Improve Your Child's Strengths and Functional Ability at Home!

The best way to build strength and functional ability in your child is finding creative ways to frequently explore these things at home! Creating opportunities for your child to explore safely, while fighting the urge to step in and change their experience, is sometimes the best way to facilitate an environment for them to learn in. There are plenty of fun ways to try this at home that are either low or no cost! 

At Home Exercises

• Pushing/Pulling: Flipping a diaper box over and having them push the box around the floor. Try weighting the box with things around the house or even a sibling!
• Carrying: Ask for your child's help with carrying a small bag of groceries in, try carrying it up the stairs for a full body challenge
• Fun & Exercise: Music is always a great way to get moving. Try a dance break and get the family involved
• Outside Play Time: Allow plenty of time to explore outside. Opportunities for children to use all of their senses are where they learn best. Touch the trees, listen to the birds, allow them to climb, and balance. Go for a hike, spend the day at the park, or even hangout in the backyard. 
• Keep Moving! Bubbles are also a fun way to get moving. Try having your child try to pop them on a variety of surfaces (balance on a couch cushion, try standing on one leg, even simply letting them run around is functional) 

Thank you to Ms. Chloe, pediatric physical therapist assistant, for sharing your knowledge and DIY home strengthening tips! If you have concerns, or need help with more home exercises that can help your child becoming stronger, be sure to ask your pediatric physical therapist here at PMC!

References:
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/index.htm