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

Working on Reaching

July 6, 2020 by Stacy Menz

Reaching is a way that your little one begins to purposefully interact with their environment. They see or hear something and they want to reach for it. This can start very early on with floor time. In fact we talk about it in our sidelying post and how sidelying can make it easier to reach!

Reaching on their back can be a little harder sometimes because they have to work against gravity. But you can use a boppy to help give them a little support at their shoulders, as well as decrease the effects of gravity and it makes it easier. Remember, starting close to the body is easier than further away. This goes in all positions!

On the belly, reaching is even a little harder. They have to hold their weight up on one side while moving the arm on the other. In the beginning this may look like creeping the arm a bit along the floor without actually weight shifting. But having them do this encourages more movement.

You want to start with toys in all positions close enough to let them have success and foster more reaching, and then slowly move them further away as they become more proficient at it. Using an activity center is great as well as toys that are extremely responsive to touch because then they get the feedback immediately which encourages more!

Check out this video for some ideas!

Also, for toy ideas visit our Amazon Store

Related

Filed Under: Blog, Developmental Milestones Tagged With: babies, bilateral coordination, coordination, core, education, exercise, fine motor development, gross motor development, kids, motivation, motor planning, Motor Smart Kids, occupational therapy, physical therapy, play, playing, reaching, Starfish Therapies, strengthening

Search

Subscribe To Our Emails

Subscribe and receive access to our FREE products, incredible list of pdfs, websites, readings, and many other useful recommendations!

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 family moved to the bay area 6 years ago, and Starfish Therapies have been a part of our family ever since. Everyone at the clinic is caring and warm. The owner always looks for ways to improve the clinic and the services provided. The therapists are patient, enthusiastic, and know how to motivate the kids to do their best. Even after moving more than an hour away from the clinic, we kept going back to Starfish for intensive therapy sessions every summer! We cannot thank Starfish Therapies enough for helping my daughter to get stronger and to become more independent over the years!”

Recent Blog Posts

  • Occupational Therapy Round-Up
  • Should I Be Concerned?
  • Dr. Seuss Books and Activities
  • More Ideas for Catching
  • Book Inspired Activities

Disclaimers

  • Full Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • HIPAA Patient Notice
  • Accessibility Statement

Search

Patient Resources

  • New Patient Intake Forms
  • Starfish Resources
  • Our Services

Clinical Resources

  • Career Opportunties
  • Continuing Education

Contact

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

Join Our Online Community

Location

BURLINGAME
  1541 Old Bayshore Highway
  Burlingame, CA 94010

© Copyright 2023 Starfish Therapies · All Rights Reserved · Powered by babaLucas

 

Loading Comments...