In this section you will find exercises, interventions, and strategies that have been recommended to you by your occupational therapist. These may include: Sensory integration strategies, training regarding activities of daily living, strengthening and stretching activities, home program recommendations, and more! 

Video: Hand Rainbows

• Link: https://youtu.be/n0Dq1I5rVhc
• Technique: Stretches/mobilizations.
• Exercise Objective: Stretching/mobilizing small muscles and joints of the hands for play or weight bearing. 
• Exercise Requirements: Must have intact skin on the palms and back of the hands (no wounds, skin abrasions). 
• Precautions: None.
• Equipment: None needed.
• Contraindications: Caution with children who do not tolerate touch to their hands, children with wounds or skin breakdown on their hands. 

Video: Easy Grip

• Link: https://youtu.be/MuSFKcYkH_M
• Technique: Play/activity of daily living adaptation.
• Exercise Objective: To assist your child with maintaining grasp on toys or self-care items such as a toothbrush, eating utensil, or hairbrush to increase engagement in play and daily activities. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should be able to tolerate pressure from the hair tie/item on their hand. 
• Precautions: None.
• Equipment: Fabric or coiled hair tie; desired toy (rattle, drum stick, marker or selfcare item).
• Contraindications: Children who do not tolerate pressure from items in their hand, children with wounds or abrasions on their skin. 

Video: Deep Pressure Massage

• Link: https://youtu.be/CI8rLrnL4QY
• Technique: Sensory integration.
• Exercise Objective: Increase focus, decrease level of arousal, and anxiety. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to tolerate tactile pressure applied across their trunk and extremities. 
• Precautions: Sensitive skin; wounds or abrasions. 
• Equipment: You will need lotion or cream.
• Contraindications: Children who are aversive to tactile stimulation.

Video: Joint Compression

• Link: https://youtu.be/FZQgKRERFLc
• Technique: Sensory integration.
• Exercise Objective: Increase body awareness, joint stability and strength, and self-regulation. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to tolerate gentle compression in joints of their extremities. 
• Precautions: Children who are hypersensitive to touch and tactile stimulation. 
• Equipment: None needed.
• Contraindications: Children with joint contracture; subluxation; brittle bones. 

Video: Sensory Box

• Link: https://youtu.be/UnHDvXQJUAc
• Technique: Sensory integration.
• Exercise Objective: To increase joint attention, fine-motor, visual-motor, visual-perceptual skills, and decrease tactile defensiveness. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child should be able to participate in exploration with minimal aversion or sensitivity to various textures. 
• Precautions: Supervision at all times especially younger children. 
• Equipment: Plastic box with lid, shower mitten, pom poms, textured brush, soft bristle brush, silicon toys/brushes, bead necklace, bell, rattle, maraca, squeeze ball, night light, light up ball.
• Contraindications: Children who consistently put things in their mouth placing them at risk of choking on small pieces.

Video: Dressing Stick

• Link: https://youtu.be/E4_Q24oMEas
• Technique: Adaptive equipment – self care independence.
• Exercise Objective: To assist your child with putting on or taking off clothing such as socks or shoes when it is difficult to reach below their waist. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp on the dressing stick and coordinate arm movements while sitting either supported or unsupported. 
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Dressing stick, clothing.
• Contraindications: Children who require significant assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children with limited control of their arms, head, and torso.

Video: Reacher/Sock-Aid

• Link: https://youtu.be/2dhSQxcCuBY
• Technique: Adaptive equipment – self care independence.
• Exercise Objective: To assist your child with access to items out of reach either in sitting or standing; to increase independence with putting on his/her socks. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp with both hands on the reacher/sock aid; ability to coordinate arm and hand movements while sitting either supported or unsupported. 
• Precautions: Supervision. 
• Equipment: Reacher, sock aid, sock.
• Contraindications: Children who require significant assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children with limited control of their arms, head, and torso.

Video: Shoe Horn

• Link: https://youtu.be/wD2Tff6UsxE
• Technique: Adaptive equipment – self care independence.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s independence with putting on his/her shoes. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp and coordinate movement of the shoe horn, maintain sitting in a supported or partially supported position. 
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Shoes, long handled shoe horn. 
• Contraindications: Children who require assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children who have limited control of their arms, head, and torso. 

Video: Leg Lifter

• Link: https://youtu.be/d5O0JZUELc0
• Technique: Adaptive equipment – self care independence.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s ability to access their feet for tasks such as putting on, or taking off socks and shoes. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp and coordinate movement of the leg lifter, maintain sitting in a supported or partially supported position. 
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Leg lifter.
• Contraindications: Children who require assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children with limited control of their arms, head, and torso. 

Video: Button Hook

• Link: https://youtu.be/zGs-NvoO-XA
• Technique: Adaptive equipment – self care independence.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s independence with buttoning their shirt. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp and coordinate movement of both hands, maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position. 
• Precautions: Supervision. 
• Equipment: Button hook, button-up shirt.
• Contraindications: Children who require assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children with limited control of their arms, head, and torso. 

Video: Bugs on the Wall

• Link: https://youtu.be/JLz1gRJV5Zs
• Technique: Arm strength/coordination and postural control.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s arm strength, coordination, endurance, as well as postural control. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to initiate reaching over head, passive range of motion for shoulder movements, maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position while reaching. 
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Wall, toys, or stickers. 
• Contraindications: Children with contractures at the shoulders or elbows that prevent them from achieving exercise position, children who does not initiate arm movements. 

Video: Elbow Squeeze

• Link: https://youtu.be/GAmZwuhDEFY
• Technique: Arm strength and awareness of joint position.
• Exercise Objective: To increase muscle activation and joint stimulation in order to use arm for stability during play or self-care activities. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to bear weight through his/her arm, passive range of motion to achieve arm position, ability to maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position. 
• Precautions: Supervision. 
• Equipment: Engaging toy: balls with target, musical toys, puzzles, etc.
• Contraindications: Children who require significant support for their trunk and head during sitting tasks. Caution with children who have contractures at the shoulders, elbows, or hands. 

Video: Puppy Play

• Link: https://youtu.be/5-MyeuciF34
• Technique: Postural control, strength, joint position.
• Exercise Objective: To increase postural control, arm strength, joint position awareness, and cervical control required for play. 
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to bear weight through arms/hands and bent knees, extend head with some support at torso. 
• Precautions: Supervision. 
• Equipment: Toys your child prefers to play with; firm, flat, clean surface. 
• Contraindications: Children who cannot bear weight through extended arms/hands and knees bent; children who have significant limitations in moving their arms and hands. 

Video: Tips for Putting on Your Shoes

• Link: https://youtu.be/wL8UrpBF41E
• Technique: Adaptive Equipment – Self Care Independence.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s independence with putting on his/her shoes.
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp and coordinate movement of both hands, maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position.
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Shoes, long handled shoe horn.
• Contraindications: Children who require assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children who have limited control of their arms, head, and torso.

Video: How to Make a Button Hook, and Tips for Buttoning a Shirt

• Link: https://youtu.be/69×2-jYtcS4
• Technique: Adaptive Equipment – Self Care Independence.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s independence while buttoning their shirt.
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to maintain grasp and coordinate movement of both hands, maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position.
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Paper clip, PVC pipe.
• Contraindications: Children who require assistance maintaining grasp and lifting lightweight items; children with limited control of their arms, head, and torso.

Video: Strengthening Shoulders and Arms

• Link: https://youtu.be/-NZ7BY2KuD0
• Technique: Arm strength/coordination and postural control.
• Exercise Objective: To increase your child’s arm strength, coordination, endurance, and mobility.
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to move upper extremities through their range of motion, ability to maintain sitting in a supported or unsupported position.
• Precautions: Supervision.
• Equipment: Two (2) water bottles or cans.
• Contraindications: Children with contractures at the shoulders or elbows that prevent them from achieving exercise position, children who do not initiate arm movements.

In this section you will find exercises, interventions, and strategies that have been recommended to you by your physical therapist. These may include: Strengthening and stretching exercises, developmental activities, balance and coordination strategies, breathing exercises, and more! 

Video: Hopscotch

• Link: https://youtu.be/DEMF_TlSQQs
• Technique: Jumping and coordination.
• Exercise Objective: Bilateral coordination, lower extremity strengthening, motor planning. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child must be able to walk, jump, and have good standing balance. 
• Precautions: Be cautious and guard child throughout to prevent fall. 
• Equipment: Gait belt if available. Chalk/poly dots to visualize hopscotch pattern. 
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to stand or walk on their own. 

Video: Stacking Muffin Liners (Breathing Exercise)

• Link: https://youtu.be/Bf0De2Cx1Dk
• Technique: Respiratory function.
• Exercise Objective: Inspiratory muscle strengthening, inspiratory lung volume 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should be able to voluntarily breathe in. 
• Precautions: None. 
• Equipment: Muffin tin liners, straw.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to voluntarily breathe in on command.

Video: Racing Muffin Liners (Breathing Exercise)

• Link: https://youtu.be/ab9vqcoNemE
• Technique: Respiratory function.
• Exercise Objective: Expiratory muscle strengthening, expiratory lung volume. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should be able to voluntarily breathe out. 
• Precautions: None. 
• Equipment: Muffin tin liners, straw.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to voluntarily breathe out on command.

Video: Blowing Bubbles with a Straw (Breathing Exercise)

• Link: https://youtu.be/8silGzjNFVw
• Technique: Respiratory function.
• Exercise Objective: Expiratory muscle strengthening, expiratory lung volume. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should be able to voluntarily breathe out. 
• Precautions: Make sure to not breathe in. 
• Equipment: Straw, cup, soap.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to understand the difference of breathing out versus breathing in.

Video: Sitting & Reaching Activity

• Link: https://youtu.be/kyYTM-XXFCI
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Core strengthening, functional reaching, balance reactions. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should have good sitting balance and the ability to reach with one or both hands. 
• Precautions: Have feet supported on ground throughout.
• Equipment: Couch/bed, pillow, toy to reach for.
• Contraindications: Children with poor sitting balance or inability to reach with one or both hands.

Video: Transition from Floor to Half-Kneeling

• Link: https://youtu.be/yWM2OC5bUIE
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: Postural control, motor planning, coordination, balance, functional reaching. 
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should have good trunk and head control. 
• Precautions: Be cautious of poor trunk and head control and balance when on one knee. 
• Equipment: Surface in front of your child, ball or toy to reach for.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to bend their knees or weight bear on their knees.

Video: Basic Safety Tips when Using an Exercise Ball

• Link: https://youtu.be/Eh0Sp1jYhdI
• Technique: Exercise ball activities.
• Exercise Objective: Safety tips to know prior to participating in physioball activities. 
• Exercise Requirements: Clearance by physical therapist as well as caregiver understanding and safety with use of physioball. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if a child has poor head control. 
• Equipment: Exercise ball.
• Contraindications: Not given clearance by physical therapist as well as caregivers who do not understand or are unable to safely perform activities on physioball. 

Video: Tummy Time Activities on an Exercise Ball

• Link: https://youtu.be/lmX_0QyhYZA
• Technique: Developmental positions.
• Exercise Objective: Head control, neck strengthening, abdominal strength, functional reaching. 
• Exercise Requirements: Clearance by physical therapist as well as caregiver understanding and safety with use of physioball. 
• Precautions: Allow the ball to move with your child. Be cautious if child has G-tube. 
• Equipment: Physioball, potentially a pillow or towels/blankets for beginners.
• Contraindications: Not given clearance by physical therapist as well as caregivers who do not understand or are unable to safely perform activities on physioball. 

Video: Rolling

• Link: https://youtu.be/HiPvA89FesY
• Technique: Developmental positions.
• Exercise Objective: Core strengthening, motor planning, developmental milestones, bed mobility. 
• Exercise Requirements: Proper body mechanics and understanding of handling by caregiver. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if child has G-tube, frequent shoulder subluxations or dislocations. 
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: This activity can be performed with all children after consulting with physical therapist for safe handling.

Video: Sitting Balance on an Exercise Ball

• Link: https://youtu.be/3rL8qMMGiiE
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Sitting balance, core strength, head control, protective reactions. 
• Exercise Requirements: Clearance by physical therapist as well as caregiver understanding, and safety with use of physioball. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if a child has poor head control. 
• Equipment: Physioball.
• Contraindications: Not given clearance by physical therapist as well as caregivers who do not understand or are unable to safely perform activities on physioball. 

Video: Dependent Transfer from Bed to Wheelchair

• Link: https://youtu.be/kmY5Ao7-VTc
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: One caregiver transfer assist of child. 
• Exercise Requirements: Wheelchair brakes must be locked, and be sure to use proper body mechanics. 
• Precautions: Clear area to prevent tripping over items. Lock wheelchair brakes. 
• Equipment: Wheelchair.
• Contraindications: If a caregiver is unable to safely perform on their own, ask for help, or use a different technique to transfer your child.

Video: Slide Board Transfer

• Link: https://youtu.be/ECqKN-bgrrs
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: Transfer from one surface to another with use of a slide board. 
• Exercise Requirements: Wheelchair brakes must be locked and be sure to use proper body mechanics. 
• Precautions: Be careful with hand placement, do not place fingers under board. Place a slide board underneath your child’s bottom. 
• Equipment: Slide board.
• Contraindications: Children with no head or trunk control.

Video: Stand Pivot Transfer

• Link: https://youtu.be/2OTiKRhEqxc
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: Transfer from wheelchair to surface via stand pivot with assistance. 
• Exercise Requirements: Wheelchair brakes must be locked and be sure to use proper body mechanics. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control and unable to fully bear weight through both legs. 
• Equipment: Use a gait belt if available. 
• Contraindications: Child with weight-bearing restrictions, pain with weight-bearing, contractures limiting lower extremity mobility to safely perform task. 

Video: Transition from Lying on Back to Sitting

• Link: https://youtu.be/4TOJdqvbdl8
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: Core strengthening, developmental milestones, bed mobility. 
• Exercise Requirements: Proper body mechanics and understanding of handling by caregiver. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head control. 
• Equipment: None
• Contraindications: This activity can be performed with all children after consulting with PT for safe handling.

Video: Calf Stretch

• Link: https://youtu.be/cDR2Xu39g7c
• Technique: Stretches.
• Exercise Objective: Improve muscle length, decrease risk of contractures. 
• Exercise Requirements: Perform stretch to your child’s tolerance, and be mindful to not cause pain. 
• Precautions: Be careful not to force the stretch or perform too quickly. 
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Child with hyper-mobility (when in doubt, ask your therapist).

Video: Hamstring Stretch

• Link: https://youtu.be/Vq5Ihx5OMPQ
• Technique: Stretches.
• Exercise Objective: Improve muscle length, decrease risk of contractures. 
• Exercise Requirements: Perform stretch to your child’s tolerance, and be mindful to not cause pain. 
• Precautions: Be careful not to force the stretch or perform too quickly. 
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Child with hyper-mobility (when in doubt, ask your therapist).

Video: Trunk Stretch

• Link: https://youtu.be/tWvQsYuZRzM
• Technique: Stretches.
• Exercise Objective: Improve muscle length, decrease risk of contractures. 
• Exercise Requirements: Perform stretch to your child’s tolerance, and be mindful to not cause pain. 
• Precautions: Be careful not to force the stretch or perform too quickly. 
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Child with hyper-mobility (when in doubt, ask your therapist).

Video: Hip Flexor Stretch

• Link: https://youtu.be/o0Addx12PQY
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Improve muscle length, decrease risk of contractures. 
• Exercise Requirements: Perform stretch to your child’s tolerance, and be mindful to not cause pain. 
• Precautions: Be cautious and guard child throughout to prevent fall. Orthoses if recommended by physical therapist. 
• Equipment: Use a gait belt if available.
• Contraindications: Child with hyper-mobility (when in doubt, ask your therapist).

Video: Hip Righting Reactions (Standing Balance)

• Link: https://youtu.be/KVPi5H7zbVg
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Balance reactions, hip strengthening, core strengthening, functional reaching. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have adequate head and trunk control, protective reactions. Otherwise, caregiver must use close guarding or gait belt to safely assist. 
• Precautions: Be cautious and guard child throughout to prevent fall. Orthoses if recommended by physical therapist. 
• Equipment: Use a gait belt if available.
• Contraindications: Child with weight bearing restrictions, pain with weight bearing, contractures limiting lower extremity mobility to safely perform task. 

Video: Tandem Walking on a Line (Standing Balance)

• Link: https://youtu.be/5n5aVetBtn0
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Balance, coordination, motor planning, postural control. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have adequate head and trunk control, protective reactions. Otherwise, caregiver must use close guarding or gait belt to safely assist. 
• Precautions: Be cautious and guard child throughout to prevent fall. Orthoses if recommended by physical therapist. 
• Equipment: Use a gait belt if available. Tape or chalk to make line.
• Contraindications: Child with weight-bearing restrictions, pain with weight-bearing, contractures limiting lower extremity mobility to safely perform task. 

Video: Stepping over Hurdles

• Link: https://youtu.be/K3Xx0Z_3jxI
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Balance, coordination, motor planning, object negotiation. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have adequate head and trunk control, protective reactions. Otherwise, caregiver must use close guarding or gait belt to safely assist. 
• Precautions: Be cautious and guard child throughout to prevent fall. Orthoses if recommended by physical therapist. 
• Equipment: Use a gait belt if available. Use pool noodles, broomsticks, PVC pipes to make hurdles.
• Contraindications: Child with weight bearing restrictions, pain with weight bearing, contractures limiting lower extremity mobility to safely perform task.

Video: Trunk Control, Reaching in Sitting

• Link: https://youtu.be/ndMekDNgdV4
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Core strengthening, functional reaching, balance reactions.
• Exercise Requirements: Your child should have good sitting balance and the ability to reach with one or both hands.
• Precautions: Have feet supported on ground throughout. Be cautious if child has poor head control.
• Equipment: Therapy bolster, raised surface (couch or bed), toys to reach for.
• Contraindications: Children who have absent head control, are unable to safely sit in saddle position, have pain with any portion of the exercise.

Video: Rolling onto Back/Tummy Using Head to Assist

• Link: https://youtu.be/qWREn1WcnQQ
• Technique: Bed Mobility.
• Exercise Objective: Bed mobility, core strengthening, motor planning, developmental milestones.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to safely lay flat on tummy/back, caregiver must have proper understanding of body mechanics.
• Precautions: Be cautious if child has G-tube or other abdominal lines or ports, has spasticity of limbs and/or neck.
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable to lay flat on tummy/back due to external medical reasons.

Video: Sitting Balance on Physioball

• Link: https://youtu.be/fqpmcjb_IC8
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Sitting balance, core strength, head and trunk righting reactions, protective reactions.
• Exercise Requirements: Clearance by physical therapist as well as caregiver understanding, and safety with use of physioball.
• Precautions: Be cautious if child has poor head control.
• Equipment: Physioball.
• Contraindications: Not given clearance by physical therapist as well as caregivers who are unable to safely perform activities on physioball.

Video: Trunk Balance Reactions in Sitting with Sheet Support

• Link: https://youtu.be/Jp6JX2JqpFs
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Sitting balance, core strength, head and trunk righting reactions, protective reactions.
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to sit independently, and use of upper extremities for bracing.
• Precautions: Be cautious if child has delayed response to placing arm down to brace themselves.
• Equipment: Sheet or blanket.
• Contraindications: Child who has absent head and trunk control.

Video: Sitting Balance with Support at Knees

• Link: https://youtu.be/yy7_fd_WYNo
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Sitting balance, core strength, head and trunk righting reactions, protective reactions.
• Exercise Requirements: Clearance by physical therapist as well as caregiver understanding, and safety with use of physioball.
• Precautions: Be cautious if child has poor head and trunk control.
• Equipment: Physioball.
• Contraindications: Not given clearance by physical therapist as well as caregivers who are unable to safely perform activities on physioball. Child who has absent head control.

Video: Sit to Stand Transitions

• Link: https://youtu.be/smU8dl5voFg
• Technique: Transfers.
• Exercise Objective: Transitions from sitting to standing for transfers/mobility.
• Exercise Requirements: Good head and trunk control and ability to weight bear with lower extremities without pain.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or delayed protective reactions.
• Equipment: Gait belt to be worn if indicated.
• Contraindications: Poor head and trunk control, unable to bear weight through legs, weight bearing restrictions.

Video: Hip Adductor Stretch

• Link: https://youtu.be/RlLryahfDxk
• Technique: Stretches.
• Exercise Objective: Improve muscle length, decrease risk of contractures.
• Exercise Requirements: Perform stretch to your child’s tolerance, and be mindful to not cause pain.
• Precautions: Be careful not to force the stretch or perform too quickly. Be cautious if child has history of hip dysplasia.
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Child with hyper-mobility or severe pain with this activity (when in doubt, ask your therapist).

Video: Exercise for Hip Strengthening (Bridges)

• Link: https://youtu.be/NrSV_0nC2Y4
• Technique: Strengthening.
• Exercise Objective: Bed mobility, hip strengthening.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to lay flat on their back, and be able to place weight through their feet.
• Precautions: Be cautious that your child does not slide back, has spasticity in quadriceps.
• Equipment: Small toys that your child can hold (optional).
• Contraindications: Child with weight bearing restrictions, who is unable to bend knees, or has pain in hip flexors due to tightness.

Video: Tall Kneeling with Hip Extension

• Link: https://youtu.be/b77eutuNS4Y
• Technique: Strengthening.
• Exercise Objective: Hip strengthening, core strengthening, motor planning.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to safely bear weight through their legs in kneeling, and have adequate head control.
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control, and is unable to fully bear weight through both hips and knees.
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Children with weight bearing restrictions, pain with weight-bearing, or unable to bend knees.

Video: Tall Kneeling with Arm Support

• Link: https://youtu.be/vnOtYHKq4Rg
• Technique: Strengthening.
• Exercise Objective: Hip strengthening, core strengthening, motor planning, balance.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to safely bear weight through their legs in kneeling, be able to hold onto a surface with their hands, and have adequate head control.
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control, has difficulty holding onto objects, or is unable to fully bear weight through both hips and knees.
• Equipment: None.
• Contraindications: Children with weight bearing restrictions, pain with weight-bearing, or unable to bend knees.

Video: Tall Kneeling Balance (Weight Shifting/Reaching)

• Link: https://youtu.be/OsZqaQEhmc4
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Hip strengthening, core strengthening, motor planning, balance, functional reaching.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be able to safely bear weight through their legs in kneeling, be able to reach out with their arms, and have good head and trunk control.
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control, or is unable to fully bear weight through both hips and knees. Caregiver should remain close to child if poor balance or protective reactions.
• Equipment: A raised surface and objects for stacking.
• Contraindications: Children who have weight-bearing restrictions for lower extremities, have absent or poor head and trunk control.

Video: Reaching from Quadruped Over a Bolster

• Link: https://youtu.be/78jkuE6jViY
• Technique: Developmental positions.
• Exercise Objective: Core stability, hip and shoulder strength, motor planning, coordination, postural control.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have good head control, be able to reach forward for an object, and ability to weight bear through their arms.
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control, has a G-tube or any other abdominal port/line, is unable to fully bear weight through their arms.
• Equipment: Therapy bolster or rolled up towel.
• Contraindications: Children who are unable or have weight-bearing restrictions for upper or lower extremities, who are unable to lift single arm up.

Video: Assisted Crawling with a Sheet

• Link: https://youtu.be/sM2OaJkNB18
• Technique: Developmental positions.
• Exercise Objective: Core stability, hip and shoulder strength, motor planning, coordination, postural control.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have good head control, and ability to weight bear through their upper and lower extremities.
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has poor head or trunk control, has a G-tube or any other abdominal port/line.
• Equipment: Rolled up sheet or towel.
• Contraindications: Children who have weight-bearing restrictions for upper or lower extremities, have poor head control.

Video: Knee Walking with Arms Supported on Physioball

• Link: https://youtu.be/CSjXP9Kh7w8
• Technique: Strengthening.
• Exercise Objective: Core stability, hip strengthening, motor planning, coordination, postural control.
• Exercise Requirements: Child must have good head and trunk control, ability to bear weight through lower extremities without pain, protective reactions.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or protective reactions.
• Equipment: Exercise ball.
• Contraindications: Children with absent head or trunk control, weight bearing restrictions, pain with weight-bearing.

Video: At Home Hurdles with Pool Noodles

• Link: https://youtu.be/Nh3ZPu2PoCY
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: How to make hurdles at home to work on object negotiation, motor planning, coordination, single limb balance and walking.
• Exercise Requirements: Ability to walk with little to no assistance. Non-impaired vision, use of eye glasses as prescribed.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or delayed protective reactions.
• Equipment: Gait belt to be worn if indicated. Decreased hip or knee ROM.
• Contraindications: Visually impaired, if weight bearing is contraindicated, recent leg fracture, significant difficulty maintaining weight through legs, unable to ambulate.

Video: Standing Balance Activities

• Link: https://youtu.be/rwpI6YXvOzw
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Improved balance, postural control, weight bearing through legs, protective reactions.
• Exercise Requirements: Good head and trunk control, ability to weight bear with lower extremities without pain, present protective reactions.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or delayed protective reactions.
• Equipment: Gait belt to be worn if indicated.
• Contraindications: If weight bearing is contraindicated, recent leg fracture, significant difficulty maintaining weight through legs, and poor head and trunk control.

Video: Single Leg Balance with a Chair

• Link: https://youtu.be/HKu2DC02jFU
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Leg strengthening and single limb balance.
• Exercise Requirements: Requirements: Good head and trunk control, ability to weight bear with lower extremities without pain, protective reactions.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or delayed protective reactions.
• Equipment: Gait belt to be worn if indicated.
• Contraindications: If weight bearing is contraindicated, recent leg fracture, significant difficulty maintaining weight through legs.

Video: Single Leg Balance with Auditory Feedback

• Link: https://youtu.be/6qA2Gq3gjmA
• Technique: Balance.
• Exercise Objective: Leg strengthening and single limb balance.
• Exercise Requirements: Good head and trunk control, ability to weight bear with lower extremities without pain, protective reactions.
• Precautions: Caregiver should remain close to child if impaired balance or delayed protective reactions.
• Equipment: Chair, Gait belt to be worn if indicated.
• Contraindications: If weight bearing is contraindicated, recent leg fracture, significant difficulty maintaining weight through legs.

In this section you will find exercises, interventions, and strategies that have been recommended to you by your speech language pathologist. These may include: Oral motor exercises, home program recommendations, feeding strategies, strategies to promote language development, and more! 

Video: Oral Motor Activities to Do at Home

• Link: https://youtu.be/1QmGCq1ZXbs
• Technique: Oral motor.
• Exercise Objective: To increase oral motor awareness, strength, coordination, and range of motion. 
• Exercise Requirements: Child must be cleared by a physician or a speech language pathologist to drink fluids by mouth for activities involving drinking from the straw. 
• Precautions: Be cautious if your child has muscle over-exertion precautions in place, or diet restrictions. Child must be supervised by a parent or caregiver at all times. 
• Equipment: Straws of all sizes, cotton balls, poms poms, bubbles, electric toothbrush.
• Contraindications: Children who are NPO should not perform straw-drinking activity. 

Video: Using Signs to Communicate with your Child

• Link: https://youtu.be/fZx2EYlt-iA
• Technique: Language, cognition, early intervention.
• Exercise Objective: To promote functional communication of basic wants and needs. To supplement verbal and non-verbal communication. 
• Exercise Requirements: None. 
• Precautions: Children who do not tolerate touch to their hands for hand over hand prompting. 
• Equipment: None. 
• Contraindications: None.

Video: Reading to your Child to Promote Language

• Link: https://youtu.be/h5-YOro6gq8
• Technique: Language, cognition, early intervention.
• Exercise Objective: To enhance pre-verbal or verbal communication skills, to improve receptive language skills, and to promote reading comprehension. 
• Exercise Requirements: None. 
• Precautions: None.
• Equipment: Books. 
• Contraindications: None.

Video: Sabotage as a Language Strategy

• Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxcPkhKq4bI
• Technique: Language, cognition, and early intervention.
• Exercise Objective: To improve expressive communication using a language strategy that utilized as a tool during play and everyday living activities.
• Exercise Requirements: None.
• Precautions: None.
• Equipment: Toys, clear plastic bins, or boxes with lids.
• Contraindications: N/A.

Video: Following Directions During Play

• Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A25oZ27V5Vs
• Technique: Language, cognition, and early intervention.
• Exercise Objective: To improve comprehension, receptive language skills, attention, and vocabulary development.
• Exercise Requirements: None.
• Precautions: Children who do not tolerate touch to their hands for hand over hand prompting.
• Equipment: Toys.
• Contraindications: N/A.

Video: Using your AAC to Play Games

• Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBNWAuIBBjc
• Technique: Language, cognition.
• Exercise Objective: Structuring games around integrating your child’s AAC device.
• Exercise Requirements: The child should have basic, functional understanding of how to use their AAC device.
• Precautions: None.
• Equipment: High, lite or low tech AAC device. Refer to your primary SLP to determine the best AAC device for you child.
• Contraindications: N/A.