Do the Flamingo Balance:
- Focusing your eyes on something still in front of you, to help you balance
- With the toes of your lifted foot touching the floor
For participants with walking aids:
- Try lifting one leg off the floor and holding for as long as you can.
Seated:
- Sit on a wobbly cushion and balance with your eyes closed.
Try the Flamingo Balance:
- With your foot placed up higher (on the thigh of the opposite leg)
- Balancing on a wobbly surface (e.g. a cushion, pillow or mattress on the floor)
- Balancing with your eyes closed, or
- Moving the foot that’s lifted off the floor. Use it to pedal a bicycle one-legged or write your name in the air.
While doing the Flamingo Balance imagine you have a paintbrush in your left hand.
Use your left arm to paint a wide blue lake in front of you and a rainbow in the sky.
Then do the same with your right arm.
* This activity will encourage crossing the body’s midline, which is an important developmental skill.
While doing the Flamingo Balance…
- Throw a ball up and catch it again
- Bounce or throw a ball with a partner. How many catches can you get in a row?
- Juggle a tennis ball from your left to right hand, and back again. How many catches can you get in a row?
Do the Flamingo Balance while…
- Plaiting three pieces of wool together
- Threading beads onto a necklace or pipe cleaner, or
- Doing up and undoing buttons
- Doing incy wincy spider with your fingers
