A nice way to get students re-energized, have fun and build critical foundation skills all at the same time is by introducing a simple balloon. Before you roll your eyes and click to a new site, consider what can happen with this inexpensive object when structured the right way. Benefits: Visual attention and visual tracking […]
Several years ago I read an article that noted the decline in children’s ability to crawl. In the report, pediatricians said perhaps they had overstated the importance of crawling, and it was a developmental milestone that could be jettisoned from the books. NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Crawling is really important. When physical therapists and I sat at child […]
When my oldest was six and the twins were two we traveled to Europe for my husband’s sebbatical. At this point one might think-what were we thinking?! We were given a lovely home in the country with a garden, so the children could run around. One hitch- there were no electronic devises in the house-no […]
When I was young, my mother sent me outside and I would spend HOURS swinging. I would sing, I would close my eyes to surprise myself by how high I’d gone and as I got bigger I’d challenge myself by jumping off at the highest point. Swinging does so many good things for sensory motor […]
It amazes me that almost every girl in my second grade class (probably 20) waited in line to jump rope during recess. On a good day we may have had three turns during that precious thirty minute break. There was no adult telling us to do this. It’s just what we did. We didn’t do […]
I have a sister five years older than me and in my formative years I spent most of my time trying to “catch up” to her. That may be why I learned to ride a two wheeler at three years of age. Having safe sidewalks and uncluttered days to practice at my leisure surely helped […]
OK, so a baby isn’t going to mount a two wheeler…not even a trike. But there are many activities that engage little ones so they’re all set to go once they get big enough to straddle a ride toy! I highlight bicycle riding not because it is a favorite of mine (which it is) but […]
Swimming is one of the primary motor skills every human being should acquire. Why? It may save your life some day. So how do you go about teaching your child to swim? There are many excellent swimming programs available and this site does not intend to be an exhaustive guide in swimming skill development. As […]
It is always fun to see the reaction of children when I pull out a plunger to play with. Even at a very young age, children acquire a sense of place – and plungers belong in the toilet, certainly not in the gross motor room. After I assure them that the plunger I use has […]
Some people say I’m lucky because I never had to spend a lot of money on a “professional wardrobe.” If I had to give one reason why I couldn’t indulge myself in stylish skirts and dresses I’d sum it up in two words: “Crab Walking.” As a “go to” activity for trunk strengthening and improving […]
I am a big fan of finding the least expensive way to approach a task. I always love a bargain. Purchasing stamps, I make an exception and don’t compromise. Wooden stamps have an incredible number of fine and visual motor benefits, but if using the less expensive, small plastic stamps, the hand strengthening benefits are […]