~ Scooter Board~

5 ways to Foster Development of Physical Strength and Coordination

Remember when we were in school and played scooter board soccer? Who knew how many other uses there were for these toys! Here are a few great strengthening and coordination activities you can use these for inside and outside!

1. Prone Pulls. Tummy time isn’t just for babies! It’s important for strength of the neck, back, abdominals, shoulders, and arms to engage in play on the belly. Have your child lay on their belly on the board and use their arms to pull themselves forward! To decrease the challenge, you can have them use both arms together or hold onto a rope or hula hoop while you pull them forward. To increase the challenge, have them use just one arm at a time or go around obstacles!

2. Rope Pulls. Have your child pull themselves forward, one hand over the other to work on coordination and strengthening, to pull themselves forward. You can use a rope tied to a stable surface (such as a bedframe or locked doorknob). Sitting on their bottom in criss cross works on core balance, on their belly strengthens their back and neck, or on their back keeping their feet up strengthens their abdominals!

3.  Hamstring Pulls/Quad Pushes. By sitting on the scooter board and using your legs in front to pull yourself forward, you work on your hamstring muscles behind your knees. Using alternating legs is easier to stay upright. Using both legs together to pull at the same time works not only on leg strength, but also abdominal strength and leg coordination (using both together at the same time). Having your child use their legs to push themselves backwards engages the quad muscles. These require quick coordination and extension of legs and also help work on core strength and balance!

4. Ab Roll-Outs. Have your child get on their hands and knees with hands on the handles of a scooter board and knees on the floor (or a soft surface to increase comfort). Keeping knees in place, have your child push the scooter board out and then pull back under them. They should be engaging their core and keeping their back from sinking down. You can increase the challenge by increasing the distance they move the scooter board forward or moving to the sides as well as forward. For a fun game, try having them knock over a tower with the scooter board as they move it!

5. Scooter Soccer! The classics never fail! You can play this with two or more children or get down on a scooter board yourself to encourage play, movement around obstacles, and coordinating legs for moving around the room and kicking the ball! These are just a few ways to use the scooter board for strengthening, coordination, and fun! Be creative and come up with other uses or games! And always remember……if you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s physical development, discuss these concerns with your child’s pediatrician and/or consult with a pediatric physical therapist!

 

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