Little Bodies

Magic Blanket

Gross motor is probably one of the easiest areas of development to facilitate because it happens incidentally with most children. Since this is the case, I thought it would be handy to give you gross motor techniques that you can use as tools to help your kids (and you) to cope.

There are 3 amazing types of gross motor "movements" that you can incorporate into a daily, fun session which will really help your kids to regulate and "re-set". Monitor them during the day and if you notice that things are coming apart at the seams (antsy, frustrated, bored or low energy), take them outside or to an area with enough space to do any physical activity that incorporates any of these 3 things:

Large movements above the head (LMAH) — any activity or movement which gets your kids to make large, vigorous arm movements (for example: jumping jacks, marching, throwing a ball).

Proprioceptive input — simplistically means deep pressure. It is the sensations from joints, muscles and tissue which allow for body awareness. Proprioception is the "magic sense" because it has the ability to calm or increase your child's level of arousal, depending on what they need. It is generated through lifting, pushing and pulling actions. Simple examples include big bear hugs, jumping up and down on the spot, leopard crawling, sucking a sucker or eating a carrot (yep, one of the quickest ways to help your kids regulate is through proprioception in the mouth — just think of how dummies and breast or bottle feeding calms a baby).

"Hard work" activities — ones which often incorporate both LMAH and proprioception. They are anything which results in physical exertion (for example, an actual exercise session, dancing, carrying heavy stuff around, cleaning).

Instructions

Magic blanket is an effective activity because it incorporates the trifecta of LMAH, proprioception and heavy work. This makes it a great re-setting activity. It is also wonderful for gross motor development, super simple to execute and appropriate for a wide variety of ages.

Grab a blanket and go to an area with enough space for a lot of movement (outside is best). If possible, stand in a circle or some semblance of one. Circles are really effective because they literally and mentally help people to re-group. Everyone must then hold tightly onto the blanket with both hands.

The aim of the game is simple: the ball has to stay on the blanket. You can be as dramatic as you want — do a grand reveal of the magic blanket; the floor could be lava which makes it high stakes; bring in a point system and each time you play, try to beat your score from last time.

Variations of things you can do with the blanket:

  • Throw the ball up high and catch it with the blanket
  • Roll it to one side of the blanket and then flick it and catch it with the other
  • Shake the blanket like crazy (yelling at the same time is also great fun and lets off some steam)
  • March around in a circle all the while keeping the blanket tight (to encourage pulling) and the ball on it
  • Get everyone to shake the blanket, start with one ball and then add more — all the while trying to keep them all on the blanket
  • Throw blanket up in the air and they have to run under it (one side to the other) without it touching them
  • One person at a time lies on the blanket and everyone helps to roll them up like a burrito (a burrito relay)

The whole activity should last about 20 minutes and can be made up of 3 or 4 of the above variations. This does depend on what your kids need — they may only need 10 minutes or you could take it up to 30 minutes. I wouldn't go longer than this as it can then start to have the opposite effect. You know your kids well enough to know when they are nice and calm again.

I also recommend doing a little "cool-down" at the end. Put the blanket on the grass and get everyone to lie on their backs on the blanket, arms at their sides, eyes closed, and breathe in and out slowly 5 times.

* If you don't have a soccer-type ball you can use whatever ball you have. Bigger balls work better — even one of those giant yoga balls will do the trick. If you have no balls whatsoever, no worries, you can make one. Gather whatever scrap paper (newspaper is great) and tape you have lying around. Start by scrunching paper into a solid, palm-size ball and cover it in tape; scrunch/wrap layers of paper around it until you reach the size you want; cover the outside in tape to hold it together. (Tip: get the kids to make the ball)