From Rattles to Writing: A Parent's Guide to Hand Skills

I like how they have a variety of pole activities. My husband just made some for me. Now I need to add cones, rings, and containers to catch bean bags. How else can they be used??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkpA4srcNJghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkpA4srcNJg

Happy and Sad Faces

I have to say that these are the worst pictures I have ever seen of myself. But the kids loved pointing to the happy face when I asked them if they were happy, or if the toy animals were happy or if the horse they were on was happy. Some verbalized "happy" and others pointed to the happy photo. but they all thought the pictures were funny.

Raggedy Annie gets Therapy

 I brought in a raggedy annie doll to role model position changes and help my clients let go of the handle during movement. The girls did a good job of holding the doll in front of them while the horse walked so that they could work on postural control without grasping the handle. The little girl shown here is usually unwilling to let go of the handle during the walk but after having her move the glitter wand up and down stationary she did it during the walk.
My other client tolerated (after much coaxing) the prone over barrel position. She got a kick out of my doing therapy with the doll , having the doll in prone position, too. I think that the doll is going to be quite useful in many different ways.

Hipoptherapy helps children with Hemiplegia

An adorable 2 year old with  right hemiplegia was on my case load today. He is pretty good at using the right hand even though its in a splint (given some encouragement). He especially liked grasping the glitter wand and used both hands to raise it up and down. He did nice reaching using only his right to touch a squeaky ball (a dog toy). The game consists of me making the ball squeak when he touches it and then I move it all over the place so that he works on range of motion.  I also used the ball to provide some support while weight bearing while facing sideways. This works even better when walking uphill so that more weight goes on that hemiplegic side. I have to add that he posts quite well.

Hippotherapy Research

Always good to read some research on benefits of hippotherapy....
http://yourtherapysource.blogspot.com/2011/07/hippotherapy-and-cerebral-palsy.html

Fun Fidget Toy

I pulled out one of my many fidget toys to use during hippotherapy but this can easily be used off horse as well.  It can be used to teach concepts of big and little, open and closed, in and out while at the same time working on motor planning skills. All of my 2 year olds found it fun to manipulate while facing sideways and backwards, allowing me to work on postural control as they let go of the handle in order to play.

Vision, Movement and Learning: Activities that Promote Reading Readiness
http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/121233.aspx

Fishing Game

This is always a nice summer time sequencing activity to promote using hands together, reaching, following directions and balance. I made the fish out of yellow detergent bottles and used a bingo magnetic wand. The folding basket is from a dollar store and I clipped it onto the tack with a shower ring.