Animal Walks

Animal walks are an excellent source of work and fun for kids. Kids love imitating their favorite animals, and at the same time they provide great input and help release bounds of energy all kids have. Kids are very imaginative, so allowing them to create their own is part of the fun! Animal walks provide strengthening, balance, coordination, and also vestibular and proprioceptive input. Animal walks are a great activity to do at home, as they don’t require any equipment or a lot of space. Here are some examples of animal walks to do at home.

Bear Walk

Have your child bend forward and put their hands on the ground. Using hands and feet, keeping their bottom up in the air, crawl forward alternating arms/legs. This is an excellent source of strengthening for arms, legs, core, and a great source of proprioception.

Duck Walks

Have your child squat down as low as possible and try to walk in the squatted position while keeping arms at the side. This is a great challenge for balance, as well as strengthening and improving flexibility in the hips.

Frog Jumps

Have your child go into a squat position and then jump forward from the squatted position, trying to land on their feet without falling. This works on improving balance, leg strength, and proprioception during contact with the floor.

Snake Slither

Have your child lay on their belly on the floor with hands at their side. Then, by “squirming” back and forth, slowly move forward by using their hips and belly. Try going up a ramp or hill for an added challenge. This provides a lot of input as well as improving coordination and core/hip strength.

Crab Walk

Have your child squat down to the ground and reach backwards. Then, having them keep their bottom off the ground, crawl backwards or forwards to work different muscles. This provides a lot of sensory input to the hands and feet, improves balance, and strengthens core, hips, and upper body muscles.

Make up your own! The options are endless- other examples include elephant walks, donkey kicks, turtle crawl, kangaroo jumps, inchworm walking, and many more! Have fun!