Physio Tips - NEXT CHALLENGE

Our Community of Practice - PHYSIOTHERAPY tips

Collated by our therapists, here you will find useful links to external websites, products and services that contain trusted advice in various areas of child motor skill development.

Gross motor
Muscle strength
Balance and Coordination
Active Play (bike riding, swimming, playground)

Please note that any advice accessed via these links is is general in nature and is not professional advice relating to a child’s specific circumstances. If in doubt, seek professional advice.

General / Community

KidSport: KidSport is a government service that enables eligible children aged 5 to 18 to participate in community sport and recreation by offering them financial assistance towards club registration fees.

Kidsport: financial assistance for community sport.

ustralia’s most comprehensive AT database, NED (National Equipment Database)

Australia's National Equipment Database

ustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients.

Australian Physio Association

Playing for Life: Fun and active games to develop children's skills, confidence and lifelong interest in sport

Playing for Life activity cards for teachers + coaches

Munch & Move: resources to engage children in the topics of healthy eating and physical activity

physical activity resources + programs

Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games A selection of sport games and activities from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies all around Australia.

Aboriginal + Torres Strait Islander sport games

Sport4All is a national, award-winning program driving positive change in sport inclusion for people with disability.

Sport 4 all: inclusive sport support + advice

My CP Guide provides credible information on cerebral palsy from early diagnosis, therapies, interventions and support services across the life course.

My CP guide: cerebral palsy info + resources

The Cerebral Palsy Support Network is a not-for-profit providing information, support and resources to children and adults with cerebral palsy and their families.

Cerebral Palsy Info + Resources

Sports Ability: Inclusive activity cards for all levels of ability designed to develop children's skills, confidence and motivation for sports-based activities.

Inclusive activity cards for all levels of ability

Modified sports can take many forms but are generally designed to be an introductory, or more accessible version, of a sport. Programs may focus on children, mature-age participants, persons with disability, the time poor, or people looking for more social (less competitive) opportunities.

Clearing House Sport: Modified Sports

The Ehlers-Danlos Society is dedicated to advancing and accelerating research and education in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). We support the development of effective and equitable EDS and HSD therapies and work collaboratively to improve the lives of individuals affected by EDS and HSD.

The Ehlers-Danlos Society

Active Play + Development

Health Academy: Milestone Guide: birth to walking

Milestone Guide: birth to walking

Motor Milestones: Sarah Jay Physio pdf

Motor Milestones: Sarah Jay Physio pdf

Child Development: Healthy Living WA page on child development. Includes fact sheets of developmental milestones for ages 0-5 years (located at bottom of page).

Child Development Fact sheets 0-5yrs

Health Academy Developmental Toy Guide: 0-3 YRs

Developmental Toy Guide: 0-3 YRs

Infant Moves age appropriate play activities for your infant (5-12 months).

Infant Moves: play activities for 5-12 mths

Upside Kids Physio: Choosing Footwear for Children

What Should I Look For In My Child's Shoes?

Shoes for young children: Paediatric orthopaedic fact sheet detailing what to look for when buying a pair of shoes for toddlers and young children.

Shoes for young children: Paediatric orthopaedic fact sheet

Get moving – 1 to 5 years: Get Up & Grow – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resource collection
This collection contains Get Up & Grow resources that help parents and educators of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make sure they eat healthy foods and are physically active, so they grow up healthy and strong.

First Nations Resource- Get moving: 1-5 years

Get Active Each Day Poster

Get Active Each Day Poster

Childhood 101: Outdoor play ideas for kids

Childhood101: Outdoor Play Activities

Fundamental Movement Skills (3-5 years)

Fundamental Movement Skills (3-5 years)

Play With Me 0-3yrs: Activities to promote physical development in children aged 0-3yrs

Active Play activities for 0-3yrs

Gross Motor + Muscle Strength

upper body strength + coordination activities, child climbing on playground

upper body strength + coordination activities

physical play tips: playgroupwa

physical play tips: playgroupwa

Shoulder stability + control activities, child writing on vertical whiteboard

Shoulder stability + control activities

Building Active Bodies and Brains is a series of free resources for parents of children aged one to five years, developed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Playgroup WA. The series includes videos, information and imaginative play ideas to help your child develop fundamental movement skills.

Activities to build gross motor skills

Activities for Upper Body Strength, two children doing wheelbarrow walk

Activities for Upper Body Strength

Active Alphabet: Toddlers Movement activities for each letter in the alphabet

Active Alphabet: Toddlers

Coordination

DCD: parent, teacher, clinician resource

DCD: parent, teacher, clinician resource

DCD Australia is a national, not for profit, organisation. Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by DCD by raising awareness, and providing education and support.

DCD advocacy, info + resources

Next Challenge ana (acknowledges) Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Boodja (Country) throughout Australia. Ngalak (We) are committed to kootadjinong (see and understand/ honouring) their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, bilya (rivers/ waters) and wardarn (seas).

Next Challenge wants to thank and pay respects to the Whadjuk people and Elders, past, present, and emerging, of the Noongar Nation, who have preserved and protected the kanana (land) and bilya (rivers, waterways) on which we continue to waabiny (play), djooroobidiny (go along happily / live), kadadjiny (learn), work, and provide services on yey (today).

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