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"Children need the freedom and time to play.
Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." Kay Redfield Jamison
It is very important for children to regularly participate in outdoor play. This month's newsletter will focus on how to help children develop praxis while having fun outdoors. Praxis is often referred to as motor planning, but as you will soon read and find out, it involves much more than just that!
Praxis is a broad term, which is a complex, multi-step process involving both thinking and doing. Praxis is what allows children to organize, plan, and execute motor skills in a refined and efficient manner (they get better with practice).
Children require considerable repetition to master new motor skills until their performance becomes automatic. For example, when tossing a ball back and forth you can use a smaller/larger ball, use a heavier/lighter ball, throw the ball faster/slower, or increase/decrease the distance the ball is tossed.
There are many benefits of outdoor exploration and developing praxis. Make a calendar of movement activities for the summer. Some activities might include playing catch with a beach ball or baseball. Try basketball, soccer or frisbee at a family picnic. All movement activities done at home help the children develop strength, coordination, imagination for use in school. Providing the child with numerous opportunities for play allows for the development of imagination, motor planning and execution for future play endeavors. Remember to allow for time and repetition of skills.
Have a Great Summer!!!
The Dunkirk OT Department
Praxis and Motor Planning
Praxis/ motor planning consists of the ability to think of an idea (ideation), plan out what to do (sequencing), carry out the motor task to complete the idea (execution) and make adaptations when needed based on feedback from the activity itself or the input of others. Whew, who thought it took so much to go outside and play.
Some children may present with more challenges in coordination and participation in physical activities – playing sports requiring hand-eye coordination, riding a bike, pumping a swing, writing letters, and putting clothes on. These children seem generally clumsy and awkward. Some children may present with challenges in organization and attention – difficulty following directions, losing and misplacing things, forgetting in what order to complete multiple step tasks, getting distracted during daily routines. Yet other children may present with challenges in coming up with ideas, adapting to changes in plans, transitioning to new activities, and thinking flexibly. These kids can be slow to initiate activities and hesitant to join others in play.
Play-based motor planning activities
The Floor is Lava
The Floor is Lava
Pretend the floor is lava and have your child try to figure out how to cross from one area in your home to another (for example from one couch to another).
Use items from around the room to build a way across, such as pillows and chairs. Once they master doing it this way, have them think of things from other rooms they can use.
You can also play this at the park and have the child use the playground equipment.
Dance off
Dance off
Take turns with your child to create a fun move or dance that the other person has to copy. You can move to their favorite music to make it more fun and motivating!
Charades
Charades
Write down various things on pieces of paper (such as animals or characters they may know). Take turns picking a piece of paper and acting out what is written for the other person to guess.
Switch it up!
Switch it up!
Play a game where you each take turns thinking of ways to use different items. For example, take a fork and see how many ways you can use it (eating, brushing hair, etc.). Be creative with it and act out each different idea for added humor!
Play a pirate treasure game
Play a pirate treasure game
Pretend you are a pirate either hiding or finding treasure. Encourage using new spots each time you play.
Have your child hide treasure around the room, then draw you a treasure map of where to find it. If they are unable to write/draw yet, have them give you clues to find the items. The clues can be where to find the items (i.e. under something blue) or how to move your body to get there (i.e. take five steps forward then bend down).
Have your child be a pirate finding treasure to capture. You hide treasure around the room and draw a map of where the items are. Have your child read the map to find where the treasure is. For an added bonus, hide the treasure in areas that your child will have to climb or crawl to.
Ninja training
Ninja training
Have your child create a ninja warrior course either outside or around the house. Start with a shorter course (3 parts or components). As they get better at creating them challenge them to make them longer and more complex.
It may be helpful to have them draw or write out their idea first so they have a solidified idea of what the steps are and in what order.
You can also have your child try to create ninja moves. Have them name each move (the sillier the better) for added fun!
Lastly, have your child try to use the ninja moves they created within their ninja course! See how many different ways they can do it!
Motor planning with Chalk
Summer Fun
This site offers some free OT activities/ printables including this summer activity-a-day calendar. This calendar gives you a simple activity to do each day that will work on gross motor, fine motor, sensory, visual perception, visual motor or handwriting skills. Some of the printables do require a paid subscription but there are quite a few free activities available for download.
Need things to do this summer with the kids? Need therapist-approved activities for the whole family, that actually help kids develop motor skills, get off the screens, and build stronger kids? This printable list of summer activities for kids and families is just the thing to battle the boredom this summer!
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