Physical and occupational therapists across the board agree that coordination, along with balance, are two of the most important gross motor skills in a child’s physical development. These skills allow children to participate in physical activities like sports and games like tag. Coordination and balance practice can reduce their risk of injury and improve their ability to perform everyday tasks.
Here are some fun coordination building activities to do at home, inside or out!
1. Marching to music and clapping hands at the same time
2. Cross crawls – touch your right hand to your left knee and then the left hand to your right knee. Repeat touching the opposite feet
3. Traditional jumping jacks
4. Cross Country Jumping Jacks – place right arm and right leg forward jump and switch left arm and left leg forward
5. March in place sitting down while drawing circles in the air with both hands
6. Try a task using both hands or both hands and feet at the same time – ie: dribbling a ball with both hands
7. Play hopscotch – the skill of jumping feet apart and together requires coordination of both sides of the body
8. Perform motor activities to the beat of a metronome
9. Jumping activities – jumping rope, jump up and clap hands, jump up and touch your heels
10. Animal walks that use both sides of the body – ie: crab walk, bear walk (Find more great ideas at yourtherapysource.com)
If you have concerns about your baby/child/teen’s coordination or balance and would like to talk to a physical or occupational therapist, give us a call and we can schedule a free screening right away.