Olympic-Themed Therapy!
Olympic-Themed Therapy!
Friday August 5th marks the opening ceremony for the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio. The Olympics are where the best athletes of each country come together and compete against one another in different events, but you do not have to travel to Rio to compete. Hosting your own Olympic games are a great way to get your kids outside and playing. Below are some different ideas for Olympic style games that also help work on gross motor activities. If your remember from one of my previous blogs, gross motor skills are body movements such as walking, running, jumping, throwing, etc. You can also work on social interaction skills by inviting other kids in the neighborhood over to compete.
Event: Gymnastics
Gymnastic events are a great way for kids to work on balance and stability. One idea is to spray paint a line in the grass using field paint. This will act as a balance beam, and you can create different events such as walking forward, walking backward, standing on 1 foot, and even hopping on 1 foot all while staying on the balance beam.
Event: Track and Field
Track and field events are great ways to build strength and endurance. You can create your own decathlon in the backyard. You can do some individual races such as sack races or crab walking races, or create an obstacle course and have a team relay race. Field events such as throwing and jumping are also great ways to improve strength. Use bocce balls for shot put, and stack pool noodles on top of each other to create a high jump. Pool noodles are also great to lay down throughout the yard and create a hurdle track.
These are just a few ideas to turn your backyard into an Olympic arena. Below are some great links for other event ideas along with different craft ideas to create team costumes and medals.
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/holding-your-own-olympic-games
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/olympic-games-kids/games-beach-0
-Matthew D’Antonio, PT, DPT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
