Therapeutic Exercises You Can Do with Your Child at Home

Helping your child achieve physical milestones doesn’t always require clinic visits. While professional pediatric physiotherapy plays a critical role in treatment and progress, there are several therapeutic exercises parents can safely do at home. At Milestone PRC, trusted pediatric physiotherapy clinic in Jaipur, we believe that parental involvement is key to a child’s physical development.

Here are some expert-recommended therapeutic exercises you can practice with your child to promote strength, coordination, flexibility, and balance—all in a fun and engaging way.

Tummy Time (for Infants)

Tummy time helps build neck, shoulder, and arm strength in babies. It’s also a foundation for motor skills like crawling and rolling.

How to do it: Place your baby on their tummy for short periods while awake and supervised. Use toys or a mirror to keep them engaged.

Tip: Begin with 2–3 minutes several times a day and gradually increase the duration.

Bridging (for Toddlers and Young Children)

This is excellent for strengthening the core muscles, glutes, and hamstrings.

How to do it:

• Have your child lie on their back with knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
• Ask them to lift their hips upward while keeping shoulders on the floor.
• Hold for 5–10 seconds and lower slowly.

Repeat: 10 repetitions.

Wall Push-Ups

Wall push-ups are great for improving upper body strength and postural control.

How to do it:

• Have your child stand a short distance away from a wall.
• Place both hands on the wall and bend elbows to “push up” against it.
• Return to starting position slowly.

Repeat: 2–3 sets of 10 reps.

Toe Walking

This simple activity improves ankle strength, balance, and calf flexibility.

How to do it:

• Have your child walk on their toes across the room.
• Encourage them to balance and stay on their toes as long as possible.
• Repeat: Several rounds of 10–15 seconds.

Animal Walks

Turn exercise into play by imitating animal movements. It’s fun and improves coordination.

Examples:

• Bear walks (walking on hands and feet)
• Crab walks (sitting and lifting hips while moving backwards)
• Frog jumps (squatting and jumping forward)

Duration: 5–10 minutes of play.

Balance Activities

Balance is a foundational motor skill that supports nearly every movement. Simple tasks like:

• Walking on a line or a beam
• Standing on one foot
• Balancing on a pillow

Tip: Add music or rhythm to make it more engaging.

Stretching Games

Stretching improves flexibility and prevents stiffness, especially in children with developmental delays or muscle tightness.

Fun approach:

• “Touch the sky, touch your toes” game
• Yoga poses like “tree,” “cobra,” and “cat-cow”
• Do this: 10–15 minutes daily.

Rolling a Therapy Ball

A therapy ball helps improve posture, balance, and coordination.

How to do it:

• Sit your child on a therapy ball.
• Roll them gently back and forth or side to side.
• Have them reach for toys or objects while maintaining balance.

Supervision required.

Crawling Through Tunnels

This activity supports shoulder strength and body awareness.

How to do it: Create a play tunnel using cushions, blankets, or store-bought tunnels.

Encourage your child: to crawl through while fetching toys or navigating obstacles.

Interactive Games with Resistance Bands

Using light resistance bands can be helpful in strengthening arms and legs.

Game idea: Have your child “row a boat” using resistance bands or do “pull the band” competitions.

Caution: Always use child-safe resistance bands and consult a physiotherapist.

Tips for Parents

• Always consult your child’s physiotherapist before starting a new exercise.
• Make the sessions playful and encouraging.
• Observe your child for signs of discomfort or fatigue.
• Use praise and rewards to motivate.

Conclusion

At Milestone PRC, we’re passionate about empowering parents to take an active role in their child’s therapy journey. These at-home exercises are not only effective but also a great way to bond with your child.

Therapeutic exercises, when done regularly and correctly, can significantly support your child’s physical development. For a personalized exercise plan, consult with the experts at Milestone PRC, Jaipur’s leading pediatric physiotherapy clinic.