Let’s Make it More Fun!
How are the first exercises going? We know they’re super simple. But……..we also know making the time to do them regularly is about as easy as keeping the laundry caught up. But, a little time each day, now, can have a huge impact on your child’s success now and in their future as an adult. And, it only takes about as long as folding the colored batch. So we wanted to give you some rockin’ hacks and tips that we used to make them fun, and save time.
Now, we’ve learned that part of the ‘time saving’ can be accomplished by making the the exercises fun so your little person is pumped to do them. Having them engaged and willing is super helpful on your chi as well, especially if you’ve had way too much coffee and you’re feeling a little twitchy and edgy as it is. I should know.
Another way to make it short and sweet is by offering incentives such as stickers, screen time, a little craft etc. I buy packages of little plastic kitties or cars and let them have one each time they finish. Start with super short sessions and you can work up to longer ones over time.
By now, you have seen our Quick Start Guide. So, you know how important the following abilities are to their development and how to do them. Now lets make it fun!
Tip 1: Moro Exercises
I like to put kitty stickers on the left hand and leg; then puppy stickers on the right hand and leg. Their goal is to cross up with both kitties on top, then open up and cross over with both puppies on top. This helps them visually as they do this multiple times.
Tip 2: Olfactory Exercise
(Sense of Smell)
I made this a fun ‘guessing game’ by using canisters with different smelling gum and herbs (watermelon, apple, grape, oregano, garlic etc.). The whole point is to stimulate their smell. So, after they have tried to guess the smell in each canister, I let them choose a piece of gum. But here’s the hitch. I have them find the gum they want by mixing up the canisters and finding their chioce by smell. Ya, it is just a dirty parent trick to get them to smell the canisters one more time and addict them to the ‘guessing game’. They love it. Hey, if instant rewards work for Xbox, it can work for my agenda too.
Tip 3: Proprioception Exercises (Balance)
Show them a circus tight-rope walker on Youtube. They will think it is cool. Now you can pretend with them that you are tight rope walkers that have to balance on the wire. Stand on the line with them, and stay close to catch them if they sway.
Tip 4: Smooth Pursuit Exercises
Put a sticker of a cute kitty at the top of a pencil, and a cute puppy on the back of it. Make up a little story about the doggy chasing the kitty away as you move the pencil in one direction and the kitty sneaking back as you move it in the other direction. This is more fun than just …. ‘follow the pencil with your eyes’.
If their head turns with their eyes, this means their head movement is still connected to their eye movements. You can have them rest their chin on their fists as you do this to help them separate it. Sometimes, I will gently hold their chin while they follow the pencil with their eyes in the beginning. Over time, I help them develop the control themselves.
You are already awesome for taking the time to improve someone’s future. Keep it fun and light for both of you 🙂
14 Printable Crafts for Rewards
Make sure to reward them so they look forward to next time. Here are some free printable crafts to use as a reward or incentive for your kiddo’s cooperation. Sit and do it with them after your exercises for some fun together time.
(c) Bialasiewicz www.fotosearch.com (c) oksun70 www.fotosearch.com (c) xilius www.fotosearch.com
