The video below was shared by our behaviorist. It is super fun. For our little ones, you can make it more simple by sequencing 2 or 3 gross motor activities such as jumping on lines, walking on a line, and frog jumping onto numbers.

https://www.facebook.com/jody.b.goudreau/videos/10157490145962875/

This Sensory Walk combines 3 different gross motor activities: (1) modified hopscotch, (2) line walk, & (3) frog jumps. All of these activities provide strong proprioceptive input so this is a great activity to do before you have your child engage in listening to a story or completing a fine motor/visual motor activity. If you can't play outside, you can replicate this Sensory Walk using blue tape on carpet or floor inside.

For younger students, have them work on core strengthening with animal and fun walks: the bear walk, crab walk and wheelbarrow walk. Consider doing these tasks down the hallway as a sensory motor break to help focus during academic tasks.

For older students, have them practice a plank pose, planking with a leg lift and up-downs. Try holding the plank 10-60 seconds with good form, 3 times: 3-4 times a week. Only hold with good form!

Have your child lay on his back with his knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Have them push hard through their heels to raise their bottom up off the floor. Be sure that they are keeping their head and shoulders on the ground (see photo above). Can they hold it? Try holding for 10-60 seconds 3 times. Do this 3 times per week.

How to Change it Up:

·Try having the child lift and lower with control (up for a count of 3, down for a count of 3).

·For a BIG challenge, have your child place his feet on a pillow or small ball and try to maintain stability while bridging.

·Put a stuffed animal or ball between the child’s knees and have them squeeze while completing the bridging.

For younger children:

·Zoom some cars underneath: how many cars can you get under the bridge before it falls?

·Find a few small, stuffed animals and walk them under the bridge: don’t squish them!

Cross Crawls

Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body (right/left and top/bottom) at the same time in an a controlled and coordinated manner. Many activities of daily living and school based tasks require your child to be able to use both hands together well.

One who struggles bilateral coordination skills may prefer to use one hand alone rather than both hands together. They may also appear clumsy in some gross and fine motor activities.

Crab Soccer

Crab soccer builds strength in the core, arms, and legs and also improves focus and coordination. It is a challenging, strength building activity. The child assumes the crab pose on their hands and feet with their face towards the ceiling. The players kick a balloon and keep it in the air with their feet, sort of like juggling a soccer ball. They cannot use their hands!

Wall Sit

In addition to strengthening core muscles, wall sits (or wall squats) can help strengthen your child’s upper legs. Have your child stand with their back against the wall with their feet a foot or so in from of them. Have your child slowly slide down the wall so he/she is “sitting” without a chair beneath them. See how long they can hold the position.

Start in a crawling position (quadruped) with knees hip width apart and hands on the ground about shoulder width apart. Practicing balancing one hand and the opposite foot about an inch off the floor. When you feel steady you can raise that opposing arm and leg off the floor and hold them straight out in front and behind you. Hold for a few seconds then return your hand and knee to the floor. Try the opposite side and repeat up to 5 times on each side a few times throughout the week.

If doing both arm and leg at the same time is too challenging, try to hold one side up for 10 seconds. Then try the opposing limb separately. This can be further modified by stand next to a wall and simply extending the opposing arm and leg straight back while stabilizing with your other hand against the wall.