Sensory Motor

OT Activity of the Day:  Rainy Day Obstacle Course:  Target age: Any age!

Supplies: Anything lying around the house. I used a chair, an ab ball, a 5 pound weight, painters tape, and throw pillows/bed pillows shoved in a fitted sheet. 

Rainy days can be challenging, especially for those kiddos who benefit from the extra movement/input they might get from playing outside to stay focused/regulated in school or at home. 

A simple way to combat this lack of movement/input is to make an at home obstacle course! Start with a scavenger hunt for obstacles, anything can be fair game and it will be fun to see what the kiddos come up with. Then plan out the course, this is a great way to work on sequencing and problem solving, how will the obstacle course work? What's first? Last? You can also work on collaborative play as they work with siblings or friends to build this course, have each child pick one aspect to plan so all ideas are heard. Target writing skills by having them write the start/stop signs, or write out the obstacles. Repeat the course as many times as necessary!

I designed this course so that I could challenge kiddos to complete jumping jacks, or other movements, on the taped X, crawl under or over the chair, jump into the pillows, bounce or lay on the ab ball, and using 2 hands together lift the weight in the air. 

** I would always suggest supervision for any gross motor activity. Safety first! I would also suggest a calming activity like play dough, Legos, or drawing afterwards to help the kiddos calm down.