Welcome
Welcome to the fourth edition of The Parent¹s Place sponsored by The Therapy Place staff. This newsletter is intended to provide parents and caregivers with helpful information on various topics regarding their children. In this issue topics covered will include: Sensory diet activities for indoor play, with some great suggestions for indoor parks in our area, core strengthening and fine motor activities to promote getting ready for handwriting.
Contributors: Tanya Hallman, OTR; Lynn Kopfmann, OTR; Denise Peick, OTR;
Jana VandenHoek, OTR
SENSORY DIET ACTIVITIES FOR INDOOR PLAY
Tis’ the season for having to move indoors! Which unfortunately makes it more difficult for your children to get the “just right” amount of sensory input to achieve and maintain those optimal levels of arousal for attention and performance. Since their activities change with “Minnesota weather” that causes us to be more house bound, it is even more important to schedule “sensory diet” activities at regular intervals, preferably every 90 minutes to 2 hours, throughout their day. The most powerful and satisfying activities include movement, deep pressure and heavy work. They generally provide the most long lasting impact on the nervous system. The sensory diet can be a powerful behavioral tool and help prevent challenging behaviors. Plus it’s fun and gets everybody moving. Some suggestions are listed below:
- Mini trampoline
- Jumping onto cushions
- Sit n Spins
- Hippity hops
- Weighted objects to play with and throw (heavy bean bags, beach balls partially filled with water.)
- Crawling through tunnels or boxes on all fours playing tug of war (can use ropes or old inner tubes)
- Tying a rope to a door knob, stretching rope out, laying on stomach and starting at opposite end, pull self hand over hand to door. This can also be done on a scooter board as well.
- Tie items with jump rope and pull around the house
- Animal walks
- Spin in a swivel chair
- Blow up/plastic waiting pools are great sensory bins to fill up with beans, rice or pillows
- Laundry baskets can be used to sit and climb in and out of or to give rides in
- Big inner tubes can be used as mini tramps
- Zoom ball (can place one end on a hook and let your child send the buoy up, can also trying it lying down or kneeling)
- Doing table top activities seated on a therapy ball
- Blankets and hammocks can be used for swinging, hiding and rolling
- T-shirt tubing, bought in lengths (can be purchased at Hancock Fabrics) can be used for tunnels and giving rides.
- Carrying heavy things such as groceries, water jugs, books, weighted backpacks, etc.
- Building a tent or fort with couch cushions and then wrapping up tightly in a blanket inside the fort
- Doing core work activities as prescribed by your child’s therapist
- Treadmills and weight lifting are great for teenagers
- Playaway Toy Company Inc. (www.playawaytoy.com) sells portable sensory equipment including a swing apparatus that fits in a doorway.
There are also many fabulous indoor parks and play areas that are reasonably priced or free. Check out www.gocitykids.com for additional ideas.
Edinborough Park, Edina: Indoor park, pool and picnic tables for lunch.
www.edinboroughpark.com
Woodbury Central Park
www.woodburycentralpark.com
The Depot, Downtown Minneapolis: Indoor water park and skating rink www.thedepotminneapolis.com
The Blast at the Eagan Community Center
www.eagancommunitycenter.com
Maple Grove Community Center: Play areas & Pools www.maplewoodcommunitycenter.com
Vertical Endeavors: Climbing walls
www.vertical endeavors.com
REI in Bloomington: Climbing wall
www.rei.com
Many of the shopping malls such as the Eden Prairie Center & Mall of America have play areas for small children.