Weplay Roller Board -- Glorious!
The article/Weplay editing group collection
The skateboard was designed by Professor Dr. A.Jean Ayres who had more than ten years researches and clinical experience.
It is recognized the most effective teaching aids in sensory integration. It is not only providing various tactile stimulation,
but also can be used in different situations. No matter indoors or outdoors, it is an indispensable tactile activity which is
able to promote body potential development.
Why skateboarding activity can provide such good functions? The main reason is when children skateboard, it can provide the following three important stimuli:
Sliding with dive posture on skateboard will stimulate our vestibular. Especially when sliding downhills, the speeding will force sensory receptor to accept
new stimuli and responses. Constant vestibule stimuli will open up many nerve channels in brain. The intense stimuli will exercise lots of reflex reaction in body.
During skateboarding, visual information perceived as the body moved will help to form the visual sense of the space.
Proprioception sends messages through the central nervous system, and then relays information to the rest of the body about how to react and with what amount of tension. This process is integrated to give information about the position of the limb in space.
During skateboarding, specialized sensory receptors in the muscles, joints and connective tissues enable our body to sense the position of our limbs relative to the rest
of our body and the position of our body relative to the earth and gravity. Our body automatically coordinates with stimuli obtained from the immediate experience and
turns them into physical action. These reflexes make us lift our head and feet up so we may have a smooth skateboarding.
Followings are different ways of playing skateboards.
Through these activities, adults can help enhance children’s whole body coordination and tactile development.
◎The little trailer:
Applicable age: 2 years and above
Function: Enhance the development of vestibular balance
1) Attach rope on the board. Adults pull the rope to move the board with the child sitting on it.
2). Same as above. However, have the child pulls the rope this time to move forward.
Reminder: make sure children sit tight on the board.
Applicable age: 3 years old and above
1) Enhance muscle endurance ,
2) Provide vestibule stimulation.
Activity: Near the wall, children lie facedown on the board with hands off the ground and feet touched the wall. Children bend their legs and kick away from the wall to move forward.
Remindear: It should be an obstacle-free space when doing this activity.
Applicable age: above 3 years and above
Goal: enhance upper and whole body balance.
1) Children lie facedown on the board. Like rowing, children can use their hands to move forward, backward or turns.
2) Children can also play this activity in cross-legged sitting position
Reminder: Make sure children sit tight when crossing leg on the board.
Applicable age: 3 years and above
1) Enhance whole body coordination,
1) Improve action planning skills
1) Develop spatial concept.
Attach one end of the rope to a fixed place . Children lie face up on the board with one hand holding the other end of the rope. The board will move when children pull the rope. Children can control the speed and farness of the board.
Reminder.Young children play this activity only under adults’ supervision.