{"id":8878,"date":"2022-03-28T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.summit-education.com\/?p=8878"},"modified":"2022-05-11T14:37:46","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T20:37:46","slug":"making-exercise-fun-and-motivating-for-the-pediatric-population","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devsite.hooliv.com\/blogs\/general\/making-exercise-fun-and-motivating-for-the-pediatric-population\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Exercise Fun and Motivating for the Pediatric Population"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written By: Jacqueline Grimenstein, PT, C\/NDT, CKTP<\/strong><\/h5>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Gone are the days when children played outside most of the day unsupervised and unstructured. We have eliminated much of the challenging playground equipment and pickup games of play that allowed for the development of strength and motor skills. Societal changes have played a role in decreased muscle strength as gross motor play activities have moved to a more structured format as opposed to free play. With the advent of the \u201cback to sleep\u201d recommendations, many children start out at a disadvantage when it comes to developing strength. It has emphasized the need for extended tummy time during awake hours so children can efficiently use core muscles that are at an advantage when prone. Fortunately, children with an intact neuromotor system can continue to develop motor skills that allow for play skills and competitive play, regardless of these societal changes.<\/p>\n

However, for children with motor dysfunction, the development of strength and coordination are even bigger challenges.\u00a0 Disturbance in the neurological system might have led to issues with timing and sequencing of the muscles turning on and off at the right time or the child might have spasticity, athetosis, or ataxia in the case of cerebral palsy.\u00a0 For the most part though, children learn to move in whatever patterns they can generate, often initiating with the extensor muscles and extremities; thus, developing weakness in the core muscles.\u00a0 This can lead to poor posture, decreased range of motion, and a reliance on the extremities for upright posture.\u00a0 It can contribute to poor endurance, obesity, and decreased cardiovascular function.<\/p>\n

When these issues begin to interfere with everyday function and participation, the child might be referred to physical or occupational therapy or both. As therapists, our role is to maximize the child\u2019s functional skills. The challenge becomes how to do this in a fun, but purposeful way.\u00a0 We refer to this as \u201cplay with a purpose\u201d.\u00a0 Being a pediatric therapist is a rewarding, challenging, fun, but an exhaustive profession.\u00a0 The therapist needs to be \u201con\u201d to keep the child engaged. When therapy is fun, the child wants to come back and will work to perform.\u00a0 It is important for the therapist to know the goal for the session and structure the activities to meet that goal.\u00a0 It is equally important for the therapist to communicate to the parent or caregiver which muscles or skills are being focused on so the parent understands that it is not just playing, and is able to incorporate this kind of purposeful play at home.<\/p>\n

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Check out the video below for at-home therapy practice strategies!<\/strong><\/h5>\n