Yoga ball or other lightweight ball (6-8” diameter)
Play Catch
Have your child throw and catch ball using 2 hands
Have child throw underhand using both hands
Vary your distance from the child based on your child’s ability to catch (closer you are to your child the easier to catch)
If 2 adults are available, you can hold your child’s hand to help them catch and throw the ball.
Use a bounce pass which makes it easier for the child to time using their hands to catch
You can also use a large exercise type ball. You can roll the large ball forward and back with your child. This will challenge their balance and strength.
For Children with mobility concerns, you can play catch while they sit in a supportive chair including their wheelchair.
Kicking
Stationary ball: Place ball directly in front of child and have them kick ball using tip of their toes. You can hold their hand for balance. Children frequently like to step on the ball and need guidance to kick it
Stationary ball: You can place a ball 3-5 feet in front of your child and have them walk or run up to kick a ball. This challenges their balance and coordination
Moving ball: For a child that has good balance and understanding with kicking a ball, you can roll a small ball and have them kick the moving the ball. This challenges their coordination and timing.
You can use the larger exercise type ball to kick
Practice Kicking activities using right and left foot
For children with balance and mobility concerns: The child can sit on your lap or a small stool/chair to kick a ball.
Playground Activity:
Climbing: practice climbing on elevated surfaces and climbing off feet first.
Sliding: Practice sitting down to slide if you have a slide at home. Always slide feet first. You can also practice climbing up slide using their hands and feet if an adult is available to assist for safety.
Swinging:
Make sure the child is supported appropriately based on your child’s needs.
If back support is needed you can use a swing with a back if you have one, or the adult can sit on the swing with the child in their lap.
Swinging is a great sensory and movement activity that most kids love.
If your child is able to hold the chain or rope with their hands, you can stand behind them and push them gently.
If your child is able to hold and swing their legs, teach them to use their trunk movement forward and back with coordination of bending and straightening their legs.
If child needs additional trunk and head support and you do not have a swing to support them, you can use a large blanket. Have 2 adults hold the corners of the blanket and gently swing your child side to side OR forward and back. Make sure you can see you child’s face to monitor their tolerance.
Balance activity:
Walking or running up and down inclines with adult supervision.
Child can walk forward, to the side, or back as able
Walk, run, gallop on uneven surfaces including grass, mulch, gravel.
If available help child to walk on elevated balance beam or edge of playground. Hold their hands if needed for safety.
Walk on line on the ground. This could be walking on cracks in cement, line between grass and cement etc. You can draw line with chalk or use tape.
Jumping Activity:
Side Walk Chalk course: You can draw objects or courses on the cement to promote jumping and balance
Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch course. You can use different colors and number the squares. This way you can also work on language, color and number recognition as well as counting.
Have child practice marching on drawn board
Have child jump feet in and out on the squares
Have child jump from 2 feet to 1 foot and alternate which foot they jump to if able
Practice jumping forward, sideways, and backwards
Hold your child’s hands if needed to help with balance
Demonstrate for your child and Make it fun!
Hula Hoop: Place hula hoop flat on the ground
Practice jumping into and out of hula hoop on the ground
Hold child’s hands if needed to help them jump in and out
You can practice jumping forward, sideways, and backwards
Water Play and Swimming (when weather is warm):
Water play:
Small child swimming pool or large bucket/ storage container works great for sensory and balance.
Hold child’s hand to step in and out of small pool or large bucket.
Help child hold edge of sturdy bucket, pool, or storage container and practice swinging legs over edge to climb in/out.
Play in squat in water while splashing or playing with water toys.
Swimming (can be done in regular pool if available, in bathtub, or small children’s pool): Always use approved flotation device for children and have an adult in the water with the child at all times
Help child to lie back in the water and kick their feet and arms to splash. Adult can support child under their back.
Child can lie forward with belly in water and adult support under belly and head as needed. Have child kick with feet and splash with hands in the water.
With support at back or belly, have child kick feet and attempt to move their arms to make a swimming type motion.
Fun Outdoor Activities:
Marching:
Play marching games encouraging child to lift knees high
Stomp bubbles or things on the ground
Place sticker or draw pictures to stomp or march on
Heavy “Work”:
Push or pull wagon with stuffed animals or siblings in
Help put toys away by lifting and carrying based on child’s ability.
Step on and off a curb height
Play animal activity (pretend to be a variety of animals and imitate movements)
Bear Walk: Walk/crawl on hands and knees or hands and feet
Elephant walk: Clasp hands together and swing arms like a trunk while taking big steps
Gorilla Walk: Take big steps while gently pounding their chest with their fists
Bunny hopping: Jump forward with both feet together in a row. Hold child’s hands as needed
Frog Jumping: Squat to the floor and have child jump up on both feet. Hold hands if needed.
Gallop like a horse using right and left leg
For Children with mobility concerns: They can do many of these activities seated.
Elephant: Have child fold hands together and swing arms as able or help them to lift arms; stomp feet on floor or wheelchair footrest while sitting
Gorilla: Help child to pound their chest with fists
Penguin: Turn their head side to side
Donkey: Kick their feet while sitting
Alligator: Wiggles hips while sitting
Frog: Reach hands over head while sitting to imitate jumping motion