Finger play songs and hippotherapy

This video demonstrates how finger play songs make kids happy while riding but also work on language and motor planning. I use singing a great deal. My favorite song is "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands, give a kiss, touch the mane, touch the tail, kick your feet etc. because I can easily move their body parts to perform the movements. If the child doesn't do the movement by himself along with the song, I stop the horse and then help him do it. Moving again is a reinforcement. Of course, doing these movements on a moving horse also works on postural control and following directions. So much learning from one little song.....

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
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