OT Activity of the Day:
Play with a balloon
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Most kids love balloons. They love to throw them up in the air, catch them, and even pop them. Little did they know it's also a great way to practice upper limb coordination, also known as ball skills.
When kids struggle with this portion of the testing I usually suggest that the family start playing with balloons. Balloons travel slower and allow the child to position their body so they can catch it more successfully. Balloons also give children a chance to practice throwing over hand or under hand without worrying about the speed at which the ball travels, balloons move much slower.
You can also play balloon volleyball, basketball, or even monkey in the middle and work on some visual tracking skills. Switch it up and practice some core work and play crab soccer or crab volleyball.
Enjoy!