Crawling is an amazing developmental activity that translates into all kinds of academics.  These weight bearing walks can be incorporated throughout your day by having the student’s use them to transition to a different area of the room making transitions structured, beneficial, and decreases negative behaviors.  They can be used before a handwriting activity to warm up the arm and hand muscles.      

 

Benefits of crawling, crab walking, bear walking:

•         Calms by activating heavy work receptors in the muscles and joints

•         Continues to calm by building muscles that help breathing

•         Helps children sit in chairs by building back and stomach muscles

•         Coordinates two side of the body so hand specialization is more likely to occur

•         Increases communication between the left and right sides of the brain

•         Improves handwriting by developing shoulder, arm, and wrist stability

•         Develops fine motor coordination as it builds the arches of the hand