Mattie's Ball Pool

Mattie does his physical therapies at home.  One of the disadvantages of doing therapy at home is our  house may not be fully equipped with toys or facilities necessary to aid Mattie improve his motor skills as compared to the therapy centers.  As such, I constantly think of ways to use available toys, furniture and other things to create obstacles for Mattie to use - to help him discover more about his different body parts and how to move them.

I read this really great idea from a blog on parenting and down syndrome at http://billandria.blogspot.com.  The writer of the blog suggested a very cost effective way of making your own ball pool  by filling a small inflatable swimming pool with a bag of 100 plastic balls!  Good thing Mattie received a small inflatable pool as a Christmas present!  Thus, I just had to buy a pack of 100 plastic balls from Toy Kingdom and made our very own ball pool!

Ball pools are great in helping Mattie build up his gross motor skills.  His therapist was ecstatic upon seeing our very own homemade ball pool!  She says it will help Mattie with his balance, reflexes, and stability.  It will also help him improve his body transitions and coordination as he figures how to go in and out of the ball pool by himself without bumping his head or falling on the floor.

 

Ball pools also help in refining fine motor skills as Mattie grabs and throws the balls in and out of the pool.  It also promotes sensory awareness as Mattie feels the 100 plastic balls surround and touch his body.

Mattie loves his ball pool.  He dives in and out of it everyday and throws all the balls out with a naughty grin.  We don't mind picking the balls up as it scatters all around the room.  What's important for now is Mattie is having a swell time playing not realizing that he's already working out muscles!




Mattie's Mom