It is starting to get colder outside, which means more time spent indoors. However, just because you are inside does not mean you cannot be active. Today’s challenge is to participate in winter themed animal walks. So get ready to channel your inner animal in this cold weather! Make it competitive by creating a racing aspect and feel free to come up with your own winter time animals. Then scroll to the bottom of this article for a video of one of our physical therapists doing some animal walks.
This activity is not only fun but it works on a varitey of skills to help increase your child’s motor abilities. Here are several of the skills that can be addressed:
Motor Planning:
This allows your child to remember and perform the necessary steps to complete an action, such as stepping over an object on the floor, initiating a jumping sequence, or tying their shoes.
Floor to Stand Transfers:
There are many skills required to get down on the floor and then come back to stand. This full body movement helps to grow leg and core strength, balance, and bilateral coordination.
Proprioception:
This is the awareness of your body and its position in space. To perform slow and controlled movements, our bodies need to be aware of the angles and positions of our limbs in space. Working on this skill creates greater coordination between our brains and our bodies!
Why it is important:
These skills are important to work on at an early age while our brains and bodies are growing and learning. So have a blast doing your winter animal walks at home! Others to try are a snow owl, a seal, and a snow leopard!
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