Physical development on a budget: A cushy life

Cushions are a super-versatile and accessible resource we take for granted. They are adaptable and can be sourced in a range of textures, colours and sizes. Quotations and funny sayings may be embroidered on them, names written and pictures drawn that denote ownership or promote certain behaviours. Tiny cushions help the tooth fairy and enormous ones are sourced for family pets.

TYPES OF SUPPORT

Cushions are particularly useful for promoting the big body movements that support overall body strength, co-ordination, balance and agility.

Babies engage with cushions as they lie on their backs, sides and tummies to kick, wiggle and stretch. As they grow, they often crawl over them, stand on them to practise balancing, or carry one around to secure personal spaces.

Cushions may be pummelled with fists, stamped on, thrown, pushed and pulled, used to stack and slide and even kicked.

They provide emotional support and may be used as transition objects, particularly during hospitalisation or family illness. Notes or meaningful objects may be tucked inside, specific smells may be preserved on the surface, and textures that calm may be added.

HOW CAN CUSHIONS SUPPORT PD?

Using a small cushion, for the lower body, children may:

• Stand on a cushion then stamp with both feet as hard and fast as possible until out of puff, then place arms high above the head and stand very still.
• Sit on the cushion and ‘scoot’ around the floor.
• Place cushion between knees, squeeze tight, and then jump up/down, side to side, backwards/forwards.
• Scatter cushions on the floor. Now step from one to the other. Then try jumping.

For the upper body, children may:

• Squeeze the cushion against chests as tight as possible – remember to breathe.
• Place both hands on the cushion and push it around the floor, keeping bottoms in the air.
• Try stuffing the cushion into a small container, then pulling it out again.
• Tightly holding a corner, swing the cushion high then hit the floor very hard. Repeat and try both hands.
• Throw the cushion against a clear wall. Stand further away to make this more challenging, and make a target to aim for.

Remember that cushions can also be good for practising a range of hand skills, including: poking, prodding, grasping, smoothing, rubbing, stroking, kneading.

AS CHILDREN GROW AND DEVELOP

Introduce elements of speed, balance and co-ordination:

• Change positions at speed, but stay on the cushion. Invite children to move from sitting to standing to kneeling to lying on backs or tummies.
• Lying on backs; hold the cushion between feet. Now pass the cushion to hands and stretch long on the floor. Repeat.
• Scatter cushions on floor. Now ask children to pile the cushions up neatly so they don't fall over. Then make a long, precise line of cushions down the middle of the room. Line them upright along a wall and see how far they go.
  
  

TAKING IT FORWARDS

Activities with small cushions are very effective for supporting collaboration within a group:

• Play ‘pass- the- cushion’: sit in a circle and quickly pass the cushion around. At an agreed ‘stop’ signal, the child left holding the cushion puts it on the floor and runs around the circle back to their place.
• Play ‘throw-the cushion’: stand in a circle and throw the cushion across the middle. Keep it going, mixing throwing high and low.
• Stand one behind the other, leaving an arms-length gap. Ask them to pass the cushion over their heads along the line. The last then runs to the front with the cushion to start again.
• In the same position but with legs wide, suggest passing the cushion under their legs. The last in line runs to the front, as before.
• Scatter the cushions. Invite children to move around them (crawling, walking on knees, tiptoes, running) and at an agreed signal sit, kneel or stand still on a cushion for ten seconds.
  
  

PD FOR ADULTS

• For overall strength: squeeze the cushion tight between knees for eight counts each.
• Stand and balance on one leg for eight counts.
• Swing cushion between legs and blow out – then stretch up high and breathe in.
  
  

Dr Lala Manners is a physical development trainer and director of Active Matters