have been diagnosed:
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Cerebral palsy
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Muscular dystrophy
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Torticollis
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Down syndrome
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Spina bifida
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Autism spectrum disorder
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Musculoskeletal injuries
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Surgical recovery
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Low muscle tone
Without even leaving home, you can see measurable improvements in your child’s movements!
Choose Your Favorite Activity and Start
If your child needs some help developing their abilities, pick one of these and set an uninterrupted time to get started!
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Living Room Obstacle Course: Rearrange your living room so your child can climb or jump from couches, chairs, pillows and ottomans. Mark the route with tape or yarn and get them moving. If the child uses a wheelchair or walker, modify the course by using cones to mark a path they take with their chair or walker. For even more motivation, hide a favorite or new toy at the end of the course.
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Animal Parade: For this one, you can invite siblings and even join in yourself! Walk on all fours like a bear, hop like a frog or slither like a snake. Place a toy across the room and challenge them to reach it. For children with limited mobility, focus on arm and upper body movements, such as soaring like an eagle while going around one tall tree after another.
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Play Ball!: Balls always get kids moving! Soft balls can even be used indoors by kicking a ball all the way down a hallway. If you have a big therapy ball, have the child sit on the ball while maintaining balance. Play songs to get the child moving for extra challenge. For children with limitations, invite the child to grab rolled balls while sitting down. They should then roll the ball back or roll it into a marked goal.
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Dance to the Beat: Choose your child’s favorite music and set aside some time for both of you to dance. This activity can take place indoors or outdoors. Dancing increases strength and coordination and improves balance. For seated children, emphasize moving to the music with their upper bodies and arms. Give them ribbons or scarves to wave as they dance.
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Nature Walks: These can take place in a park or nature preserve or on the beach. Focus on stepping over roots, puddles or sticks. Squat down to take a closer look at bugs or leaves or to pick up leaves and stones. This activity includes the additional benefits of fresh air and sunlight.
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Better Their Balance: Run a line of tape across a room. The route could even make its way to the kitchen where their favorite treat awaits. Invite the child to “balance” on this tape as they go from room to room. Praise them when they stay on the tape all the way through the route.
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Reach for the Sky: Use painter’s tape to suspend puzzle pieces just out of their reach. Challenge them to reach their maximum height, increasing foot and calf strength. Then have the child use the pieces to complete the puzzle. Reaching games can also be offered to children who use wheelchairs or walkers to get them to stretch their upper bodies as high as they can.
Repeat These Activities Often for the Best Results
Children who need to increase their strength may tire quickly, so plan on short activities. For the best results, schedule frequent exercise sessions. Include siblings or best buddies and join in yourself. You might be surprised at how engaging in these activities can reduce your stress and increase your enjoyment.
If your child’s doctor recommends pediatric physical therapy, talk to us. We start each therapy program with a detailed evaluation so we can create the perfect plan to increase your child’s abilities. Call Let’s Communicate at (678) 963-0694 to schedule an evaluation today.
