Video, download and description of exercises
Files:
Tiger in the circus
The child will climb slowly through the hoop, or if a hoop is not available, a jump rope can be used as a substitute. The child must make sure not to touch the hoop or jump rope while climbing over/through it, like how a tiger jumps through a flaming hoop but slowly and carefully.
Goal:
Improve proprioception
Improve coordination of movement
Sea lion
Have your child lay on the stomach with the legs fully extended and the forearms and pubic bone on the mat. Let him/her keep the elbows directly below the shoulders, the head is in extension of the spine (let him/her look at his/her hands)
Now the child lifts the pelvis on one side, as a result of this movement the leg on this side rotates slightly and bends (this is the same movement as we have already practised in the lizard exercise). The inner side of the ankle, the knee and the other side of the pelvis remain on the ground. The angle between the torso and the thigh is approximately 45°. The other leg and torso remain in their original position.
Then return to the original position and repeat the exercise on the other side
Note: as with the "lizard" exercise, the movement should come from the pelvis only. By lifting the pelvis, the leg bends and rotates outwards. Make sure the child's back is straight, so the lower ribs should not be on the floor, the tummy should remain firm. The head remains in extension of the spine, which you can ensure by putting a toy in the child's hand to look at.
Goal:
Improve coordination of movement
Activate postural reflexes
Inhibit Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (if it persists)
Snail on the ball
Have the child lay on his/her tummy on a big gymball
Then let him/her walk their hands forward and back, the legs stay on the gymball and the back must stay straight. (Just like the wheelbarrow exercise)
Now the child bends his legs so that the knees are dawn up to his/her chest. Now the child “sits on his/her feet” on the ball (when you look from the side, the legs look like the shell of the snail) with hands still on the floor.
Have the child slowly extend his /her legs again and walk the hands back.
Note: make sure that the backward movement (stretching of the legs) is slow and controlled, and that the child keeps a firm torso. Make also sure that the child has open palms (not hands in fists)
Goal:
Improve coordination of movement
Strengthen abdominal muscles, core, and arm muscles
Tactile memory game
To play the game, you need to gather two identical toys or objects such as balls, buttons, kinder-egg toys or blocks, and conceal them under a piece of fabric. The objective of the game is for the child to identify the matching toys by touch. You can either instruct the child on what to search for or allow them to inform you about the toys they've discovered. It's essential to start with simpler toys before progressing to more difficult ones, particularly those that are smaller and more similar, to ensure that the game remains challenging. Before covering the toys, encourage your child to inspect and touch them. Additionally, if the toys resemble animals or buttons, you can name them to make identifying them easier.
Goal:
Improve tactile perception, important for fine motor skills
Improve concentration
Find two identical pictures
Print the pictures (mugs) from the attachment twice and cut them out. Then shuffle the pictures and let the child match the same pictures together
Goal:
Improve visual perception
Improve concentration
I hope you enjoyed the exercise. If you have a hoop, don't hide it yet, we can still use it next week. Have a great day and I look forward to next week!