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Occupational Therapy Activities

Movement breaks are simply a way of giving children a break from the monotony of desk/table sitting to increase arousal of the central nervous system for increased attention and learning readiness. With unstructured play and recess declining, children aren’t moving their bodies at the frequency in which they need to for optimal learning.

1. WHEELBARROW WALKING: Wheelbarrow walking engages the proximal and distal muscles of the upper extremities, the core, the vestibular system and gives great organizing proprioceptive input to the body. Complete for 1 minute, repeat 3-5 times.
 

2. CRAB WALKING: Crab walking is a great heavy work activity that is organizing and calming but seems to give just the right balance of alert and calm for most children. Since they are moving through space, you are also stimulating the vestibular system well. Start by squatting down close to the ground. Lean backward and place your hands on the ground. You should look like a “tabletop” now. Now walk sideways, while holding your bottom off the ground and your back straight. Complete for 1 minute, repeat 3-5 times.

Crab Walking.png

3. BEAR CRAWLING: This works core muscles just like the plank, but since you are moving, it engages more muscles and forces your core to work harder to keep you stable. This exercise helps kids develop coordination, balance, and strength. Start in the standing position. Bend over and put both hands on the ground. Now, walk forward with the same leg and arm. So, move your right arm and right leg forward, then the left leg and arm at the same time, then repeat. For an additional challenge, try keeping your legs and arms straight. Complete for 1 minute, repeat 3-5 times.

Bear Crawl.png

4. FROG JUMPS: Start in the squatted position. Place your hands on the floor in between your knees. Using your feet, jump forward and land with your hands and feet on the ground. Jump up as high and as far forward as you can. Complete 10 jumps, repeat 1-2 times.

Spray Bottle Fun

 

Skills: This activity is great for strengthening hand muscles. It also helps to encourage using separate sides of the hand which impacts fine motor skills (writing, scissor, buttoning, etc.)

 

Materials Needed:

  • Spray bottle

  • Water

  • Optional: chalk, plastic bin, floating water toys or pouch lids, food coloring, coffee filter

Objective:

  • Have your child spray the plants inside and outside your house to water them

  • Have your child spray a stream of water at floating water toys/objects and try to hit them as targets. If you have two spray bottles, have a race and see which water toy can get to the other side of the bin the fastest

  • Color a coffee filter with markers, have your child spray it and watch the colors run off 

  • Use a spray bottle in the bathtub. Bring in toys, lather them with soap and have your child spray them off 

  • Draw on the sidewalk with chalk and have your child “clean the sidewalk” by spraying water 

  • Place a few drops of food coloring into spray bottle, add water, shake and have your child spray a piece of white paper to make a colorful picture 

  • Encourage your child to be a helper with cleaning windows

Sugar Writing:

Objective: Toss the balloon back and forth.

Keep the balloon in the air for as long as possible.

Materials:

  • Balloon (likely blown up by adult - no helium)

Skills:

  • Upper extremity strength

  • Upper extremity active range of motion

  • Visual tracking

  • Balance

  • Trunk control

  • Shoulder stability

  • Motor planning

Modifications:

  • Can be done seated

  • Use a paddle to "hit" the balloon

  • Use a pool noodle to "hit" the balloon

  • Stand/sit on a moveable surface (balance pad, exercise ball, etc.)

  • Add a second balloon

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