Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many great suggestions!

The balance board I was thinking of was one with a labyrinth on top. It's $90, hence my pause. I think the trampoline is the way to go - and playing the Wii at grandma's (we don't have a game system).

Thanks so much!
OP

I picked up a little exercise trampoline at target, so it can hold the weight of an adult. It doesn't have a bar, which I think is a good thing--the bar can get in the way.

I don't think my son has the coordination to use a trampoline without the bar yet. - OP

Anonymous wrote:So many great suggestions!

The balance board I was thinking of was one with a labyrinth on top. It's $90, hence my pause. I think the trampoline is the way to go - and playing the Wii at grandma's (we don't have a game system).

Thanks so much!
OP

I picked up a little exercise trampoline at target, so it can hold the weight of an adult. It doesn't have a bar, which I think is a good thing--the bar can get in the way.

So many great suggestions!

The balance board I was thinking of was one with a labyrinth on top. It's $90, hence my pause. I think the trampoline is the way to go - and playing the Wii at grandma's (we don't have a game system).

Thanks so much!
OP

We bought my son an astronaut board and loved it.

I don't have a recommendation for a balance board but you might consider some video games - I've got 2 kids with motor delays (fine/gross) and we've used Wii Fit and Just Dance alot. For us, the key has been repetition, repetition, repetition. The games are a lot of fun and with measurable results. It's also good exercise for them and more than one kid can do it at a time.

Barston's Child Play has spooner boards:
https://cdn4.thegrommet.com/media/catalog/product/...6e95/h/e/heromockupspooner.jpg

Thanks for posting this! I think my kids would like it and we're going to get it for them for Christmas.

Balance boards can be fun. Sometimes my kids multi-task on them, e.g., stand on the balance board and watch an episode.

I've used a balance board for my own physical therapy post surgery and they aren't that much fun to use. Useful, good for my balance, core, blah blah but not fun.

I'd get a mini trampoline with bar and then work to get him on it. You go to the room with him and chat or play games while he's on it. Can you bounce 3 times then do X with me (5 high fives) then bounce 4 more times and...
You might have to incorporate it into a routine. .. go bounce while I prep dinner then we'll read a book while dinner is in the oven.
Set a timer for 5 mins and he bounced until it goes off. Can you count how many bounces until the timer goes off (set to 3 mins ).
And so on. But a balance board while good for him won't be fun. You gotta have the fun factor or it won't happen.

Anonymous wrote:Ikea had a balance beam in the kids section. My son sounds a lot like yours and he loves, loves, loves the trampoline with the handle.. best $70 I've ever spent.

So he ended up using the trampoline? DH's fear is that he'll bounce about three times a week and that'll be it. I wonder if I can stash the balance beam upright for storage?

I found this one online that is pretty inexpensive.

http://www.specialneedsessentials.com/monkey-balance-board/?gclid=CIWp6LvT_sgCFQwXHwodKlIC5A

Ikea had a balance beam in the kids section. My son sounds a lot like yours and he loves, loves, loves the trampoline with the handle.. best $70 I've ever spent.

Barston's Child Play has spooner boards:
https://cdn4.thegrommet.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/473x355/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/h/e/heromockupspooner.jpg

Target has balance items in their sports and fitness section:
http://www.target.com/p/bosu-balance-trainer/-/A-530738#prodSlot=medium_1_29

I've also seen something like this at Target but I can't find it on Target's website:
http://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Non-slip-Balance-Fitness-Training/dp/B00WJJJX2Q/ref=lp_3407861_1_17?s=exercise-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1446905286&sr=1-17

When our kids were little we bought one of these - http://www.walmart.com/ip/14662929?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228000506093&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40330013192&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=58472728969&veh=sem

It fit, barely, in our basement. Was great for our SN kid and his typical brother and their friends.

Call Child's Play. If they don't have one in stock they may order for you.

DS, 4, has gross (and fine) motor delays, enough that his teachers notice and comment, but not so much that he qualifies for services (and our insurance is already note react at covering the speech therapy he has). We'd like to get him a balance board for Christmas, based on the reviews and how good they are supposed to be for building gross motor skills, but are afraid that DS will hate it and we'll be out $90. Has anyone seen a toy store with these in stock and maybe one to try out?

Related: or would a trampoline with a bar be better? He's so hesitant to try things - including running with friends - because his muscles just seem weak. I've got to find something to strengthen his legs that won't seem like a chore to him.