Improve motor, academic and social skills by being a ninja warrior?….Tell me more!

Be nimble like a ninja warrior and move from one floating island to the next without stepping into the hot lava, then scale around the volcano and jump through the tire wall!  Creep quietly around the border to sneak up on the dragon.  Keep moving over the boat to find the treasure chest and get the prize!

This fun and challenging activity was created with one our Great Kids who is a Sensory Craver.  He enjoys moving and touching so much that it is sometimes hard for him to focus and often challenging to move in an organized and coordinated way.

By developing this story he is able to determine when to start and stop his movements.  He is also challenged to use precise, coordinated movements to navigate through the plot of the story.  The benefits of this reach beyond coordination, timing and pacing of his movements!

Through this type of play he will be better able to develop clear logical stories when writing in school.  He will be able to control his gross motor movements in a way to support fine motor movements, which will improve academic skills such as writing and visual scanning to support reading.  As if that’s not cool enough that this fun game will help with all of these academic skills, this type of game will also support him to interact more effectively with his friends as he slows down his movements to take in and respond to their social gestures.

Who knew you could play a super fun ninja warrior game and make all of these great developmental gains?!?!

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Michele Parkins MS, OTR

Owner at Great Kids Place

Michele Parkins is an occupational therapist, specializing in working with children with autism and sensory processing disorder. She is also a parent of two sensory kids. She works and lives sensational kids! Michele is a fellow of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, OTR and faculty of Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation. She is faculty of Profectum academy, educating professionals on cognitive, social and emotional development using the DIR-FCD model.She co-developed a unique handwriting program – Connect Experience Write® – that highlights the importance of affective engagement in learning as well as sensory integration using music and movement to teach letter formation and pre-writing skills. Michele is passionate about working with families and other therapists and she continues to do so as a clinician and educator. She also continues to provide consultation to schools as she has done for over 10 years. Follow her on Facebook for updates and tips!

Latest posts by Michele Parkins MS, OTR (see all)

• Touching and pushing others: sensory or behavior? - April 27, 2018
• 10 play-based heavy work ideas - April 13, 2018
• How Motor Planning can be impacting your child’s social skills and what you can do about it - January 12, 2018