Hey you guys! Here are some of my go to activities to help your kid with their balance. This could potentially work for kids that are a little older and younger as well.
The key to all these activities is to make it FUN. See the Make it fun part under each activity for some of the ideas I use consistently.
These are organized from easiest to most difficult! (more or less)
1. Standing two feet balancing
Try having your kid stand with their feet together, eyes open (narrows your base of support)
Feet together and eyes closed
Standing on a soft surface (pillow, grass, couch cushion) with support or someone close by, if mastered have them try closing their eyes
Standing on stepping rocks (See photo below)
Make it fun: There are several ways to make this fun. With feet together and eyes open, practice throwing a ball to each other. You can pop bubbles or count how many times you can keep a balloon in the air. Feet together and eyes closed make it a competition who can freeze the longest. With standing on a pillow you can do ball throwing, or practice balancing on rocks or monster feet.
2. Balancing with feet staggered
Stationary balance - Try drawing a line or stepping on rope on the floor and having them hold the position. Once they have mastered standing still you can make it more challenging
Heel to toe stationary balance- the closer the feet are, the more challenging the activity will be
Walking on a line - on the line or rope, work on walking down without stepping off the path (Painters tape works really well)
Make it fun: you can pretend you're pirates walking on the line. Create a race, having to carry water all the way down to fill a bucket. Or place puzzle pieces on one end and the puzzle itself on the other and have them walk from one end to the other to get the pieces.
3. One leg balance on stool or ball
One foot on the stool the other on the floor- Have them accomplish an assignment/painting etc. Tape their homework on the wall. Getting them used to standing on one foot will help them balance more.
Foot on ball- the stool is more stable, moving to standing with one foot on the ball will be more difficult
4. One leg balance activities
Kicking a ball - again, this is going onto one foot and moving.
Stomping bubbles - you can try singing the ants go marching or we are the dinosaurs to keep them more engaged in the activity.
Stepping over obstacles- start with a small toy--> small can --> small box move up
Simon says with colored wall- Have your kid tap their knee to the colors on the wall. Remember to use both feet!
5. Putting on/off socks and shoes while standing
This is the most challenging to have a kid stand on one foot and remove their sock or shoe. Assist them as needed or help them by having them hold onto a wall.
Commenti