Developmental disabilities include a wide range of conditions that impair a child's mental or physical capabilities. Conditions can include autism, cerebral palsy, down's syndrome, hearing loss, vision impairment and intellectual disabilities. Developmental delay exercises may be able to help children develop mobility, joint flexibility, balance, muscular strength and intellectual ability. Exercises can also help children reach developmental milestones and improve their self-esteem.
Fine Motor Skills
Children can difficulties performing tasks that require fine motor skills -- including coloring inside the lines or placing beads on a string -- as a result of a physical or intellectual delay. Have a child repeat the same motions over and over again to help with fine motor skills. For example, have a child color the same picture repeatedly using a crayon.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are used in activities that essentially allow a kid to be a kid, and include running, skipping, jumping and hopping. These skills can be improved by playing games that involve these movements. For example, play kickball or hopscotch with the child; these games also help with balance and hand-eye coordination skills. Make sure to get involved in the games yourself for the best results.
Speech Skills
Many children with developmental delays have trouble with vocabulary, enunciation and reading. Always respond to a child's curiosity when he asks a question about what a word means or how you say something. Reading to a child or using songs and nursery rhymes can help to stimulate his imagination and engage his interest in vocabulary.
Reasoning
Children with developmental delays may have difficulty reasoning and making decisions. To help with this, take the child shopping and allow her to help you make decisions on items and even handing the cashier money. Allow the child to make decisions about the food she eats and the clothes she wears. Be sure to inform the child why she made a good decision.
Learning
Every day should be a learning experience for a child with a developmental delay, so incorporate learning into a child's daily routine. Learning can include involvement in making dinner, such as setting the table, or allowing the child to perform other small but safe tasks in the kitchen. Learning can also include reading instructions and shoe tying.
Occupational and Physical Therapy
Attending therapy can help a child with physical and daily activities. Therapy can include exercises to develop muscle control and strength, as well as coordination and balance activities. Exercises can also focus on spatial awareness, weight shifting, rotation, range of motion and preventing muscles from becoming stiff. Therapists often ask children to mirror the movements they make, and work with children to perform daily activities such as writing, eating and getting themselves ready each day. A doctor or therapist may also recommend wheelchairs, walkers, crutches or orthotic devices, if needed.
