Children’s occupational therapy
Core stability
A number of children have poor core stability, which is the ability to control the
position and movement of the central portion of the body. This impacts upon their
balance, coordination and fine motor skills.
The strategies advised by occupational therapists can be completed in the home and
require very little, if any, equipment.
Recommended Activities to develop core stability
The following activities target the muscles deep within the abdomen connecting the
spine, pelvis and shoulders. These muscles assist in the maintenance of good
posture and provide the foundations for all arm and leg movements.
Bridge
Lie on your back on the floor, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor.
Place your hands flat on the floor at the side of your body and lift your
bottom up as high as you can to form a slope with your body. Hold
this for up to 10 seconds and then slowly lower your body to the floor.
Table
Start in a sitting position with your feet flat on the floor and knees bent. Place hands
behind you on the floor with your fingers facing your toes. Lift your bottom up until
you are flat and slowly count to 10.
Next get into same position but lift your bottom slowly for 5 seconds
until you are flat, then lower your bottom for 5 seconds.
When you can complete this activity easily you can play crab football. You and a
friend get into the table position and kick a ball without putting your bottom down on
the floor. See who can score the most goals.
Bear walk
With hands and feet on floor, move your right arm and leg forward
simultaneously, then left arm and leg. If this is too difficult, try it on
your hands and knees.
Cat stretch
Kneel on all fours. Push your back up to the ceiling so
it is rounded and point your head to the floor. Then
arch your back and lift your head.
Wheelbarrow walk
Place your hands on the floor. Ask another person to hold your legs up
off the floor. Keep your legs straight and walk your hands forward. See
how far you can get. Have races or make it part of a game.
Balance
Kneel on the floor and place your hands on the floor in front of
you. Lift your right arm out in front of you and your left leg out
behind you, and hold for 10 seconds. Swap to your left arm
and right leg and repeat.
Curling into a ball
Lie on your back, pull your knees up to your chest and hug them
with your arms. Lift your head up to your knees and hold this
position for 10 seconds.
Kicking ball
Lie down on your back and pull your knees up to your
chest. Get someone to throw a medium size ball to you
and kick it back to them with your feet. Try not to let your
feet crash to the floor after you have kicked the ball.
Bicycle legs
Lie on back with feet in the air and pretend to ride a bike by ‘cycling’ your legs up in
the air. Try to do 20 ‘cycles’, have a rest, and then try 20 more.
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Bean bag throws
Lie on your back with your legs facing a hoop or bucket, about 1.5m from your feet.
Bend knees and open them slightly so that you can see through your knees. Lift your
head and throw beanbags between knees and into the circle. Use both hands to
throw and do not support yourself on elbows while throwing.
Superman
Lie on your tummy, lift head up first and then the shoulders, arms and legs. Keep
straight off the floor and hold this position.
Lift arms up and wide open, with palms facing downwards or forwards, not backwards,
and hold (while keeping a straight position off the floor). Lift both legs up and keep
them straight, count out loud as long as possible. Aim for 20 seconds or whatever he
can manage and try to beat this time.
Avoid postures with buttocks up or bent knees. If this is difficult initially have the child lie
on their stomach, extend and raise their arms off the floor and touch the adult’s hands.
Additional exercises:
Kid’s yoga – Try practicing a couple of postures from kid’s yoga every day.
Animal walks:
Frog jump - Squat on the floor, placing your hands on the floor in front of you. Move
both hands forward, then bring feet up to hands in jumping motion (remain in
squatting position)
Bear walk – See above.
Inchworm - Squat on floor with hands in front. Keeping feet stable, walk hands
forward as far as you can so that you are stretched out. Keep hands stable and walk
feet up to hands back to squatting position.
Elephant walk - Bend over with arms dangling toward floor. Clasp hands together to
form trunk. Maintain position while walking, swinging trunk from side to side.
Kangaroo jump - Squat on the floor with hands at sides, raise up and jump forward,
sinking back into squatting position as you land.
Crab walk - Lean back and put hands on floor (supine with buttocks off floor) walk
backwards, using hands and feet alternately.
Duck walk - Squat on floor with hands at sides. Remain in position while walking
(waddling) forward.
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Leisure activities - swimming, horse riding, volleyball, walking (preferably with a
light backpack) and games such as swingball, cricket and badminton can also help
increase endurance and body stability.
Play Twister
Use of playground equipment – such as monkey bars, climbing structures requiring
upper strength, balance beams, see-saws and stepping stones.
Trampoline - Go on a trampoline or on the bed if you are allowed. Jump up and
down and count the jumps out loud. Try jumping with legs moving in different
patterns. E.g. legs together and apart, scissor jumps or star jumps. Then make it
more challenging by catching and throwing balloons or balls, batting balls, popping
bubbles etc.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the
department on 01706 676777
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