Gross Motor
Encourage your child to be as active as possible at home.
Encourage your child to be as independent as possible with transfers, transitions, and mobility.
If your child has a mobility device, give them opportunities (as appropriate) to use that device.
The following resources can give you some ideas to incorporate gross motor activities into your day. Consider your child's abilities and safety before attempting any of these activities. Contact the PT if you have questions or for ideas for activities specific to your child.
Gross Motor
Handling/Positioning
Yoga Activities
Quadruped
Benefits of activities in quadruped
Bilateral coordination
Strength
Balance
Motor planning
Weightbearing through hands
Integration of primitive reflexes
To learn more about the importance of activities in quadruped and for activity ideas, click HERE
Tall Kneeling
A child must be able to get into tall kneeling in order to progress to half kneeling which they will then use to pull up to standing. Tall kneeling challenges balance and body awareness while co-contracting muscles on the front and back of the body in order to prevent falling.
Half-Kneeling
It is a great way to mimic being on a single leg, but with less stability demands. It teaches you to align your pelvis and rib cage more easily. When the pelvis and rib cage are aligned properly, we are in the most efficient position to stabilize our trunk and keep our backs healthy.
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SIDEWALK CHALK OBSTACLE COURSE
Have your child help you draw the obstacle course. Children can work on transitions getting up and down from the ground. Core strength and upper body weight bearing come into play to maintain positions like quadruped, prone prop, or sitting while drawing. It's also a great fine motor activity!
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