Benefits of Tai Chi for Children

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese type of exercise program with its roots coming from martial arts. It emphasizes a mind body connection using slow, gentle movements, meditation and deep breathing.

Tai chi requires all the major muscle groups and joints to complete the slow, gentle movements. Tai chi has been shown to improve balance, agility, strength, flexibility, stamina, muscle tone, and coordination.

The mediation component of tai chi can help to calm the mind, improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and lower blood pressure and heart rate.

Finally, the deep breathing component of tai chi stretches the muscles involved in breathing, and releases tension. In addition, it can help to increase blood circulation to the brain, which may help increase mental alertness.

So, how will children benefit from tai chi?

• Since tai chi is low impact with gentle motions it is easily adapted for all types of children including those with physical disabilities. Many of the movements can be performed in a seated position. The movement patterns can be adapted so that all can participate at their own level.


• Children with sensory processing difficulties will be challenged to grade their movements and maintain focus on the activity.


• Children who have ADHD can benefit also from the grading of movements, the concentration of deep breathing and the meditation component to calm the mind.


• Children who have motor planning deficits can work on following the motions at a slow and controlled pace.


• Anxious children will benefit from the stress reduction effects of tai chi.

To summarize, adding tai chi to your OT/PT toolbox will benefit many children.

Source: Tai chi | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/tai-chi#ixzz3Dkrt9M9m
University of Maryland Medical Center

Tai Chi for Children: This excellent resource includes a delightfully illustrated story for children with all abilities: It describes the history of Tai Chi and some basic principles and movement patterns (from Tai Chi Fundamentals®) in a way that children can understand. It could be read to teens or adults with intellectual or other challenges as well. This story book is for every parent, teacher, child, therapist, physician, grandmother, or person who wants to learn more about Tai Chi or may want to inspire a child to try this form of physical activity. Downoad the book at http://yourtherapysource.com/taichi.html

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5 Ways to Modify Baseball to Include All Children

With baseball season upon us, therapists can play a role in assisting PE teachers, coaches, after care and recess staff with modifying the game of baseball to include all children.  Here are some suggestions:

1. When teaching the basics of baseball, you may need to provide simple, step by step directions regarding throwing, catching and hitting. For teaching the rules, you may want to provide written instructions with picture prompts if necessary. Pre teach skills if possible.

2. Change up the rules if necessary. Instead of three strikes you are out how about 10 pitches? Or perhaps you are at bat until you make contact with the ball? Maybe instead of three outs per inning you can play that everyone bats is one inning.

3. Modify the equipment. Try a larger bat, lighter bat, hit off of a tee or different sized ball. Do the bases need to be larger (i.e. Circle around base for wheelchair users)? For visually impaired children use a beeping ball.

4. Change the environment if necessary. Make sure the lines are clearly marked. Do the bases need to be closer together? Can the pitching mound be moved forward?      

5.  Be flexible.  Remember to have fun and don't always worry about winning or losing.  

Helping Students and Families Pick Sports

As pediatric therapists, families and students may come to us for suggestions on participation in organized sports for children with disabilities.  We can make recommendations based on a child's strengths.  When a child is evaluated for therapy services, frequently depending upon what evaluation tool is used, you can determine areas of strength such as balance, muscle strength or eye hand coordination skills.  Use this information to help formulate a basic recommendation of what might be best to try for a specific child.

Organized sports that require good eye hand coordination skills are baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball,etc. 

If a child exhibits better balance skills perhaps try gymnastics, karate and diving to name a few.

For some children individualized sports may be a good fit such as swimming, biking, bowling, track and field or skiing.  Individualized sports allow a child to participate in physical activity at their own pace versus the stress of being on a team sport.

Adaptive Ice Skating

Now I know this is not the time of year to be discussing ice skating, but on this very hot day I can at least think about colder weather. Developmental Neurorehabilitation reports on an adaptive ice skating program which was evaluated. Twenty two children with developmental disabilities participated in a 1x/week group for 6 weeks. There was instructors for group lessons and individualized instruction as well. Attendance was high for the 6 sessions (83% attended). Parents reported improvements in their child's balance, lower extremity strength, endurance, self esteem and ability to participate in a group. One minor injury was reported. The authors conclude that the program was successful but would benefit from some minor changes.

Reference: Fragala-Pinkham, Maria A., Dumas, Helene M., Boyce, Megan, Peters, Christine Y., Haley, Stephen M. (2009) Evaluation of an adaptive ice skating programme for children with disabilities Developmental Neurorehabilitation 12(4):215- 223
UR - http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/17518420902980100