Maths is fun!

As a trained Occupational Therapist and working with children for the past 20 years, I have learnt to adapt, adjust, be flexible and play. A child's occupation is play and I have used my experience as a trained Sensory Integration Occupational Therapist to share some practical ideas with you, to help make homeschooling fun during this awkward lock down time (which is not fun at all)

So while doing homeschooling, I have adjusted some of the activities in "the way" my child has to do it.

Suddenly school is fun, because he is using sensory stimuli to learn.

The sensory systems such as the tactile system (skin system), inner ear movement system (vestibular system), proprioceptive system (muscle and joint system), auditory system (hearing system), smell and taste system (oral and olfactory systems) send information directly to sensory areas in the brain. This information is then processed into the learning areas of the brain and the memory areas of the brain.

I am going to share fun ideas with you daily, remember to follow this blog.

Today’s fun activity is doing maths using your proprioceptive (muscle and joint system) and vestibular system (inner ear movement system)

• Jump on the trampoline while counting. (rhythmical jumping enhances sequencing and counting is sequencing!!)

• Jumping forward, counting forwards in 2’s, in 5’s, and 10’s or any other number.

• Jumping backwards helps the brain to process sequencing or counting backwards

• Jumping using a pattern such as knees-feet-knees-feet adds sequencing and attention. Now join it with counting.

• Jumping and touching your opposite foot or knee, adds to the spatial perception of the body called "Midline Crossing". This skill forms a vital building block for mathematical concepts.

• If your child is able to do a somersault safely, that movement or forward rotation is alerting to the brain and helps to wake up the neurological system. Please do not do too much as it can cause dizziness and nausea.

• Alternatively, rolling on the trampoline to the side, rolling forward or backwards adds the same vestibular (inner ear activation) stimuli.

• Remember to combine this vestibular movement (inner ear with jumping on the ground, animal walks or wheelbarrow walks on the "earthy level". This will prevent over stimulation of the inner ear (vestibular) system and adds Heavy Muscle work (proprioception) to balance the whole neuro system in the brain.

Keep jumping and learn Maths!!