These brief guidelines for a muscular flexibility program state that the purpose of such a program is to increase the range of motion in order to avoid injuries and eliminate awkwardness in physical activities. A flexibility program is described as an extension of the warm-up period and should be an ongoing, permanent effort to lengthen muscles. A…

To improve balance skills of deaf students, teachers should first determine the student's present level of functioning, decide on developmentally appropriate activities, and then arrange activities so the child progresses sequentially. (CL)

Because sensorimotor and environmental factors have a profound effect on children's learning, every teacher should know how to weave strategies from occupational therapy (OT) into their everyday instruction. This is the guidebook K-3 teachers need to "think like an OT"--and form effective partnerships with OTs in their schools--so all students can…

Basic behavioral processes involved in motor control based on theories of motor control and learning are outlined using the teaching of two-point touch cane technique as an application of the theories. The authors assert the importance of repetition, practice, and sufficient learning time. (Author/CL)

Descriptions of three games appropriate for elementary school and handicapped children in physical education are provided. (JMF)

The brochure offers guidelines on the everyday care and handling of infants with low muscle tone, in order that positioning, carrying, and other daily activities can be done in ways that will enhance the development of the child and prevent abnormal postures and patterns of movement. Proper positioning in the prone, supine, side lying, and sitting…

Intended for friends and families of children with disabilities, the book contains information and suggestions on play activities, toys, and games for children (0-8) with mild and moderate disabilities. Activities are sequenced from simpler to more developmentally advanced within six major categories (1) exploring the senses (hid and find,…

This review of the developmental readiness of normal, full-term infants to progress from exclusive breastfeeding to the introduction of complementary foods is the result of the international debate regarding the best age to introduce complementary foods into the diet of the breastfed human infant. After a list of definitions, four papers focus on:…

The article suggests activities to help learning disabled children develop awareness of the differences between right and left. Techniques for combining movement, language, and sensory skills as well as for using musical, visual, and tactile stimuli are described. (CL)

The article offers guidelines for involving children and adults with severe disabilities in motor activities and sports. Stressed are participation as fun, age appropriateness, functionality of new skills, and the value of partial participation. (DB)

Presents a success-management model for motivated learning which provides physical education teachers a framework for enhancing students' desire to work hard and maximize skill learning. The model's three phases are: basic instruction to help students begin learning skills; change in the motivational climate from task to ego orientation, with…

This booklet presents suggestions for parents to promote their visually impaired infant's motor development. It is pointed out that babies with serious visual loss often prefer their world to be constant and familiar and may resist change (including change in position); therefore, it is important that a wide range of movement activities be…

The article summarizes selected physical, motor, and fitness tests for severely and profoundly handicapped students with particular stress upon developmental age. Terminology clarification, recommendations related to selection and use of priority tests, plus comments related to an accompanying table of selected tests are included. (Author/CL)

Briefly described is the development of motor activity in children with profound mental retardation through use of parent/child dyads. Parent and child are jointly trained using a specific program of lessons combined with home training. Advantages of this method are noted. (Author/JDD)

This article, the second of a three-part series, outlines neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy approaches to movement dysfunction in children. The multiple roles of the pediatric physical therapist in teaching, consulting, managing, referring, and conducting clinical research are discussed. (Author/DB)