Our Favorite Toys – Therapy Ball

December 17, 2016 BY Kelly C. Bawden, MS, CCC-SLP

Time for the next video in our favorite toys series! Today, our new and very fabulous OT talks about a toy that you might already have at home. Remember to scroll down below the video to get all the info about where to buy it and what to do with it 🙂

Rachel’s Favorite Toy

Therapy ball.

Where to Buy It

Amazon, Target, Dicks . . . really, any place exercise equipment is sold.

How to Use It for At Home Therapy

You probably already know lots of things you can do with a therapy ball. Here’s a few tips for at-home occupational therapy using this staple: 

  • Planking: work on strength, balance, and endurance for the upper extremities and core.
  • Bouncing on the ball: work on balance, increasing arousal levels, and tolerating different kinds of vestibular input.
  • Catching and throwing: this is a great one for all sorts of social, sensory, and motor tasks! It provides sensory input, practices hand-eye coordination, integrates both sides of the body while also letting you practice turn-taking skills and direction following.

Be sure to watch the video for more of Rachel’s tips. What does your child like to do with it? Tell us all about it! And of course, don’t forget to check out the videos on Pretend Food, the Marble Run, the Winnie the Pooh Spinner, the Frog in a Box, and the Shh! We Have a Plan book videos, too.