With so many schools cancelled we wanted to pull together some of our blog posts to give you some ideas of activities you can do with your little ones! I will try to give age ranges with the following codes, but check some of the activities out that may not be in the age range because it can often spark and idea or be modified (and I often try to share modifications in the posts).
Also, this is not to overwhelm anyone, but rather to provide a resource for you to go to and peruse for ideas. I’m also happy to pull any other compilations together that people may be interested in. It was fun looking through old posts! I will also be trying to come up with more activity ideas for all of you!
And just a reminder to check out our Amazon store if you need toy ideas or other new purchases to keep your kids occupied!
Legend:
- I = infant
- NW = New Walkers
- T = Toddler
- S = School Age/Older Kids
Starfish Shop For More Resources – Make sure you have checked our interactive virtual games and activities
Developmental Milestones Round-Up
Balance
- Dynamic Sitting Balance Activities (T/S)
- Dynamic Standing Balance Activities (T/S)
- Using Spots for Balance (T/S)
- Pop Goes the Bubble (I/NW/T/S)
- Stability Circuit (T/S)
- Single Leg Stance with a Ball and a Wall (T/S)
- Working on Balance Reactions (T/S)
- Bean Bags for Single Leg Stance (T/S)
- Balance and Vestibular System Ideas (T/S)
- Single Leg Stance (NW/T/S)
- Painters Tape Fun (NW/T/S)
- Fun with Balance Beams (NW/T/S)
- Taking the Vision out of Balance (T/S)
- Light Saber Play (S)
- Balance Beam Ideas (NW/T/S)
- Advanced Spots for Balance and Precision (T/S)
Strength
- Wheelbarrow Walking (I/NW/T/S)
- Crab Walking (T/S)
- Let’s Get Moving (T/S)
- Ball Throws for Core Strength (T/S)
- 5 Ways to Use a Physio Ball (I/NW/T/S)
- Ideas to Target the Core (I/NW/T/S)
- Monkey Bars (S)
- Gross Motor Ideas for The Park (NW/T/S)
- Animals Galore (NW/T/S)
- Some Ideas for Developing Core Strength (NW/T/S)
- Buns of Steel – The Exercises (I/NW/T/S)
- Kneeling to Explore New Heights (I/NW/T/S)
- Core Strength with a Tunnel (I/NW/T/S)
- Ideas for Squatting (NW/T/S)
- Planks (T/S)
- Hungry Hippo Meets Wreck it Ralph (T/S)
- Core Exercises with Furniture Sliders (S)
- BOSU – Core Stabilization Exercises (S)
- BOSU – Total Body (S)
- BOSU – Legs (S)
- Foam Roller Exercises (NW/T/S)
- 5 Activities with a Step Stool (I/NW/T/S)
Fun and Fitness
- Heart Pumping Fun (I/NW/T/S)
- Relay Race Fun (T/S)
- Chores for Movement (T/S)
- Nature Walk Ideas (I/NW/T/S)
- Fun with Water Games (I/NW/T/S)
- Learning how to Ride a Bike (T/S)
- Bingo Yoga (T/S)
- Obstacle Course Fun (NW/T/S)
- 8 Ways to Move Like an Animal (T/S)
- Interactive Yoga Nature Walk (T/S)
- Jumping Activities (NW/T/S)
- Hopping Activities (T/S)
Coordination
- Hopscotch (T/S)
- Galloping (T/S)
- Skipping (T/S)
- Furniture Gliders for Motor Control (T/S)
- Activities to Increase Coordination (NW/T/S)
Emerging/New Walkers
- Helping New Walkers Find Stability (NW)
- Progressing to Independent Walking (NW)
- Learning to Walk with a Push Toy (NW)
- Tackling New Terrain With Yoga Mats (NW)
- Walking with a Hula Hoop (NW)
- Progressing Cruising (I/NW)
- My Little one is Walking – Now What (NW)
- Walking Backwards (NW/T)
Babies
- 10 Tips to Help with Tummy Time (I)
- Pre-Crawling (Pivoting and Reversing) (I)
- Strategies for Tummy Time (I)
- 5 Tips for Getting into Sitting (I)
- Tips to Promote Independent Sitting (I)
- Playing in Sidelying (I)
- Hand and Foot Play (I)
- Using the Ball for Rolling (I)
- Teaching Rolling Stomach to Back (I)
- Teaching Rolling Back to Stomach (I)
- Using the Ball to Get Into Sitting (I)
- Tummy Time: It’s a Ball (I)
Ball Skills
- Early Ball Skills (I)
- Teaching Ball Dribbling (T/S)
- Football Fun (NW/T/S)
- Maintaining Supination for Underhand Throwing (T/S)
- Dribbling a Ball (T/S)
- Practicing Underhand Throwing (T/S)
- Water Balloon Fun (T/S)
- Practicing Catching (T/S)
- Practicing Throwing Overhand (NW/T/S)
- More Tips for Ball Skills (NW/T/S)
- Early Kicking Skills (NW/T/S)
- Tips for Kicking (T/S)
Toy Based Ideas (and check out our gift guide for more of our favorite toy ideas)
- Puzzles (NW/T/S)
- Toy Microwave (NW/T/S)
- Connect Four (NW/T/S)
- The Vet (NW/T/S)
- Sidewalk Chalk (NW/T/S)
- Limbo (NW/T/S)
- Spots (NW/T/S)
- Stomp Rocket (NW/T/S)
- Holiday Gift Guide Part 1 (I/NW/T/S)
- Hula Hoops (NW/T/S)
- Pool Noodles (NW/T/S)
- Infant Gym (I)
- Water Squirt Toys (T/S)
- Holiday Gift Guide Part 3 (I/NW/T/S)
- Holiday Gift Guide Part 2 (I/NW/T/S)
- Squat/Stand/Tip Toes (NW/T/S)
- Squigz (I/NW/T/S)
- Suction Cup Balls (I/NW/T/S)
- Toy Selection for Young Kids (I/NW/T)
- From Head to Toe Game (NW/T/S)
- Hula Hoop Play (T/S)
Holiday Themed Ideas (can be modified or why not have a pretend holiday!)
- Halloween Inspired Ideas (T/S)
- Halloween Moves (T/S)
- Thanksgiving (T/S)
- Holiday Activities A (T/S)
- Holiday Activities B (T/S)
- Holiday Activities C (T/S)
- Halloween Spider Web (T/S)
- Halloween Inspired Gross Motor Games (T/S)
- Some Game Ideas with a Halloween Theme (T/S)
- Valentine’s Games and Ideas (T/S)
- Valanetine’s Day Crafts and Games (NW/T/S)
- Easter Egg Hunt for Motor Skills (NW/T/S)
- Thanksgiving Gross Motor Activities (NW/T/S)
- Holiday and Winter Games (NW/T/S)
- Pot of Gold (T/S)
- Catch the Starfish Bunny (T/S)
- 4th of July Activities (T/S)
Learning Ideas
Games/Motivators
- More Great Songs for Therapy (I/NW/T/S)
- Kids Games – More New Twists on Old Games (T/S)
- Great Songs for Therapy (I/NW/T/S)
- Carnival Games (T/S)
- Horse Races (T/S)
- Stacking Cups (NW/T/S)
- Let’s Play and Get Messy (NW/T/S)
- Balloon in the Air (NW/T/S)
- Kids Games – New Twists on Old Favorites (T/S)
- Peter Pan Scavenger Hunt (T/S)
- Home Schooling Activity Breaks (T/S)
- Birthday Party Game Ideas (T/S)
- Kids Activities with 4 Everyday Items you Have at Home (I/NW/T/S)
- 5 Ways to Use a Pillow (T/S)
- 4 Ways to Use a Large Cardboard Box (NW/T)
- Snowball Fight (NW/T/S)
Other
- Weight bearing through arms (NW/T/S)
- When All Things Aren’t Equal – Legs (NW/T/S)
- Ideas to Encourage Weight Shifting (T/S)
- Fun Ideas for Sensory Exploration (NW/T/S)
- What Goes Up Must Come Down (I/NW/T/S)
- Using a Swing to Work on Jumping (T/S)
- Duct Tape Tote and Wallet (S)
- Teaching Shoe Tying (T/S)
- Spring Movement (I/NW/T/S)
- Summer Activities (NW/T/S)
- Aquatic Fun (NW/T/S)
- Beach Fun (NW/T/S)
Fine Motor
- 5 Ways to Use Drinking Straws (T/S)
- Cutting Straws (T/S)
- The Benefits of PB&J (T/S)