Core strength is very important for overall health, fitness and mobility. Core strength enhances balance, helps with coordination, extremity function, proximal stability and endurance. A weak core can lead to having poor posture, making fine motor skills more challenging, and will end in making your little one become frustrated with certain activities or getting tired too fast. Try these fun activities at home to encourage core strengthening!

Tummy play: Lay down on belly and hold your upper body up with elbows. Here you can have your little one do almost any activity they like. For babies get some of their favorite toys and have them reach for them or place a sensory mat, for older kiddos they can color, use playdough or play card or board games. Reaching will be more challenging but it will build endurance and increase strength.

Scooter boards: Kids love playing with scooters they won’t even notice they are building core strength; they will be too busy having fun! Have them lay on their tummy and use their hands to move around, or sit on their bottom using their legs to move. Place stickers or hide any other object around the house and have them travel around to collect them. Puzzles are another great activity - have them collect puzzle pieces from a distance and return to place them in the puzzle.

Animal walks: Have your little one pick a letter, come up with an animal that begins with that letter and have them mimic that animal walk from one side of the room to the other. For example, they pick “C” so they have to do a crab walk. Take turns with them and see how much fun it’ll be to mimic different animals walking!

Push N’ Pull basket: Fill up a basket with objects, or use your laundry basket! Have them push the basket across the room and then pull on their way back!