Did you know October is National Physical Therapy Month? This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on all of the incredible work physical therapists do, and recognize the important role physical therapy can play in helping children move, grow, and thrive. At PTN, our amazing PTs help kiddos build important skills such as balance, coordination, mobility, and strength, all while supporting greater confidence and independence along the way.
To kick off the celebration, we’re sharing 3 activities to get your little ones moving during National Physical Therapy Month. Not only are these activities fun, but they also incorporate items that you probably already have at home. Let’s get started!
1. Mystery Movement Challenge
A great way to stay active during National Physical Therapy Month is to try a mystery movement challenge. Write down simple movements on pieces of paper and place them inside a bowl. Then, take turns picking a mystery movement that you’ll need to complete. You can include silly challenges such as waddling like a penguin, hopping like a bunny, walking like a crab, or galloping like a horse. This is a fantastic way to build strength, balance, and coordination, all while being creative.
A Great First Step: Show your child how to perform each movement before they take their turn.
2. Silly Storytime
Storytime doesn’t mean having to sit still! Getting up and moving while you read is a simple way to make your little one’s favorite books even more engaging. As you read, act out certain parts of the story with your child. For example, you could pretend to climb a mountain, swim across a river, stomp through the mud, reach up high to pick apples from a tall tree, or tiptoe past a sleeping animal. Your kiddos will love watching the story come to life while getting to be silly and letting their imagination run wild.
A Great First Step: Instead of acting out the entire story, choose one simple action that your child can repeat such as stomping their feet, reaching up high, or clapping their hands.
3. Stepping Stone Adventure
Get ready to go on a stepping stone adventure! To begin, place pillows, paper plates, or pieces of paper around the room. Then, watch as your child goes from one stone to the next without touching the floor. Encourage them to try different ways of traveling such as stepping sideways, hopping, or taking big steps. Once they make it across, switch things up by creating more paths for your little one to explore.
A Great First Step: Start by placing the “stones” close together in a straight line so that your child can easily reach each one.
Follow our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long as we continue to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you think your little one could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support your family however we can.
