Hi everyone!
Staci and I are super excited to be back and are ready to kick off a new school year!
For today’s blog, I want to discuss a strategy that I incorporate into every one of my treatment sessions: animal walks.
Animal walks are fun and easy exercises that help improve students upper body strength, proximal stability and motor planning. We need all three of these components to be successful in the school environment.
One type of animal walk is called the bear crawl. Students walk on their hands and feet in a 4-point position without allowing their knees to touch the ground. This exercise is great for shoulder strengthening!
Another type of animal walk is called the crab walk. Students start off in the “table position” and use their hands and feet to walk forward/backward/sideways without allowing their bottom to touch the ground. This is another great exercise for upper arms and core.
A third type of animal walk is called the frog jump. The student will start off in a squat position with their hands on the floor in between their knees. Then the student will use their feet/legs to jump up and forward, landing with their feet and hands on the floor. This exercise is great for upper body strengthening and motor planning.
These animal walks are great strategy to help develop motor skills!
Please feel free to comment with any questions!
Have a great day!
Joe and Staci