Head/Neck Extension - OTPlan

Under-Table Starry Night

OTPlan — Wed, 13 May 2026 16:41:31 +0000

Reaching up while lying on the back is a fantastic way to strengthen a child’s shoulders and neck. This heavy work for the arms helps with stability needed for classroom tasks later. By targeting small holes, your child also practices the pincer grasp they will use for writing. It turns a simple exercise into a magical indoor camping trip!

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Floating Feather Fans

OTPlan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:12:21 +0000

This fun game helps your child build core strength and control their breath. Blowing through a straw is a great way to work on oral motor skills. It strengthens the tiny muscles around the mouth used for clear speaking. Using a paper plate as a fan also builds upper body strength. Your child will need to plan their movements to guide the feather to the target. This helps with motor planning and focus. It is a playful way to practice graded force and coordination while staying in a stable position.

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The Tummy Time Sun Rays

OTPlan — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:00:03 +0000

Helping your child feel strong and steady starts with their core and shoulder muscles. This activity encourages them to lift their head and chest while playing on the floor. This position, called 'prone,' is great for building the strength they need for sitting at a desk later. By reaching out to place beans on the sun’s rays, they are also working on their hand-eye coordination and precision. Using their 'pincer' fingers to grab tiny beans builds the fine motor control needed for holding a pencil. Plus, it is a fun way to practice staying focused while working on a big, bright piece of art together!

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Over the Rainbow

OTPlan — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 22:30:06 +0000

This activity might look like simple fun on a scooter board, but it is actually a powerhouse exercise for your child’s physical and sensory development.

The main goal here is providing what therapists call "heavy work." When your child lies on their stomach and uses a rope to pull their own body weight forward, they are engaging muscles throughout their entire upper body. This intense effort builds significant strength and endurance in their shoulders, arms, and hands, the exact muscles essential for everyday tasks like carrying a backpack, zipping up a coat, and holding a pencil without their hand getting tired.

Furthermore, this "heavy work" provides deep sensory input (proprioception) to their joints and muscles. This type of input is very grounding and calming for the nervous system, helping a child feel more organized and settled in their body.

Finally, turning it into a game where they must collect pieces to build a rainbow adds important cognitive challenges. They have to use motor planning to figure out how to move their body toward the goal, practice hand-eye coordination to grab the pieces, and use sequencing skills to build the rainbow in order. It’s a wonderful way to combine a full-body workout with a fun, goal-oriented task.

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Spelling Push Ups

OTPlan — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:15:27 +0000

The child will be working on receiving and processing propreoceptive input while laying prone on the therapy ball. This activity also works on trunk control and upper extremities strengthening.

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Big Tac Toe

OTPlan — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:13:15 +0000

When done in prone, this activity provides core strengthening, upper body strengthening, and proprioceptive input.

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Airplane Catch

OTPlan — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 21:23:44 +0000

This activity enables the child to develop his upper body strength and receive proprioceptive input. It also gives the child an opportunity to work on maintaining eye contact.

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