Balance - OTPlan

Moving Target Delivery

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the paper cup firmly onto the outside of the large ball. This cup is the moving target.
Place the buttons in the container nearby. Set the moving target ball on the floor in a clear, open space.
Ask your child to pick up one button using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Gently roll or move the ball slowly across the floor. Encourage your child to walk or squat as they follow the target.
Challenge your child to aim carefully and drop the button into the narrow opening of the paper cup while the ball is moving slowly.
Repeat the process: pick up a button, chase the moving target, and deposit the item inside. Encourage them to try different body positions, like kneeling or squatting, while aiming.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Buttons are small, hard objects and pose a choking hazard. Ensure the playing area is clear to prevent tripping while the child moves with the ball.

Sponge Stack Tilt

Steps:

Fill the bowl with water. Place the foam sponges inside to soak them fully.
Set the plastic container upside down on the floor to use as a narrow stacking platform.
Ask your child to kneel in front of the platform. This helps stabilize their core.
The child gently squeezes one sponge over the bowl to remove excess water.
Using both hands together, the child carries the damp sponge and stacks it carefully onto the container base.
Continue stacking sponges one by one. Count how many sponges they can stack before the tower falls over.

Safety Tip:
Since the floor might get wet, ensure the child is kneeling on a non-slip mat or towel to prevent accidental slips during movement.

Squish Bag Stomp

Steps:

Fill several Ziplock Bags about halfway with dry oats (or rice/beans). Ensure all the air is squeezed out before sealing them tightly.
Use masking tape to secure the filled bags flat onto a low, stable floor surface, like the kitchen floor or a sturdy rug, creating a short path or line.
Encourage your toddler to take off their shoes and socks, and gently step onto the taped bags. Use encouraging language like, “Stomp! Can you feel the squish and crunch under your feet?” (For safety, hold hands if they are new to standing/walking.)

Safety Tip:
Due to the use of small materials (oats) in the bags, constant, close adult supervision is essential. Ensure the Ziplock Bags are taped completely shut before starting the activity to prevent the contents from spilling or being ingested.

Spoon Obstacle Delivery

Steps:

Create a path on the floor by spacing out 4-5 Boxes. Use different sizes of boxes to create a varied, low obstacle maze.
Place the Stuffed Animal (the customer!) at the finish line. Give your child the Spoon and have them balance the Ping Pong Ball on it.
Challenge your child to walk or step carefully through the maze without letting the “delivery” fall off the spoon. If it drops, they must return to the starting point to try again.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the path is clear of trip hazards. Make sure the boxes used as obstacles are sturdy enough not to collapse when bumped.

Jump and Kick

Place steppingstones along a path.

Place cardboard blocks to the left and to the right side of each steppingstone.

Ask the child to stand on the first steppingstone and use the right leg to kick the cardboard block on the right side and the left leg to kick the cardboard block on the left side.

Next, instruct the child to jump to the next steppingstone and repeat the previous step.

The child will continue jumping to the ext steppingstones ad knocking down the cardboard block until the end of the path.

Don’t have steppingstones? Use pillows instead (this also increases the challenge for your child’s balance).

Don’t have cardboard blocks? Use water bottles instead (empty for an easier challenge, and filled with water or rice/beans/sand for more challenge and increase the proprioceptive input) or use empty shoe boxes, paper rolls, paper cups, or plastic containers.

Grading option:

The challenge can be graded by placing the blocks further away (see the 2nd video below)
Ask the child to frog jump from one steppingstone to the other, then stand back up, and kick the block.