Page 46 - spaces4learning, Fall 2020

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spaces4learning LEARNING SPACES
altogether.
A wiggle space can solve these challenges, giving students
quick opportunities to move throughout the school day. Taking an indoor wiggle room break can help students regain focus and attention for the remainder of the school day, and it can help younger students strengthen emerging gross motor skills.
Creating an effective wiggle room for your school
Designing a sensorimotor space
is an opportunity to be creative.
However, some common activities in a wiggle room include climbing, bouncing, swinging, and crawling, among others.
For instance, students love to climb and hang, and horizontal Bouldering Boards allow them to do this safely. Traversing the length of the board builds imagination while strengthening back and shoulder muscles needed for posture and
fine motor activities back in the classroom.
surface serves as a cozy nest that students can climb into for added spatial boundary definition.
The Abilitations Spacewalk is a giant pillow filled with chunks of foam, creating an uneven but cushy surface for walking, crawling, rolling, or jumping. Crawling into tight spaces builds body awareness and motor planning skills; the Fun Tube Tunnel’s mesh sides allow adults to monitor the child throughout this activity.
These foam rolling pins help apply deep pressure sensory input to assist with calming, and
TRAVERSING THE LENGTH OF THE BOARD BUILDS IMAGINATION WHILE STRENGTHENING BACK AND SHOULDER MUSCLES NEEDED FOR POSTURE AND FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.
they can be hung on a wall by their handles for easy access. And, the SensaTrak inflatable round ball chamber offers a sensory seeking option for rolling or rocking gen- tly for calming.
Consider these ideas as starting points to help you design a wiggle room that meets your own students’ needs. However
you decide to equip your wiggle room, make sure you remember to include mats on the floor to keep students safe.
A scooter board ramp is another climbing apparatus that kids enjoy. Perched on a scooter board either seated or lying flat on their stomach, students can zoom down the ramp or pull themselves up using the ramp’s T-shaped rails.
The Spacesaver Nest combines climbing and bouncing in a compact design that fits easily into the corner of a room. When arranged blue side down, it serves as a springless trampoline-like surface, with the inflated vinyl sides offering added safety. Flip it over, and the bottom of the bouncing
Cecilia Cruse, MS. OTR/L received her BS degree in Occupa- tional Therapy from the University of Florida, and her Master’s degree in Education from Georgia State University. She is SIPT (Sensory Integration & Praxis Test) certified and has over 30 years’ experience in pediatrics with school- based services, acute care and outpatient pediatric settings. She has served as a trainer/consultant and service provider in several school systems. Cecilia is currently the Subject Matter Expert for Abilitations/ School Specialty, Inc. Special Needs Division.
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