Starfish Therapies

A pediatric therapy company operating in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. We provide physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy services in the most beneficial and convenient setting for you and your child, including our clinic, currently located in Burlingame, your home, school or daycare.

  • About Us
    • Our Team
  • Our Services
    • Motor Smart Kids
    • Continuing Education
    • Resources
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Corona Virus (Covid-19) Response / Move to Telehealth

Doing Two Things at Once

February 20, 2015 by Stacy Menz

cleaning7

Have you ever asked your child to walk while holding their glass of milk back to the table? “Dual tasking” or doing two things a once can sometimes be a difficult task and occasionally can lead to some spilled milk! Walking has been thought to be an automatic activity. However, recently studies have shown that walking actually requires attention and that people change their walking pattern when performing a dual task.

A study published in 2007 examined pre-school children ages 4 to 6 and their ability to perform easy and difficult dual tasks. They examined the changes in the children’s walking performance while walking normally, walking while performing a motor task (carrying a tray with or without marbles), and walking while completing a cognitive task (counting forwards or backwards). The results of this study show that in typically developing children walking is affected by carrying out a simultaneous task. Children need to create stability to carry out the dual task and therefore widened their stance, take shorter steps, spend more time with both feet on the ground and slow down their walking speed in order adjust to the task. This demonstrates that children have decreased walking efficiency and compromised balance while they carry out either a motor or cognitive task.

Walking while performing a concurrent task occurs commonly and frequently in a child’s every day life, for example walking while carrying a tray of food at school, walking a glass of milk back to the table or walking while answering a question. Teachers and parents should be aware of the cost and effort that it takes for a child to walk and perform these common tasks. This knowledge can help choose suitable activities that the child can successfully complete as well as prevent an accidental fall or spilled milk. Therefore, allow your child to walk slowly, safely and carefully the next time they are walking their glass full of milk back to the table!

Cherng RJ, Liang LY, Hwang IS, Chen JY. The effect of a concurrent task on the walking performance of preschool children. Gait Posture 2007;26:231-7.

Related

Filed Under: Developmental Milestones Tagged With: fine motor development, gross motor development, kids, motor planning, Motor Smart Kids, Starfish Therapies

Search

Subscribe To Our Emails

Primary Programs

  • Motor Smart Kids
    • Free Play
    • Kids Action Hour
    • Yoga for Kids of All Abilities
    • Functional Movement Screen
    • Video Running Analysis
    • Youth Sports Injury Prevention
    • Concussion Screening and Management
  • Continuing Education
    • PNF 1: Introduction to PNF
    • PNF 2: Accessing the Trunk
    • Strength Training in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder
  • Resources
    • Telehealth
    • Informational Handouts
    • Useful Websites
    • Recommended Readings
    • Helpful Products
    • Blogs to Follow
    • Favorite Therapy Products at amazon.com

What Clients Are Saying

“Our experience with Stacy and the team at Starfish Therapies has been fantastic. The group is incredibly passionate, very professional, and know how to make therapy fun for a child! Our daughter looks forward to her session — whether it’s in-person or via the convenient tele-health option. The intake process is comprehensive and involves collaborative goal-setting with quantifiable measures and milestones. In addition, we get a list of activities we can work on at home, which has become part of our daily routine! We’ve seen big gains in our daughter’s movements, balance and confidence. Thank you, Starfish Therapies!”

Recent Blog Posts

  • Spring Movement Activities
  • Books to Celebrate Diversity
  • Hopping Activities
  • Jumping Activities
  • Interactive Yoga Nature Walk

Disclaimers

  • Full Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • HIPAA Patient Notice

Search

Patient Resources

  • New Patient Intake Forms
  • Resources
  • Our Services

Clinical Resources

  • Career Opportunties
  • Continuing Education

Contact

  (650) 638-9142
  (650) 638-9141
  admin@starfishtherapies.com

Join Our Online Community

Locations

  BURLINGAME / MAIN CLINIC
  1541 Old Bayshore Highway
  Burlingame, CA 94010


  SAN FRANCISCO
  (located in KidSpace)
  3401 Mission St.
  San Francisco, CA 94110


  PALO ALTO
  (located in Agile Physical Therapy)
  3825 El Camino Real
  Palo Alto, CA 94306


HALF MOON BAY
  (located at Sensitive Solutions)
  30 Avenue Portola, Suite 200 C & D
  Half Moon Bay, CA 94018

© Copyright 2021 Starfish Therapies · All Rights Reserved · Powered by babaLucas