The Space Hopper, or Hippity Hop as it is known in the United States Of America is not just a child's or grown ups toy, it can be made good use of in promoting the health of the child and also as a tool in treating sensory integration disorder (also known as sensory processing disorder or sensory integration dysfunction). Sensory integration disorder occurs when a person is unable to process sensory information, they are able to see, touch, smell, hear, but their perception of what is being input is abnormal. Sensory information being the input from a person's nose (smell), eyes (sight), fingers (touch), and tongue (taste).
In the USA the Hippity Hop has been adopted quite affectively as one of many aids in the treatment of sensory integration disorder, and put to good use within the home for the same reason. One symptom of this disorder is hyper activity, and this is where the Space Hopper can be used to productively use up all that excess energy the child has. For the home it is a good idea to acquire two Space Hoppers, one that can be allowed to get dirty and used outside (garden. Park, recreation ground, etc.), the other to stay clean and thus usable on the inside of the house. It is a good idea to set up a course for the child to follow on their space hopper, which will help focus the child's mind, and keep them out of mischief (avoiding the flower beds and freshly planted green beans etc.).
For those children who are hypersensitive to touch (excessive sensory perception) or hypo-sensitive to touch (subdued sensory perception), you can apply the steam roller effect. This is something children thoroughly enjoy and involves the child lying down on their front, while someone else rolls the space hopper over them, using their own body to apply weight to the space hopper as it rolls over the prone child.
The resulting proprioceptive input a child will receive from the use of a space hopper or hippity hop is not only beneficial to their well being but also, as is the intention written within this article, very therapeutic, and of course from the child's point of view, thoroughly enjoyable. Using fun to promote an unpopular or unpleasant situation has been proven time and time again to work, and this introducing an element of fun in the treatment of children (also used in the education of children) not only makes them more willing to participate, but can also make them more receptive tot he treatment.
Other health benefits - Doing any physical activity will benefit a child both physically and mentally, and by adding a space hopper or hippity hop to a child's arsenal of toys and play things you are providing that child with a means of exercising on a regular basis. A child who exercises regularly results in a physically fit child, a mentally healthy child, a confident child, and above all an happy child.
Author Resource:-
Charles Edwards academic, sportsman, and entrepreneur. Visit his site for more information on the on retro space hopper
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