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TOMWINIECKI
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:50 am: |       |
I have two students with Down Syndrome. We are beginning a tumbling unit that will last for 4 classes. Because of these student's weakness in their necks (from the Down Syndrome), does anyone have any floor type of gymnastics activities that they can do while everyone else in their class is doing more "traditional" tumbling activities? We will already have them work on their balance with the rest of the class, but I need activities for them for the other parts of this unit.
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MEGYMN
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:51 am: | |
I have been slowly teaching a down syndrome child,one on one in their home,and I have done stations that lead up to more advanced skills.I have hit a wall where it comes to pronated knees and the weak neck but after all the assessments the doctor could do he just told me to do what I think is best.Funny huh?!Unfortunately you will have to include everyone in these stations.But fortunately every child could benefit.Try a long jump station,a jump up station,a balance beam(floor beam) station,a cone obstacle course with beanbags on their heads,a type of hopscotch station,a stationary bicycle station with those little cranks you can use with a chair,a balance station with balance boards,etc..And a gymnastics station that is supervised.Pair them first with skill level so they aren't intimidated,then mix and mingle them so they get a little incentive.Good luck.And let me know of anything you learn it could help me too.
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TOMWINIECKI
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:52 am: | |
I have not found much information on things to do that is not a repeat of what the rest of the class has already done (before they go onto the rolls...) Granted, my kids with Down Syndrom can certainly use the extra work at previous skills.
One thing I did find are "balance puzzles." I cannot remember who I got them from. (If this person is reading this message, please tell us who yu are.) They basically work this way. I cut out pictures of hands, feet, circles (for elbows), rectangles (for knees) and 2 half circles side by side (for a bottom). They are placed in different patterns on a piece of paper that the kids need to copy on a mat. I laminated the papers to use from year to year. They have to balance their bodies using only what is pictured on each page. I have about 10 different pages. They really enjoy them and are very proud when they figure one out.
They do egg rolls and log rolls, but so do the rest of their classmates.
That is about all that I have up to now.
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MEGYMN
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:52 am: | |
Yes I've used those before also.I do cartwheel mats(visual hands and feet),Handstands where she stands looking away from the wall to start and walks her feet up the wall(that way they only go as far up as they feel safe),handstand kick drills(first stand in a lunge then touch hands down and bring them up),(then add a jump),(then a higher kick).I have done backward rolls off a mat that is as high as a couch because with a pillow under her hed and it high enough she puts little or no pressure on her head and neck.But that is the hardest I've done.Treid forward rolls after I taught her a head/neck tuck for a long time so she doesn't roll on her head.
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Alex Dail
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:53 am: | |
As I gave it some thought Sensory-motor activities might be appropriate. An excellent source for these in my school district has been Physical Therapists.
Examples of stuff we did on mats
Tracking a hanging ball (or whatever)while it swings forward/back, side to side, clockwise and counter clockwise.
Trace simple patterns in the air with feet.
Various balances on hands and knees both with stomach down or crab walk position.
Knee walking sideways, backwards, and forwards.
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Michael J. Roskamp (Roskampm)
Junior Member
Username: Roskampm
Post Number: 7
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 12:54 pm: | |
You might want to think about making some balance mats. They are really quite simple to make and could be usewd independantly or with a peer. The basic idea....
Make several mats by cutting smooth plastic floor runner into 2 1/2 foot pteces.
Use blue and red contact paper to make cut outs of body parts to balance on, red will designate "right" and blue will be "left"
Then make hands, feet, knees (larger semi-circle),elbows (smaller semi-circle or round spot), bumm (1/2 moon), etc., and then attach them to sveral mats in various configurations. The idea is for the child to determine the body parts and which side being represented on the mat, and then balance on those parts for 3-5 seconds.
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william atlas (Billatlas)
Junior Member
Username: Billatlas
Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 8:41 am: | |
We do a variety of animal walks before we do rolls.
Dog Walk = hands and knees crawl
Wounded Dog = hands and one knee crawl
Bear Walk = hands and feet walk
Crab walk = hands and feet; stomach in air; feet first/head first
Inch Worm = only hands and feet. Not allowed to bend knees.
using ankle flex to move body.
Seal Walk = onlly using hands, rest of body is dragged. Arms
straight.
If I think of any others, I will post again.
These are great body strengtheners and fun for all. |
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