Physical therapy doesn’t have to be a drag!
Do you have a child who needs to see a physical therapist? Don’t feel alone because many parents are in the same boat! Physical therapy can do wonders for your child! Unfortunately, in many cases, it can consist of boring and repetitive exercises. After a while, physical therapy can seem a chore for a child; however, it doesn’t always have to be! There are all sorts of ways physical therapy can actually be enjoyable for children! Consider the following activities!
Obstacle Courses
Due to the fact that children generally dislike repetition, it is important to use a variety of activities. Obstacle courses are a great way for a child to practice their agility and improve their muscular strength. An obstacle course can be altered to focus on specific motor skills. For example, if a physical therapist wants to work on a child’s balance, a balance beam could be the implemented to their obstacle course.
Video Games
Believe it or not, video games can be incredibly useful for children who are in need of physical therapy. In general, most children would love me presented with the opportunity to play a video game! Nowadays, many games require a movement in order to move characters on a television screen. Children will forget that they are even participating in physical therapy exercise. Some popular games used in clinics are baseball, bowling, and golf!
Follow The Leader & Simon Says
There are many different variations of “follow the leader” and “Simon says”. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get a child to follow directions. However, if a physical therapist puts a fun twist on giving directions, they are more likely to obey a command. “Follow the leader” is a great way for children who are visual learners and, “Simon says” is a useful activity if the child is an auditory learner.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.