Pat-a-Cake by Trisha Roberts

Pat-a-Cake is a simple chant that has delighted young children for decades. It is one of the earliest surviving English nursery rhymes, with versions starting in the late 1600’s and early 1700.

 “Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake, Baker’s man, bake up cakes as fast as you can.  Roll ‘em and pat ‘em, mark ‘em with a ‘B’, throw ‘em in the oven for the baby and me!”

Pat-a-Cake is a simple game, requiring just the use of two hands, but teaches some fundamental skills.

Children 6 months of age are learning to sit alone.  They first sit propped forward, supporting themselves by bracing their hands on the floor or their own thighs.  As they gain trunk strength and control, they are able to lift their hands and engage in play—holding a toy, banging blocks, or clapping their hands. This is an excellent time to introduce Pat-a-Cake.  It encourages a baby to free their hands and develop core control--strength and stability at the trunk. 

Pat-a-Cake improves eye-hand coordination as your baby learns to coordinate the engagement of both hands to make a clapping sound.

Pat-a-Cake leads to the start of memory recall. As care providers routinely sing the song and perform the motions, baby learns to associate the song with the actions. Before long, the adult will sing the opening words and baby will begin clapping their hands, as they now understand that those words mean it is time to play the clapping game!  This is an early demonstration of receptive language—the ability to understand and interpret the meaning of words.  It is also a major milestone of symbolic understanding that is needed for later exploration, language, and pretend play.  

Pat-a-Cake develops Social-Emotional Skills and interaction between the two players. Sitting face to face and laughing together builds emotional bonds. Your baby learns to read facial expressions and engages in joint or shared attention which leads to the ability to learn language and direct the attention of another.

     Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Dance Night by Trisha Roberts

Our bodies were designed for movement.  We love music and rhythm—put on a lively song and watch everyone in the room.  Soon you will see feet tapping, fingers drumming to the beat, heads bobbing in time to the music. 

Dancing is a great way to get exercise, improve coordination, improve imitation skills, boost confidence, improve balance, and a great form of self-expression.  People who dance usually have a good self-image and handle themselves confidently in a group of people.  They tend to lead rather than follow.

 A fun, entertaining, educational thing to institute for all families is a “Dance Night”.  Make it a consistent date—every Friday night, let’s say.  Maybe combine it with Pizza Night. Make it something everyone looks forward to.  Push the furniture to the sides of the Family Room, put on the music and encourage everyone to dance.  Try a "themed" night-- feature Big Band Music from the 1940’s, Country Western, Hip Hop, Latin American Salsa, a 1950’s Sock Hop, or show case music from famous movies or musicals.  The possibilities are endless.  Dance individually.  Dance as partners.  Do a Line Dance.  Learn a Square Dance.  Let each family member teach a new dance step—make them up if you don’t know one.  When children are older let them invite a friend or 2 over for dinner and the Dance Night. Have a friendly "Family Dance Off" competition.

Your house will soon be the center of your child’s social world (and you will know who your child’s friends are and exactly what they are doing on a Friday night!)  You will be known as the “Cool Parents”.

  Children have no self-consciousness about dancing to music (or singing out loud, or pretend play or a host of other things!) until someone makes fun of them or belittles them. Don’t ever laugh at a child’s attempts to dance!

Encourage them, imitate their moves, cheer their creativity, make it fun!

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Writing and Playing on a Vertical Surface by Trisha Roberts

Writing on a chalk board, painting on an easel, playing with shaving cream on a bathroom wall, or manipulating  magnets on the refrigerator are all examples of playing at a vertical surface. Working in this position provides many benefits to your child.

Postural Control and Core Strength are improved, as children need to use their trunk muscles to maintain their equilibrium and to free their hands for play. This position encourages weight shifting from one foot to another and can help improve balance and stability for children with low muscle tone.

Playing on a Vertical Surface Improves Strength

Increased Stability of the Shoulder, Elbow and Wrist because children can make larger movements on a bigger surface like an easel or whiteboard, thus strengthening the arms and improving flexibility. The wrist is in a position of extension which helps secure a crayon, pencil or paint brush with better control. This can lead to improved handwriting and better use of scissors in the classroom.

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TIP FROM THE THERAPIST:

 I love using a Paint With Water Books for my young children.  It can be taped to a wall, refrigerator, or any other vertical surface.  I can encourage a squat-to-stand strengthening activity by placing a small cup of water on the floor for wetting the paintbrush, or I can place the cup of water to one side or slightly higher than the child's chest to encourage and strengthen reaching skills, crossing mid-line and challenging a child's balance. It is a fabulous, fun activity with very little mess, as the paint is impregnated into the paper and is activated by the water.

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Visual Attention can improve, as children have a better view or aspect of what they are doing and can adjust the distance between themselves and their work, as needed. This can also lead to better eye-hand coordination.

Increased Opportunities to Cross Mid-line occur as children stretch and maneuver to reach all  the work space with their dominant hand.

Improved Proprioceptive Awareness.  The internal sense that our joints give to our brain to tell us where we are in space is active in standing. Working in a standing position can help children develop a better sense of their body and how to make better-controlled movements.

Increased Attention to Task.  Working in a standing position can be helpful to some children who find it difficult to sit still.  They can move around and get increased sensory input to their bodies, which can help them focus better.

Enhanced Understanding of Spacial Awareness, or the ability to understand directions like left and right, up and down, diagonal.  Children can relate the terms to their own body. 

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Winter Picnic! by Trisha Roberts

Everyone loves a picnic, but who says that it can only occur in the summer!  Why not perk up the bleary days with a Winter Picnic?! Invite the neighbors or other friends.  Lay a large table cloth or blanket on the living room floor, set up a beach umbrella, or bring some folder chairs inside. Let the children draw pictures of the sun or a summer activity to hang around the room.

Plan a Menu:  

Enlist the help of your children to plan a healthy menu and enjoy making and assembling special treats together. Finger foods are great and easy to serve. Use a cookie cutter to make fun-shaped sandwiches. Slice fruit into small pieces.  Make hard boiled eggs into exciting shapes with our Star Wars Boiled Egg Shapers . Stuff celery with peanut butter or a soft cheese and cut into bite-sized pieces.  How about skewering mini sausage links or cut-up hot dogs alternating with cubes of cheese?  Be creative!

Plan an Activity or Game:

“Animal”:  Sit in a large circle and let each person choose an animal name.  Make sure that everyone knows their name and the name of each player.  Take a cardboard roll from wrapping paper or make a long roll from newspaper and masking tape. Choose a person to be “IT”.  IT will stand in the middle of the circle with the paper tube and approach a person.  Before IT can tap the person, they need to say the name of one of the animals.  IT will then rush over to tap that person.  If IT taps a person before they can say the name of one of the other players, that person then becomes IT.  This is a great game to build memory, laughs, and energize your kids!

     

“Herd the Cattle”: Let the children crumble sheets of paper into balls—this is a great exercise for building hand strength!  Place 10 or more balls on a line on one end of the room.  Let children take turns “herding” the cows to the other side of the room by kicking them.  Time each child to see who is the best cattle rustler!  Make it fun by having the kicker “moo” each time he kicks a “cow” forward.

"Build Your Own Birdhouse":  Why not get a jump start on Spring by building your own birdhouse?!  Your children will have double the fun--building the house and enjoying the birds that will come!

"Snow Globe":  There are great ideas on Pinterest and other sites for making Snow Globes out of plastic plates!  Enjoy a fun snow activity while staying warm and dry!

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Development of Early Ball Skills Part III: Kicking and Catching a Ball By Trisha Roberts

STUMBLE-KICKING: Young children (ages 15-18 months) usually ‘stumble-kick’ a ball before performing a true kick.  Stumble-kicking is essentially walking into a ball and perhaps nudging it with their toes in order to move the ball forward.

Early Kicking--"Stumble Kick"

KICKING A PLAYGROUND BALL: Swing-through kicking a stationary ball typically occurs at 18-24 months. Pre-requisites for true swing-kicking include the ability to stand alone, weight shift from one leg to another, rotate at the trunk, and momentarily stand alone on one foot. I love to practice kicking in a hallway. Rather than running after a wayward ball, the ball stays ‘corralled’ within the corridor and can be easily retrieved.  If a child is having difficulty balancing, I might initially place them in standing against a wall to assist with trunk support and prevent loss of balance. This can give them initial success in kicking because they are not worried about falling.

Swing-Through Kicking Requires Standing on 1 Foot Momentarily

Trunk Rotation is Necessary for a True Swing-Through Kick

CATCHING A BALL:  The typical age for catching a large ball is 24-26 months. Many children develop a fear of catching a ball because they are afraid of getting hit in the face by a ball.  Balls come fast and they are hard! That is why I love to teach the skill of  catching by using a 12-15 inch inflated balloon. A tossed balloon arrives more slowly and floats in front of the child, giving them a slightly longer period of time to get their arms together to ‘trap’ it.  It is soft, so if they are unsuccessful in catching the balloon, they don’t get startled by a whack on the nose!  Once a child is having 80% success rate with catching a balloon, I might try a stuffed animal of about the same size. The stuffed animal is heavier and moves faster, but it is soft and of an irregular shape.  This often leads to successful catching, as the child is able to snag an arm, leg, or head of the stuffed animal before it falls to the floor.  When your child has been successful catching balloons and stuffed animals you can try a playground ball.  If they don’t have success, don’t force the issue.  Let them continue with the balloon or stuffed animal for a while longer.

Other ball games for older children:

Bocce is a great game to practice throwing.  It is easy to learn and fun for every age.

  Another great way to perfect ball skills and balance is bowling.  There are lots of fun, inexpensive Bowling Sets that you can purchase or you can easily create a bowling set by using small boxes or stuffed animals and having children forward roll a small ball between their legs toward the "pins".

Remember that ball playing should be fun!  Don’t stress out if your child isn’t able to catch the first time you try.  Mastery of ball skills will take years.  Make it a good time of family play and interaction and kids will love practicing and will eventually be successful.

This Concludes our 3 Part Series of the Development of Early Ball Skills 

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Development of Early Ball Skills Part II: Flinging and Throwing a Ball by Trisha Roberts

We continue this week with the 3-part series of "Development of Early Ball Skills".

FLINGING A BALL:  As soon as children are walking well, they are ready to start flinging a ball.  When a child is able to walk with their hands at their sides (typically at 15 months old or about 3 months after they start walking) they should have enough control to stand and raise their arm to shoulder height.

 For initial exposure to ball throwing, I prefer a “Koosh” ball, small stuffed animal, or other soft object that won’t roll away when it lands.  (Again, I love a foam ball--see our Foam Ball Sets). This allows more time to practice the actual skill of throwing rather than chasing the ball as it rolls all over the house and gets trapped under furniture.  When a stuffed animal lands, it usually stays put and is easy to retrieve! The typical pattern children initially use when starting to throw a ball is called “forward fling”.  With the arm raised to about shoulder height, kids will move their arm forward and fling the ball downward with a flick at the wrist (wrist flexion). 

OVERHAND THROW:  It typically takes several months before an actual overhand throw develops, typically between 27-28 months of age.  A true overhand throw requires a child to raise their hand over their head, rotate their trunk and weight shift from one foot to the other while bringing their arm forward and releasing the ball at the top of the arc of movement.  Frequently children who are just learning to throw overhand will release prematurely and the ball will fall off their hand backward instead of moving forward.  Some children persist in a forward fling pattern because they don’t know to raise their arm; I will demonstrate raising my arm in the air over my head and say something like, “Arm up!” Then I release the ball accompanied by, “Throw the ball!”  Getting the child in this ‘start’ position usually leads to a successful throwing pattern.

True Overhand Throw

Playing with balls is fun and develops strength and coordination and leads to success in sports and other coordinated movements.  There are great Velcro Balls with Velcro Mitts that can develop hand strength and postural control during ball play.

VELCRO MITT AND BALL

Don't miss next week:

Development of Early Ball Skills Part III:  Kicking and Catching a Ball

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

Development of Early Ball Skills Part I: Rolling a Ball by Trisha Roberts

How do ball skills typically develop in young children? This topic will be divided and discussed in three parts.

Children of all ages love balls and ball play.  Important skills are learned while manipulating a ball that help overall development. Tummy time can be enhanced by rolling a ball in front of your baby and encouraging him/her to reach for or crawl toward the ball. Visual skills are enhanced as the eyes need to follow the rapid movement of an object in motion. Social interaction, the understanding of cause and effect, and the Fine Motor skills of grasping and release are some of the additional abilities that can develop when playing with a simple ball.

ROLLING A BALL: Children learn to sit alone at about 6 months of age.  Initially they need to use their hands to support their weight, propping forward for balance.  But with time, they are able to stabilize their trunk using their core muscles and free their hands for play.  This is a great time to start holding and rolling a ball.  I recommend using a 4-6 inch diameter ball. (See our FoamBall Set)

FOAM BALL SET

I am also enamored with the O'BALL.  There are many products they produce and they are all fantastic for babies and young children, as they are easy to grasp, made of soft plastic, and make fun sounds when manipulated.

O'BALL SET

I place the baby on the floor in a long sitting position with their legs abducted (legs out front and opened, forming a “V”) I then sit in front of them, mirroring the same position. This helps keep the ball corralled, decreases the distraction and bother of chasing after the ball, and leads to extended play time.

Begin by rolling the ball toward the child and letting them ‘capture’ it with their arms against their body.  I ask them to roll the ball back to me and then physically assist the ball’s return.

We continue taking turns rolling back and forth, assisting as needed.  This is one of the first games of turn taking baby can experience (See our Blog about the early game of Peek-a-Boo) It is a beautiful illustration of sharing and language preparation—I talk, you talk; I get the ball, you get the ball.

Don't miss next week:

Development of Early Ball Skills Part II:  Flinging and Throwing a Ball

Blog Administrator:  Trisha Roberts

proeducationaltoys@gmail.com

www.proeducationaltoys.com

Copyright © 2017 TNT Inspired Enterprise, LLC, All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.