What To Do When You Only Have a Ball! Specials, Product Highlights

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Product Highlights Gertie Ball: Very unique soft tacky texture makes these safe and easy catch for young children. 9” ball comes with straw for easy inflate and deflate. Nobbie Gertie Ball: Two-color Gertie with little green nobbies covering the surface. Adds visual and tactile interest. Soft and nonthreatening, but very visually alerting!" Massage Ball: The therapy ball with the great bumpy surface! Whether the kids roll on it or it rolls on them, the highly textured surface provides continuous tactile input. This helps to increase attending, body awareness and alerting behaviors while facilitating motor responses. Weekly Special $5.00 shipping on any order over $45.00  Place your order today!  *Valid on ground shipping only, online orders placed within the contiguous U.S.   Use code "5flat" when ordering. Expires Tuesday 8/30/16 at midnight.   All You Need is a Ball! Well here are some fun games to play when that is all you have!   Maybe you don't want to run a motor group but all you have is ball, find a marker and write some letters on the ball.  Sitting in a circle, toss the ball to each other.  When each student catches it, they have to pick a letter on on the ball, the letter will correspond to a question from your paper.   This can be a great ice breaker! Some questions to use: "What is your favorite color?" "Where is your favorite vacation spot?" "How many siblings do you have?" "What sports do you play?" "What is your favorite video game?"   Or if you would like a motor game- have the letters correspond to a motor activity the srudent has to complete before tossing the ball to a friend.     Kickball- easy to play and all you need is a ball and some kids! You may want to mark 4 bases also.  Split into teams- one plays the field and the other team kicks the ball.  Played just like baseball but kicking instead of hitting, kick the ball run the bases, if you are tagged- you're out!  Three outs and the teams switch.  Play keeping score or just for fun!      Change it up! Maybe everyone already knows how to play kickball or you just want to make the game a little bit harder.  Have your fielders only using their body to stop the ball and their feet to pass- No hands!   Or instead of running the bases, you have to march or hop.  If you need to make the game a little easier, have the kicker kick a stationary ball instead of rolled by the pitcher or just work on kicking and running, no one gets "out"  Body Jam Relay: You can play as a team or individually.  Mark a start and finish line.  You are going to call out a body part and your student needs to race to the finish holding the ball on that body part.  "Hold the ball on your head" or "Hold the ball between your knees" Playing as teams- now you have two students who need to hold the ball with a body part while racing to the finish.  For example, if you say "Hold the ball with your shoulder" The ball will be between one students left shoulder and the other student's rigtht shoulder.  Can they hold it with shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, just fingers, or their heads?  Teamwork really comes into play here as they have to move at the same pace and remember no cheating! Some Other Fun Ball Games Cooperative Ball Games: Hit the Clip: Standing in a circle, place a paper clip chain or other lightweight object in the middle of your students.  When it is your turn, say who you are going to bounce the ball to then aim for the chain as you bounce the ball.  As a group you must total twenty five hits.  Use different sized balls, smaller ball will be a lot harder, or use a large ball to increase upper body strength.  Or for a really good workout, use a weighted ball.   To make the game more challenging add a memory component. Each player states his/her favorite fruit/food/sport or name a US state.  Player must say their answer and those before them before throwing at the clip.   Pass Along: How many different ways can you relay race the ball down the line?  Sitting side by side, twisting from one person to the next to get the ball from one end to another.  Or laying foot to head and you have to use your core to sit up and reach for the ball, then sit back and pass to the next student.  Or you can sit against the wall with youur legs straight up in the air, and pass the ball along the wall with only your feet.     Anyone Remember playing "SPUD"? Everyone gets a number 1 through however many students are playing.  One student throws the ball up in the air and calls a number while everyone runs.   Once the ball is caught everyone stops.  The student with the ball is allowed four steps S-P-U-D to the closest person then bounces the ball at their legs, if they tag them with the ball that person become the ball thrower and the original thrower gets letter S.  You play until someone has the full word.   Or forget spelling the word and practice running and catching.  There is one person throwing the ball as high as they can in the air and everyone else runs away.      Compiled by Lisa Walker OTR  You're receiving this because you subscribed or placed an order with Pocket Full of Therapy. We will NEVER share or sell your info. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe Contact Us: (800) PFOT-124 (732) 462-4474 *An OT is always available to answer questions or assist in selecting the right item!