Rainy Day Indoor Play Facilities

Rainy Day Indoor Play Facilities

Finding indoor facilities to keep kids healthy and active during the winter months can be a challenge, especially when you have kids who need special accommodations to help them participate to the fullest. We hope to make the process of selecting an indoor facility a little easier by providing basic information on five facilities with considerations for kids with special needs. We have also spoken to our therapists in order to connect these activities with motor, speech, and language developmental skills your child may be working on.

  Trampoline covered floors and walls? Yes! Sky High Sports has trampolines galore, and for the younger kids, a multi-level adventureland. The first Tuesday of every month from 4-6pm is reserved just for kids with special needs and costs only $5 for each child. Admission to this event is free for an accompanying parent or therapist.

Parents who have been with us longer may remember that we held some therapy sessions at the Circuit Bouldering Gym (CBG) as a special treat in the past. With its adapted climbing area geared toward the youngest climbers, after-school programs for kids as young as 4 years old, and birthday party accommodations, this is a great place to have fun and be active. CBG holds a discounted beginner's night on Sundays after 5pm, offers a 20% discount on groups of 8 or more, and provides family membership plans at a more cost effective rate. The drop-in rate for all climbers is $12. Safety is CBG's main priority and kids must be supervised at all times with at least one caregiver in charge of groups of 6 kids or less. All climbers under 13 years old are required to have their parent or legal guardian submit an online waiver before climbing. CBG is welcoming and accepting of kids and adults with special needs.

  Southwest Community Center & Pool (SWCCP) has a smorgasbord of creative activities for your little ones, teenagers, and everyone in between. One of the many perks of SWCCP is its status as a program of Portland Parks and Recreation, which means activities can be adapted to fit your child's needs. Simply contact Inclusion Services (503-823-4328) at your Portland Parks and Recreation facility of choice at least 10 days before the scheduled activity or class. Does your child need a sign interpreter or loop system? Be sure to contact the same number at least 5 days in advance. SWCCP also offers specially designed activities and classes for kids and adults with disabilities through a program called AIR (also 503-823-4328) as well as income-based scholarships. AIR classes include drop-in bowling, ceramics, and Saturday outings in the community. 

            PlaydatePDX goes the extra mile with a dining area serving healthy food and drink options that allow caregivers to take a breather while kids get the nutrition their growing bodies need. They conveniently offer Stumptown espresso drinks, grilled sandwiches, kid-size meals, and some adult beverages. On weekdays, kids can have unlimited play for $8 ($4 for kids 3 years and younger). Weekends and holidays cost $10 ($5 for kids 3 years and younger). For a mellower environment, be sure to visit on a weekday. Also, feel free to use their party rooms or cafe area to calm tantrums or over-stimulation. Although the front entrance and the toddler area are wheelchair accessible, the main play structure can only be reached by stairs. PlaydatePDX welcomes kiddos with special needs and tolerates differences. For a limited time admission is free on the last Wednesday of the month with a donation of 2 canned food items to support the Oregon Food Bank. You can save more time for playing by filling out PlaydatePDX's online waiver beforehand and don’t forget to bring it with you!

            Pump It Up Junior has an ample supply of over-sized inflatable play equipment geared towards the toddler to early school-age group. They offer completely private birthday party events with exclusive access to giant inflatables and party theme options including glow-in-the-dark, pirates, and superheroes. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, Sensory Jump Nights are held just for kids on the autism spectrum and their families. This event includes sensory games in a safe and controlled environment and costs $7 per child.

#1 Sky High Sports

11131 SW Greenburg Rd Tigard, OR 97223.

503-924-5867

http://por.jumpskyhigh.com/index.php

Have fun while targeting gross motor development by bouncing on the trampolines. For an added challenge have kids try to catch or toss a ball as they jump to work on coordination and visual tracking.

 #2 Circuit Bouldering Gym

6050 SW Macadam Ave Portland, OR 97239

503-246-5111

http://thecircuitgym.com/southwest/

Spotlight fine and gross motor development by having kids practice grasping climbing grips and bearing their weight with physical support as needed. Practice social development and safety skills by highlighting how we listen with our eyes and ears to build social awareness.

 #3 Southwest Community Center and Pool

6820 SW 48th Ave Portland, OR

503-823-2140

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/60161

Arts & crafts, music, and cooking classes encourage kids to develop their fine motor skills, while swimming, dancing, and soccer help establish and maintain gross motor and motor planning skills. Bolster your child’s social and communicative development by assisting them with following directions, being part of the group, and interacting with peers who have similar interests.  

 #4 PlayDatePDX

1434 NW 17th Ave Portland, OR.

503-227-7529

http://www.playdatepdx.com

Climbing and crawling on PlayDatePDX’s play structures can help strengthen your child’s gross motor development. Help your child with their social skills by practicing turn taking, waiting in line, and negotiating play space or toys.

 #5 Pump It Up Beaverton Junior

16205 SW Bethany Ct. Suite 120 Beaverton, OR

503-645-1042

http://pumpitupparty.com/junior-beaverton-or

Promote development of your child’s balance, coordination, and body awareness by having them walk or stand on the giant inflatables.

How Does Tummy Time Help Infant Development?

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting infants on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, they also recognize the importance of prone play, or tummy time, to infant development. According to the AAP, tummy time should begin on the first day home from hospital. They recommend playing or interacting with your baby when he is on his tummy 2 or 3 times each day for a short period when he is awake and alert, increasing the amount of time as the baby enjoys it more.

Tummy time doesn't just have to mean laying a baby on his belly. Any variations in play positions from lying on his back can help develop strength, movement, and sensory processing. This can include side-lying and variations on tummy time like laying the baby tummy-down on your tummy, chest, or lap. It is important to vary position throughout the day, limit use of carriers and bouncers, and let them explore and move around environment independently. However, it is important to remember that babies should not sleep on their tummies. If they fall asleep during tummy time, turn them onto their backs.

Excessive supine (back lying) positioning and limited tummy time puts infants at risk for cranial asymmetry, torticollis, and head flattening. Infants who do not get sufficient tummy time are also more likely to have delayed gross motor skills like rolling over, crawling and pulling to stand. There are several ways tummy time can help development:

Cranial (Head) Symmetry: Too much time spent lying on his back can lead to flat spots on a baby’s skull. This is because when infants don’t have enough strength to independently re-position their heads, they leave their heads resting on one side and the repeated pressure can cause flat spots to develop. Tummy time encourages the development of strength and head control needed to independently re-position the head, as well as a break from the supine positioning they get when they are sleeping and laying on their backs in carriers.

Neck Control and Back Strength: When they lie on their backs, babies can see most things around them without lifting their heads, so this position is not ideal to encourage them to “work out” those muscles that will help them gain neck control as well as back strength and extension. Placing baby on his tummy, even for a few minutes, encourages him to try to lift his head up to see what is around him, especially if you are down at his level with toys or songs to give him an incentive to try to lift or turn his head. As we mentioned above, once he begins to be able to independently move his head from side to side, he will be less susceptible to the head-flattening that can happen when babies leave their heads on only one side all the time.

Prevention of Torticollis: Torticollis is abnormal or asymmetrical neck positioning, due to tightness in a neck muscle. Infants can be born with this condition, or acquire it through excessive supine positioning. Tummy time, side-lying, and any type of non-supine play or positioning can help stretch the neck muscles and help prevent torticollis from developing.

Arm and Shoulder Strength: Once a baby has started to gain some head control, the next step is to begin to lift himself up from the floor during tummy time. The shoulder and arm strength this can help develop is key to the later skill of crawling.

Sensory Processing: Tummy time helps babies develop sensory processing skills, especially vestibular skills, by letting the baby experience movement and gravity in a different way from laying on her back. As we discussed in our earlier blog post “Early Sensory Skills,” vestibular awareness (the awareness of the body’s movement through space) can help with the development of later gross motor skills.

Babies can have difficulty with tummy time due to limited strength and poor head control, so they tend to cry when placed on their bellies and some parents avoid it. Begin with brief sessions, then gradually increase time as they gain strength. If the baby resists tummy time, get down on his level and talk or sing, use a toy to distract him. At first he may only tolerate it for a few minutes at a time until he gets used to it. If you feel that your baby consistently resists tummy time and you have any concerns, see your pediatrician for recommendations. These recommendations may include exercises, techniques, or a referral to pediatric therapy office like Therapy Solutions for Kids for more help.

For more ideas about how to work tummy time into the daily routine, check out these resources:

“Establishing Tummy Time Routines to Enhance your Baby’s Development” http://tinyurl.com/o3qpecg

Retro Baby: Cut Back on All the Gear and Boost your Baby’s Development with Over 100 Time-Tested Activities 

www.carolinakinderdevelopment.com 

http://pathways.org/awareness/parents/tummy-time/tummy-time-help/#.Us3fb_RDuFU

References:
"Educating Caregivers about Tummy Time," A. Zachry, S. Slaughter, OT Practice Magazine 11/25/13