Listen, Follow and Move

Purpose: Encourage listening skills, following motor commands, self regulation skills and left right directions.

Materials: small object i.e. toy car, small doll, etc.

Activity:
Before you start establish what the movement pattern will be.  Try to write it down so the
children can refer to it if necessary.  For example a pattern could be the following:
clap one time to move forward

clap two times to turn to the right
clap three times to turn to the left
slap knee one time to move backwards

Pick one child to be “it”.  This child will have to listen to a pattern to determine where to
go to find a missing object.  The child needs to close his/her eyes while someone in the
group hides the object away from the child who is “it”.

Make sure all the children keep calm during the game since it does take some
concentration.

Once the object is hidden, the child who is “it” can open his/her eyes.  Now the group
must direct the child to the hidden object only using the established code.  No talking
allowed.  You can have them take turns to clap out commands or agree to the code and
then all clap together.   Once the child finds the hidden object take turns letting the
other children be “it”.  Try changing the code every few rounds.

Want to make it harder?:  Play music in the background so the child has to filter out
the background noise and concentrate only on the established code.  Blindfold the
child and they have to feel for the hidden object.

Want to make it easier?  Limit the code to very simple directions – clap once to move
forward and clap twice to move backwards.  Use verbal directions for right and left.

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25 Instant Sensory Motor Group Activities - Find out more at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/instant.html

Tai Chi for Children

I am so excited to announce this new electronic title - Tai Chi for Children.  You can download some sample pages from the ebook at http://yourtherapysource.com/taichi.html.

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.

Also included is background information on Tai Chi, the 12 movements of Tai Chi (with full page illustrations), guidelines which include the key components of each movement, benefits and simple verbal cues for seated and standing positions, student feedback scale and student practice chart.

Get more information at http://yourtherapysource.com/taichi.html

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Free Sticky Note OT/PT Reminders

Print some reminders for the next occupational or physical therapy sessions on sticky notes.  Place in a student's planner to remind teachers, parents and students when the next session is scheduled.  These are great for the start of the school year when the schedule is new.  Also, wonderful way to create independence for students who walk to therapy room by themselves.  You can download all the details at YourTherapySource.com.

Interesting New Treadmill

Came across this new treadmill they are using in the Netherlands for adult rehabilitation.  Images are projected onto the treadmill as obstacles or targets.  This would be great in pediatrics.  Check out this You Tube video. 

Free Web Tools for Therapists

Advance for PT has published my article entitled Free Web Tools for Therapists. Check it out.

Evidence Based Tips on Childhood Obesity and Physical Activity

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) published a fact sheet on childhood obesity and physical activity. Here are several of the suggested recommendations based on research:

1. 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day for children ages 5-18 years old.
2. Preschoolers should participate in 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity per day.
3. To increase physical activity in adolescents involve the school, community and family.
4. To encourage physical activity in preschoolers have outside play areas and supportive staff.
5. Preschoolers will engage in more physical activity if their parents are active, they have a large yard and there are restrictions on television.
6. Encourage and assist children with disabilities to find appropriate physical activities.

For the fact sheet in its entirety visit http://www.pediatricapta.org/pdfs/WPTDay-C1-Child_obesity.pdf

Reference: World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Childhood Obesity and Physical Activity. Retrieved from the web on 8/5/09 from http://www.pediatricapta.org/pdfs/WPTDay-C1-Child_obesity.pdf.

Independent Exercising

The Journal of Intellectual Disabilities reports on a small research study involving 4 adults with intellectual disabilities. The adults had a face to face meeting to go over the exercise regimen and follow up phone calls. The participants used a DVD at home to exercise. Seventy five percent of the participants increased their exercise frequency threefold.

Although this study has an extremely small sample size, it offers some nice ideas for prescribing home exercise programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Reference: Michelle D. Lynnes, Doug Nichols, and Viviene A. Temple Fostering independence in health-promoting exercise Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 13, No. 2, 143-159 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1744629509340815

Walk On - ESPN Video Inspiring!

Heard about this from @Empower4all on Twitter. Here is an inspiring video on a man's love of golf. This is such a GREAT story.