Book Review: Active Imagination Activity Book: 50 Sensorimotor Activities for Children to Improve Focus, Attention, Strength, and Coordination

I have 1 thing to say about this book: My 6 year old picked it up then proceeded to setup the fold so it can stand up and flip through the cards. Then what amazed me the most is he look at the card ran to the middle of the living room and said daddy look log roll. Then he went on to do about 10 more.

This book is amazing: The author  Kelly Tilley is a Board Certified Occupational Therapist that lives in Crystal Lake, IL.  She was educated at The University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. She currently works at Arlington Pediatric Therapy Management Services in Arlington heights, IL, providing therapeutic intervention for children with neurological and congenital conditions.

the book is layed out in the easy to use fashion

electing Activities for each Child: Description of tabs

Tabs along the bottom border of each page allow the teacher, parent, or therapist to select activities that are ideal for calming, energizing, upper extremity strengthening, and core strengthening.  The tabs allow daily routines of activities to be easily developed. Tabs also make it easier to select activities that are specific to the child’s area(s) of need.  Often these sensorimotor activities improve more than one area, so multiple tabs will reflect this along the bottom of the page. For example, “Meteorite Launch” is an energizing and core strengthening activity.

Every child has a unique set of sensory needs and abilities. Some children appear “over-aroused” (too wired, unable to sit still) while some children appear “under –aroused” (too sluggish, trouble getting moving).  Improving children’s level of arousal and their ability to attend and focus can be achieved through sensorimotor activities.

Calming Activities

Activities that are designated as “calming” provide input to muscles and joints in a slow/rhythmic way. These activities generally focus on “deep pressure” and “heavy work”. Deep pressure activities refer to input such as “squishing under cushions, or being rolled snuggly in a blanket. Heavy work refers to any movement activity against resistance (pushing heavy objects, pushing up against gravity).  

Note:

These activities are great preparation for bedtime. They are also helpful prior to table top work at school or before homework.

Energizing Activities

Activities that are designated as “energizing” provide input to the body that “revs” up or “perks” up the nervous system. The movements are usually quick and often involve changes in head position. These activities often involve jumping, rolling, bending forward, leaping over objects, etc.

 

Upper Body Strengthening Activities

Activities that are designated as “upper body strengthening” involve weight bearing on extended arms, modified push- ups, animal walks, etc. These activities all help to build the child’s strength and stability in the shoulder girdle, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. Upper body strength is critical to fine motor coordination which is necessary for children to perform everyday tasks such as writing, buttoning/zippering, tying their shoes.

Core Strengthening Activities

Activities designated as “core strengthening” target the large muscle groups of the hips, trunk, and shoulder girdle. These activities build postural control, bilateral coordination, balance, and the ability to grade movements. Climbing, running, jumping, and playing on the playground are more easily accomplished with good core strength. Development of the core is also important for regulation and attention.  Activities that require stability and postural control, such as sitting at a school desk during the day, are also more easily achieved when the child has better core strength.

don't just take it from me here is what other are saying about his wonderful book:

Monique from SC

I have zero expertise on children with sensory disorders. However, I am a parent of 5 and 7 year old girls and both of then would delight in the activities listed in this book. This is a spiral-bound book which "stands up" to make it easy to read and look at the illustrations of the activities. The activities are divided by type (Calming, Core Strengthening, Upper-Body Strengthening, and Energizing) and are designed for children between ages 9 and 12. However, younger children are able to perform the activities as well, depending upon their skill level and comprehension.

As an added bonus, this book is small enough to fit in a large purse or in a tote bag, so a parent can refer to it while out and about. You're not limited to performing the activities at home.

Barbarasmithoccupationaltherapist.com

Just when you have think you have read about, seen or used every sensorimotor activity on the planet, along comes a gem that fills a niche. Active Imagination Activity book by occupational therapist Kelly Tilley is easy to follow and use, small, light and compact to fit in the therapists travel bag and a helpful tool for home programs. The thin plastic pages and cardboard jacket designed to fold into an easel format make turning pages, reading and viewing pictures convenient.

Parents will find it easy to help their children perform the 50 sensorimotor exercises disguised as games. Tilley does a nice job of explaining the basics of sensory tools without getting technical and children will enjoy the colorful illustrations. However, although the pictures are a definite plus, there are one are two that are confusing. Does the child holding the praying mantis position (page 12) have his knee on or off the ground and the child who is supposed to be lifting a beanbag with both feet (page 45) looks like he is using one foot. Regardless, of these possible minor interpretation glitches, the activity ideas are fantastic.

Tilley categorizes each activity as calming, strengthening, energizing or as fulfilling more than one area. Each page is color coded to indicate the primary purpose of the exercise. For example, the Dolphin Dive on page 4 works on upper-body strengthening (green), core strengthening (orange) and is calming (blue). In addition, the quick reference chart at the back of the book lists the corresponding areas that are addressed in each activity.
Now for the crux of this book- the activities! I love the fact that they require no equipment other than items such as a ball or rope that are typically found around the school or home. The activities are based on play and active imagination (hence the title) so that young children will be easily engaged. I can envision the school occupational therapist teaching a couple of movements each week to the entire class so that the teacher can carry them over into the classroom to benefit both students with or without sensorimotor challenges. This is occupational therapy at its best!

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L has worked with children with developmental and learning disabilities for over 25 years. She is the author of The Recycling Occupational Therapist (published by Pro-Ed, Inc.) and her soon to be released book From Rattles to Writing: A Parent's Guide to Hand Skills (Therapro, Inc.)