RachelK

Hello Kevin,

My 5 year old son has been in OT/SI therapy for 1 year now and some ideas for vestibular stimulation are:

Hoppity Hop: Like a big balloon with handles, a hoppity hop is great for bouncing up and down.

Rolling- cut out the bottom of a cardboard box, so your child's hands and arms are free at one end and feet at the other. Let him roll down a grassy hill, outside in the yard, or inside down a hallway.
Swinging- linear swinging on a regular swing is calming. To get more movement use a tire swing that can go in circles. Vary the postition your child is in the swing(sit, stand, lie on his side, lie on his stomach) in order to get different movement experiences. Add a task that involves vision and hand use. This could be throwing, catching, identifying pictures, words, etc.

Spinning: At the playground, your child can spin on the tire swing or merry go round. Indoors, she can spin on a swivel chair.

Sliding- how many ways can your child go down a slide? Encourage sitting, lying down, backwards, frontwards, etc.

Riding vehicles-if possible ride bicycles, scooters, etc. This will work on balance, as well as motor planning and coordination, and it also provides vestibular input at the same time.

Jumping on a trampoline- can also put a old mattress in a play area for safe jumping.

Rhythmic rocking- Provide a rocking chair to help your child calm, organize and relax.

Teeter-totter/See-saw- center a one -by- three foot board or a three foot sheet of plywood over a four by four or railroad timber. Let your child walk back and forth, jump up and down, and balance in the the center at the fulcrum.

Sitting on a T stool

Sitting on a large ball- get a large ball or therapy ball for your child to sit on while watching TV. The balls diameter should equal the distance between the child's buttocks and the floor when her kneew are bent at a right angle and her feel are flat on the floor.

Somersaulting

Tightrope walking on low walls or balance beam.

Hope this helps!


Rachel K