Someone just shared a link to your "physicality" page. Awesome suggestions!

One that is not on there but could be is virtual reality. Oculus and Play Station seem to be the most popular- Oculus the most popular. Sydney plays for hours a day and sweats and is sore and so physically active! It's pretty much her only physical activity and it's a ton.

I wish more parents would take the time to watch their kids play it or play it themselves. It's such a terrific option.

Make forts and tunnels in the living room using blankets and cushions—crawl around and through and over them.

Twister. And make up other games to play with the board, like hopscotch, jumping from one color to another. Jumping games in general are fun—how many times can you jump? Jump on one foot? How high can you jump? Jump rope (inside, if you have the space, you can tie one end to a doornob and "turn" the other end for him. Or have jumprope races down a hallway (make sure the downstairs neighbors aren't home).

Get some flimsy fabric or scarves and dance with them. If you have a big enough piece of fabric you can toss it up in the air and try to get under it before it lands.

Play games with balloons—volleyball, soccer, and if you can do it without disturbing the neighbors "balloon stomp" where you tie a balloon to one leg and see how quickly you can break it by stepping on it.

Toys like a sit-n-spin, a skateboard (use it sitting down), an exercise or bounce ball, an inflatable punching bag, and a mini trampoline can be stored and brought out one at a time.

Party games like blind-mans-bluff and pin-the-tail can be played easily at home with one or two kids. Get a book of party games, or look some up on the web.

Wind down by transitioning to something else, rather than just "that's enough". A snack makes a good transition, or switch to video games or a movie.

Pamela C. added: We live in a tiny apartment in New York City. My son does not like to go out (the hustle and bustle overwhelms and irritates him). Here are physical things we do inside every day:

-we constantly play/roll on/bounce on our huge exercise ball

-jump rope . We have an ongoing contest for how many jumps we can do without messing up

-play Dance Dance Revolution

-bounce on hippety hops (Ours is big enough for me to ride on)

-Dance to music. Everything from hip-hop to tango

-We have a game that involves trying to knock each other over with pillows on the queen-size bed

-setting up "Wipe-Out" style obstacle courses on the furniture (putting slip covers on things helps me to chill out about damage)

-play "Bop-it Bounce" ball game: (Bop-it Bounce)

-juggle

-many many improvised games with our dog involving stuffed animals, balls, treats, etc.

-a ping-pong set that we set up on our dining room table. We use pennies to keep score and play real sets. A few weeks ago we had a friend over and played for the "championship." Cheap and still a favorite after years! You can get it for about $10: [site gone; sorry]

-inflatable swords and socker boppers

-sit-and-spin

-trying to keep a ballon from touching the floor can be incredibly entertaining and active, especially for little kids.

-a small indoor trampoline. They come with or without a handlebar.

-basketball with an over the door hoop and soft, spongy balls

-a few years ago I bought a bunch of upholstery foam remnants super cheap from a furniture repair place. We used them to build all kinds of things you could jump and fall and climb on. We stored them under the bed.

-until recently, we've always had an indoor swing. This is the model and it's very easy to install in a doorway: [link gone, in 2021]
It's a little pricey, but we've used ours for over a decade (my eldest is 21).

We do all of this and more, alone or with friends. On a bigger scale, I have scrimped and saved all year to be able to leave the city for the summer and stay at a cabin on a lake so my son can spend his days in the country swimming, which is something he loves. There are lots of solutions, big and small, for helping kids get physical needs met.

It sounds like your son doesn't really enjoy crowds of other kids or playing at the park. Mine doesn't either and forcing him into those situation was harmful to him and to our relationship. Hope these ideas help.

Pamela

I realize an apartment may not have a lot of space - but it is worth it to clear out some furniture to make enough space for large-body play.

Twister - the game.

Hula hoops can be used indoors.

Tunnels, yo-yos, spinny things you stand on.

Bean bag toss games—here is one you can buy, but you can just make bean bags (fill tube socks with rice or beans or hard corn and tie a knot in the end) and find places to throw them—allow for him to be able to throw HARD, not just gently toss, too. (Tiki Bean Bag Toss Game)

Oriental trading company also has an inflatable limbo game. But you could just play limbo with him using a broomstick.

Play "run, jump, punch"—duct tape a "target" (something he can punch - an old throw pillow, for example) onto a broom handle - hold it out and let him run at it and punch it (or jump/kick it, even better). Then hold it a little higher and a little higher&mdashmake it more of a challenge (but not so high as to frustrate him—his is supposed to be fun).

Paddle balls—those things with a little rubber ball connected to a paddle with elastic.

Balloons—play together trying to keep a balloon in the air. Same with feathers.

We had a big peacock feather for years—and the kids would move all over the room trying to keep it balanced on the tip of their finger.

Play hopscotch in the house. I bought a set of placemats at a thrift store—plastic ones. I got several sets. We ended up writing numbers on them and the kids would lay them out in the living room and play hopscotch on them (and use them as part of their obstacle courses).

Also play "sharks" or "lava"—put old placemats or sheets of newspaper or anything else—all over the room, just far enough apart that it is a challenge to go from one to the other and then hop around pretending that if you step off either the sharks will get you or you'll be in hot lava.

Those big cardboard brick building blocks (this link should show some)— Combine these with small tables and chairs and cushions and more - to build BIG structures.

Drag home large appliance boxes if you see them—kids can find all kinds of ways to play with them and they encourage large muscle play.

Those little parachute guys that he can climb up high and drop (or look online you can make these easily).

Put up a short step ladder in the middle of the living room—play pretend with it. Drop parachutes off it. Every time he climbs up and down—that's good!

Jump ropes—play "snakes" by wiggling it as you move around the room and he tries to stomp it. Make up more games with ropes.

Make "obstacle courses" throughout the apartment—put couch cushions and pieces of newspaper and other things (a mini trampoline in there somewhere) and things to crawl over and crawl under (coffee tables, chairs) and get a stopwatch to time it.

Dance—put on happy high-energy music and dance around the apartment. My kids liked scarves—ong flowing scarves to wave around while they danced. There are really cheap little paper thingies that sort of unwind and you wave them around in patters while you dance—like gymnasts use.

Punching bags! Those bouncy balls kids can sit on and bounce around. I know I know—doesn't seem safe for indoors—MAKE it safe.

Make it a priority—spend hours every single day outdoors where he can run and play. Play WITH him if he's not finding other kids to play with. If you're having fun together, why would he be sitting and crying. Take bubble stuff and weird bubble wands that you make out of pipe cleaners. Do the mentos experiment. Get those cheap little balsa wood gliders and fly those (and chase them). Make a little scooter ramp to take to the park. Make life outdoors fun and run around with him and climb up on the playground equipment with him and slide down the slide and haul water for him so he can build castles with moats in the sandbox.

That he has trouble sharing isn't a reason to not take him out. Be there to help. Think ahead—take something that he is willing to share or don't take toys at all. Most kids on playgrounds don't bring their own toys— mostly they play on the playground equipment. Second—you don't have to go to playgrounds—go to parts of parks where there are trees and bushes to run around in, too. Take a ball and play with him.

Playing in the bathtub is really good—being immersed in water is an extraordinary calming and physically nurturing thing. Bathtub play was kind of a lifesaver for me with my extremely high-energy and intense kid! I'd put all kinds of things in the tub—egg beaters, cups and bowls, measuring cups, basters, and so on. An empty tub and a big huge bowl of instant pudding was great—they played and played with it —and it washed right away. Bubble baths—of course—but be creative with them (add flavorings like pineapple or chocolate to the water, for example). Baths were really a focal point of our days during winter months. (Put towels on the floor and don't worry about it getting wet.)

It is very sad when a child is diagnosed as having ADD or hyperactivity or whatever—but the kid is a rambunctious little one who is mostly being kept indoors in an apartment and not getting hours of strenuous big-body play time every day - then the poor kid gets drugged and treated and talked about as if there is something wrong with him! Instead of considering him as disabled in some way and trying to treat it—consider him as an extremely rambunctious kiddo who needs a tremendous amount of physical activity. Make it your goal and your priority that he is physically worn out at the end of every single day. End the day with long playtime in the bathtub.

Focus your own energy on being super creative about fun things to do together that involve large-muscle activity.

Pat R's sensory activities:

Another is "pillow mash"-again he lies on the bed and I place a pillow on top of his chest and firmly "aggitate" the pillow in a jiggling motion and say "pillow mash, pillow mash", repeatedly. This provides input to his chest.

And another one is "salt shaker", again he lies on the bed, and I hold both legs up and "shake salt" out of him. He is sorta upside down (legs up in the air, body on the bed), which gives input of vibrating his head and back on the firm mattress.

Another is "burrito"-where he is wrapped tightly in a blanket and rolled side to side repeatedly.

Another is "sack of potatoes" when he climbs in a pillow case and I lift him up and down from the floor.

We also do "row-row-row-your boat" where we both lie on the trampoline with full body contact and roll across the surface back and forth, singing row-row-row-your boat. The total body compression is very calming for him.

We have his bed mattress and box springs on the floor. So, he'll go up to his room and bounce and jump for sensory input too.

Oh, also he loves to stand in place and jump up to reach my hands above his head. This is helpful when waiting in line, where he is restless, but needs contained activity. It creates jumping, reaching and a goal/game aspect.

Another is where I hold my hands together palm to palm and move them up and down and he tries to clap them with his hands. Again, this is great for when out and about and he has too much energy for the space limitations. A variant of this is where he tries to "give five" while I pull my hands back quickly. These can be used to constructively engage other people in the "game" also, which might free you up for short periods.

He also loves to play in the sink with LOTS of soap, that seems to be very soothing to him (but messy). Some kids really seek multiple baths a day and having that planned before and/or mid-visit may allow a connecting time with you; and a recentering activity, enough to make it a longer night.

So, if we are going to have a lot of sensory stimuli like a cacophony of sounds from a crowded party, we proactively do these games for 15 minutes several times throughout the day. It helps if we are very careful to avoid dairy, HFCS and artificial colors which decrease his ability to hear and consider other's needs. We try to plan activities for earlier in the day, plan some outside play time, especially swinging. Big tight, long hugs help in the midst of chaos to recenter. We also freely use Rescue Remedy (and/or Cherry Plum) Bach flower remedies before (and during) high stress situations.

Ds has no obligation to visit with company; and he freely removes himself to go watch tv in his room. It helps if ds doesn't need to meet and greet everyone, especially when they all want to be hugging him and expecting him to chat. He'd rather warm up to people like a cat...on his own terms. So, it helps if ds is quietly engaged with a familiar video when we have company arrive and then he can come down when he is ready and everyone is sitting and he is out of arm's reach. Then he is apt to go sit with someone and visit. He is an introvert.

I ran across this other comprehensive list of ideas for sensory activities: http://www.coping.org/intervention/sensory/sensintegact.htm [That link has gone bad. Michelle Kirkpatrick noticed and sent a replacement. Thanks, Michelle! —Sandra]: PRESCHOOL LARGE MUSCLE MOVEMENT EXERCISES

It probably helps to practice some of these games so that they are fun, known and can be anticipated. Perhaps, make a list, or place a name of each game on a piece of paper and have her choose one from a jar to play with you or others.

more sensory/physical activities

Oh, and here are more.

Sensory Activities

Here is a another list of various sensory activities that child(ren) may enjoy and benefit from. I am copying this from ShineWithUnschooling. I find that proactively offering and engaging our son with some of these sensory inputs really helps when we have/had a busy day. If we have too much unfamiliar stimuli, he needs a break to recenter with some of these soothing activities. Or else......meltdown!

==========

CALMING ACTIVITIES:

Experiences that may help to relax the nervous system

* Stretches
* Deep pressure massage
* Slow rocking or swinging
* Fidget toys
* Progressive muscle relaxation
* Quite music with a steady beat
* Bear hugs
* Reduced noise and light levels
* Lavender, vanilla or other soothing smells
* Snuggling in a sleeping bag, large pillows or bean bag chair

ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES:

Experiences that can help an individual become focused and attentive

*Sucking or chewing on hard candy or gum
* Adding rhythm to the activity
* Vibration-toy massager, vibrating pillow, wiggle pen
* 'Heavy work' tasks to include hanging, pushing, pulling or carrying heavy objects

To organize

*Swinging on a swing or climbing
* Rhythmical sustained movement: marching, washing a table, or bouncing
* Rocking in a rocking chair
* "Squeezie" toys (koosh balls, balloons or rubber gloves filled with flour or cream, soft balls, gak, silly putty)
* Hanging by the arms on the monkey bars (20-30 seconds)
* Pushing/carrying heavy objects
* Carrying back packs weighted with books or bags of dried beans (this should only be worn for 15-20 minutes with an hour or two between)
*A reading corner with a bean bag chair makes a wonderful place for escape when there is too much stimulation. Some children may like the bean bag on top of them.
* Play dough
* Tactile Bins (cornmeal, oatmeal, water, sand, rice, beans)
* A bin full of bird seed (brought outside) is merrily cleaned up by the birdies -- no mess! :')
* Kitchen time (mixing, tasting, smelling, washing up)
* Finger painting

* Drinking from a water bottle
* Chewing (you can use a straw, rubber tubing or coffee stir stick)
* Being brushed with a corn de-silking brush (in one direction approximately 10 times with pressure brush their arms, back (but not over the spine), legs (on the top, outer parts and underneath, avoid the inner thigh area), top of the feet and the hands)
* Sucking on hard candy, frozen fruit bar, or spoonful of peanut butter or marshmallow fluff
* Licorice tug-of-war, blow pin wheels or various types of blow toys, bubbles and whistles
* Pushing against walls with the hands, shoulders, back, buttocks and head
* Cuddling or back rubbing
* Taking a bath
* Being rolled tightly like a hot dog in a blanket
* Being squished under a therapy ball, mat or couch cushion
* Tug-of-war
* Wheelbarrow walking, jumping games like hop scotch
* Crashing games-run and dive into boxes, bean bags and couch cushions
* Pulling a wagon, carrying a heavy book bag, digging in the yard or carrying groceries
* Sports such as wrestling and football
* Deep pressure (giving a massage) and joint compressions (holding above one joint and under one joint then doing a quick 10 repetitions of compressions, pushing and pulling)
* A mini trampoline
* A sockem bopper or whatever they call those weighted kid-sized things that spring back up after you knock them down

        

Transcript of a chat on Kinesthetic Intelligence

My definition of kinesthetic intelligence:

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence covers dance, body-awareness, physical talents that might be used for sports or knot-tying or wood carving or physical therapy. Some people are only slightly aware of how their bodies work and what their capacities are. Some people seem to be born knowing, or using their bodies well without even thinking about it.