These exercises work on core stability. This will help your child when playing, writing and using their hands
Have your child lie on their tummy propping on their forearms. Then have them push up onto straight arms, hold this for a count of 5 before slowly lowering back down onto tummy and then repeat. As progress is noted, increase the number of repetitions and the length of time the position is held for.
Have your child lie on their stomach with their arms out to the side. Ask your child to raise their head, chest and arms off ground at the same time. Hold this position for a count of 3 and then relax slowly. Start with 2 sets building up to 5.
Have your child lie on their tummy with their arms in front of them and then simultaneously raise their head, arms and legs off the ground. Legs should be kept straight. Encourage your child by saying “you’re flying like superman!”. Start with 5 seconds and work your way up to 20 seconds as your child’s strength increases.
Ask your child to crawl like a commando. Get them to lie on their tummy with their head raised, placing their hands in front of them with their elbows bent and hands fisted. Ask your child to move forwards using opposite arms and legs without lifting their tummy off the floor.
Have your child lie on their back. Ask them to lift their head so the chin touches the chest. Hold for a count of 3 and slowly bring head back to the floor, gradually building up to 5 repetitions.
Have your child lie on their back. Ask them to curl their head and legs up into a ball, with arms crossed in front of their chest. Hold this for 5 seconds at the start and work your way up to 20 seconds as your child’s strength improves. When your child’s skills improve they can pretend to be a ‘jellybean’ and can rock from side to side and back and forwards.
Ask your child to assume the supine flexion position (as above) while you try and pull them apart by putting gentle pressure on their forehead and above their knees.
Have your child sit on their bottom with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and hands flat on the floor beside or slightly behind their bottom. Ask them to lift their bottom off the floor, taking their weight through their hands and feet. Walk forwards, backwards and sideways.
Using the crab position (described above) try to kick a football between goalposts – this can be played individually, in pairs or in a small group.
Ask your child to bend their knees and crouch down, resting their hands on the floor in front of them with their elbows on the inside of their knees. Then they stretch their arms out in front of them, and lean through their hands (keeping elbows straight) as they hop their feet forward. Remember, their legs stay on the outside of their arms.
Have your child stretch their arms out straight to the side at shoulder height. Hold for a count of 5 then slowly have your child curl their arms in until their hands are touching their shoulders. Slowly straighten the arms back out to the start position. Repeat movements 5 times.
Start off with wall push up. Get your child to stand in front of a wall and place their hands on the wall at shoulder height. Your child should then bend their elbows keeping their back straight. Then push back to the starting position. Try to complete 10 wall pushes.
When your child has mastered wall push ups they can move onto floor push ups. It is easier to do push ups in four point kneeling to start with and then to progress to straight legs. Make sure your child pushes up with straight arms and keeps their back straight.
Get your child to kneel on all fours. Ask them to raise one arm out in front of them and then raise the opposite leg out behind them. Legs and arms should be straight. Hold this position for a count of 5 before returning to all fours. Now straighten the other arm and opposite leg. To increase the difficulty, increase the length of time the position is held for.
Have your child kneel on the floor so that their bottom is not touching their heels. You kneel facing them. You both stretch out your arms so your hands are touching and try to push each other over. You can also play a high five game with your child reaching out to give you a high five.
Have your child stand with their back at a wall and put their hands on their hips. Then get them to move slowly and smoothly from a standing position into a squat and hold this position for five seconds before moving back to standing. Repeat this 10 times.
Have your child stand on one leg for as long as they can without falling over or touching their other leg. Encourage them to put their hands out to the side and look at a single spot in front of them to help them keep their balance.
Once they have mastered this have them stand on something wobbly like a cushion.
Ask your child to try tapping their tummy with one hand and move their other hand in circular path above head.
Ask your child to lie on their back. Attach pegs to the front of their trousers on both legs and the sleeves of both arms. They should then use their left hand to remove the pegs from their right side (they can bend their knees) while they remain lying on the floor. Do the same for the left side of their body. Ask them to close their eyes if it is too easy.