Childhood obesity is a rising problem in the United States, both for typically developing children and children with special needs. According to a Fact Sheet released by the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Disability and Human Development College of Applied Health Sciences, children with disabilities are at greater risk of becoming obese because of their less active lifestyles. The report states, "many parents believe that because of their disability, their children cannot be physically active, which is not the truth. This lack of physical activity may not only lead to obesity but other health problems as well." Play deprivation can also be responsible for depression due to social isolation, aggressive behavior, and even a lowered ability to recognize social cues. The solution may be as simple as finding the correct tools for burning energy and keeping active. Resources such as the website AblePlay help to inform parents about what products are available to fit their child's special needs. One such product might be a safety trampoline that allows a child to jump at her own pace with the assistance of a safety bar to hold on to. Another could be a bowling set that can be used from a stationary position as long as a caregiver sets up the pins. A "buddy bike" with foldable foot pedals gives a rider with a disability the option of pedaling to keep up with his bike-riding friends or taking a break while another person pedals at a steady pace at the...

Special needs kids risk obesity due to inactive lifestyles. Tools like safety trampolines and bikes help them stay active and healthy.

Avoiding Obesity in Kids with Special Needs

Childhood obesity is a rising problem in the United States, both for typically developing children and children with special needs. According to a Fact Sheet released by the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Disability and Human Development College of Applied Health Sciences, children with disabilities are at greater risk of becoming obese because of their less active lifestyles. The report states, "many parents believe that because of their disability, their children cannot be physically active, which is not the truth. This lack of physical activity may not only lead to obesity but other health problems as well." Play deprivation can also be responsible for depression due to social isolation, aggressive behavior, and even a lowered ability to recognize social cues. The solution may be as simple as finding the correct tools for burning energy and keeping active. Resources such as the website AblePlay help to inform parents about what products are available to fit their child's special needs. One such product might be a safety trampoline that allows a child to jump at her own pace with the assistance of a safety bar to hold on to. Another could be a bowling set that can be used from a stationary position as long as a caregiver sets up the pins. A "buddy bike" with foldable foot pedals gives a rider with a disability the option of pedaling to keep up with his bike-riding friends or taking a break while another person pedals at a steady pace at the...

Special needs kids risk obesity due to inactive lifestyles. Tools like safety trampolines and bikes help them stay active and healthy.

Gross Motor Skill Activities for Special Needs Children Most special needs children tend to have problems with their balance, body strength, and coordination. These problems are affected by gross motor skills, or skills that use the larger muscles of the body. While special needs children may be slow to develop their gross motor skills, they can still exercise and partake in daily activities that can increase their strength, balance, and coordination. When special needs children work on their gross motor skills, their fine motor skills improve as well. Here are a few activities that any parent or caregiver can do with a special needs child to improve their development and overall well being. Get Bouncing with Trampolines What kid doesn't love jumping on a trampoline? A trampoline is one perfect activity for special needs children because it helps them improve their balance and can even be therapeutic, especially for children with autism. Trampolines a therapeutic for children with autism because the bouncing motion feels good to the child and helps them become aware of their body positions. There is no need to buy a large trampoline; a small, personalized one will work perfectly. For safety reasons, a jump bar should be used. For larger trampolines, a safety net is advised. Fitness Balls for Balance and Concentration Fitness balls or yoga balls are easy to find in sporting good stores or...

Activities like trampolines, fitness balls, and target games improve gross motor skills in special needs children.

Gross Motor Skill Activities

  Gross Motor Skill Activities for Special Needs Children    Most special needs children tend to have problems with their balance, body strength, and coordination. These problems are affected by gross motor skills, or skills that use the larger muscles of the body. While special needs children may be slow to develop their gross motor skills, they can still exercise and partake in daily activities that can increase their strength, balance, and coordination.   When special needs children work on their gross motor skills, their fine motor skills improve as well. Here are a few activities that any parent or caregiver can do with a special needs child to improve their development and overall well being.    Get Bouncing with Trampolines    What kid doesn't love jumping on a trampoline? A trampoline is one perfect activity for special needs children because it helps them improve their balance and can even be therapeutic, especially for children with autism. Trampolines a therapeutic for children with autism because the bouncing motion feels good to the child and helps them become aware of their body positions. There is no need to buy a large trampoline; a small, personalized one will work perfectly. For safety reasons, a jump bar should be used. For larger trampolines, a safety net is advised.     Fitness Balls for Balance and Concentration    Fitness balls or yoga balls are easy to find in sporting good stores or...

Activities like trampolines, fitness balls, and target games improve gross motor skills in special needs children.

When your child has special needs, getting them moving regularly can feel like a project with no clear roadmap. You know exercise is supposed to help. You've probably read about the benefits. But what works one week falls apart the next, and routines that seemed promising can unravel before they've ever really taken hold. That experience is incredibly common, and it's usually not the parent's commitment that's the problem. It's the starting expectations. Think Smaller Than Feels Useful. One of the most helpful shifts is recalibrating how long a session needs to be. For most children with sensory sensitivities, attention differences, or communication challenges, a 20- or 30-minute structured workout is too long and too formal to be sustainable, especially at the start. Five minutes. Five minutes of movement that your child enjoys and will do. That's the goal. Not impressive, just real. A five-minute dance break that happens three times a week builds a habit. A 30-minute session that happens twice and gets abandoned builds nothing. Once consistency is there, the length can grow naturally. But consistency has to come first. Match the Movement to the Child. Not every child responds to the same activities, and trying to fit a child into something that doesn't suit them creates resistance that's hard to work through. Before picking what to try, think about your child's sensory profile. Children who seek sensory input often respond well to movement that provides strong physical feedback: trampolining, swimming, rough-and-tumble play, carrying groceries, pushing a cart....

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

When your child has special needs, getting them moving regularly can feel like a project with no clear roadmap. You know exercise is supposed to help. You've probably read about the benefits. But what works one week falls apart the next, and routines that seemed promising can unravel before they've ever really taken hold. That experience is incredibly common, and it's usually not the parent's commitment that's the problem. It's the starting expectations. Think Smaller Than Feels Useful. One of the most helpful shifts is recalibrating how long a session needs to be. For most children with sensory sensitivities, attention differences, or communication challenges, a 20- or 30-minute structured workout is too long and too formal to be sustainable, especially at the start. Five minutes. Five minutes of movement that your child enjoys and will do. That's the goal. Not impressive, just real. A five-minute dance break that happens three times a week builds a habit. A 30-minute session that happens twice and gets abandoned builds nothing. Once consistency is there, the length can grow naturally. But consistency has to come first. Match the Movement to the Child. Not every child responds to the same activities, and trying to fit a child into something that doesn't suit them creates resistance that's hard to work through. Before picking what to try, think about your child's sensory profile. Children who seek sensory input often respond well to movement that provides strong physical feedback: trampolining, swimming, rough-and-tumble play, carrying groceries, pushing a cart....

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Special Needs
Articles

Avoiding Obesity in Kids with Special Needs

Gross Motor Skill Activities

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Avoiding Obesity in Kids with Special Needs

Gross Motor Skill Activities

How to Build an Exercise Routine for a Child with Special Needs (Without Burning Out)

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles