Take it Outside!

Summertime Fun with PT

It’s summertime and one of the best times for kids to go outside and do some activities to build important gross motor skills, strengthen muscles, increase balance and coordination, motor planning and endurance. There are all kinds of things they can do outside like the regular activities of riding a bike, running, jumping rope, skipping, galloping, jumping on the trampoline, playing on the swing set and going to the park.

Summer is a great time, but if it gets too hot outside, just jump in the pool and cool off with a swim. Running through the sprinkler and tossing water balloons are other fun activities to stay cooled off.  Swimming is a great way to strengthen those muscles and make them work without the kids even knowing it.

• Younger kids love bubbles!  Blow some bubble and have them stomp the bubbles, making sure that they use both the left and the right foot to stomp.  Then blow some bubbles high and have them reach for them where they are standing on their tip toes. Chasing bubbles is also a great activity.
• Make hopscotch out of sidewalk chalk.  Make sure when your child is hopping on one foot they alternate, one time with the left foot and then one time with the right foot.

• Walking on the curb with one foot in front of the other or draw a straight line with sidewalk chalk and walk the line with one foot in front of the other.
• Scavenger hunts are good for all ages.  You can put the clues:

• • Down low so the child has to squat and then stand back up
  • Up high so the child has to reach on their tip toes
  • Where they have an obstacle that they have to step over or climb over
  • Where they have to climb up and down a couple steps
  • Where they have to walk on uneven ground such as grass, gravel, sand, etc.

• Obstacle courses – make them fun with simple things you have around the house.  Here are couple of ideas:
  • Fill plastic bottles with water and put them in a zig zag pattern to run or hop through
  • Jump over soft pool noodles or a garden hose
  • Use a board or garden hose as a tightrope
  • Crawl through boxes or army crawl across a blanket or sheet
  • Toss balls or beanbags into a basket or bucket
  • Kick a ball at a target (alternating feet when kicking)
  • Set hula hoops down and jump from hula hoop to hula hoop
  • Run, skip, gallop, run backwards, crab crawl, bear crawl
  • Use Frisbees, horse shoes, bouncy balls, etc.
  • Put a broomstick across a couple chairs to go under or do the limbo

There is so much to do outside, just make it fun and enjoy! Check out some summertime sensory ideas here!