Puppy Play

  • Strengthens hip flexors and abdominals, which is important for maintaining upright posture (e.g. sitting at desk to complete work).
  • Improves bilateral coordination, which is important for many daily skills which require both sides of the body to be working together and/or doing different things (e.g. kicking/throwing a ball and stabilising paper while writing).  Bilateral coordination activities are effective for improving children’s focus and performance in the classroom.
HANDOUT
PRACTISE JOURNAL
TECHNIQUE VIDEO

Uses

  • Use this exercise before sitting at a desk or table (e.g. for school work or a meal), to activate trunk/core muscles that are important for posture.
  • Use this exercise to support concentration and attention for children in the classroom.

Instructions

* Make sure you have plenty of space around you (so you won’t kick someone or something)

  1. Lie on your back 
  2. Squeeze your tummy muscles
  3. Lift your legs and arms into the air
  4. Pedal your arms and legs in big, slow circles (like pedalling a bicycle in the air).  Pedal your right foot and left hand, then left foot and right hand.
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Watch Points

  • Abdominal muscles gently squeezed to prevent lower back from arching.
  • Back flat on the floor. If your lower back arches, rest and/or lift the legs higher in the air. The higher your legs are, the easier this exercise will be. The closer your legs are to the floor the more challenging this exercise is for the abdominals.

Standing:

  • Pedal one leg and/or the opposite arm at a time (like you’re climbing an imaginary ladder).
  • Switch the leg and arm you’re using with each pedal.

Seated:

  • Climb an imaginary ladder with your arms.