Up on Top

Product Description

Physical 4

Skills

• As children place the Up on Top pieces on their head, the nature of play promotes balance and coordination.
• Body awareness can be developed as kids are able to understand where their body is in space and find their center of gravity to balance the Up on Top pieces.
• As children walk and move with the Up on Top pieces upon their heads, bilateral coordination is promoted as they place one foot in front of the other to get from point A to point B without the pieces falling.
• The balancing of the Up on Top pieces promotes an engaged core and improved posture in children, essential strengths that are important for a healthy lifestyle.

Play Ideas

• Create paths of different shapes on the floor using tape for kids to follow while balancing the Up on Top Pieces.  
• Have kids balance the Up on Top pieces on other body parts besides their head. Some examples could be while holding arm straight out, on top or palm of hand or on top of bent knee.
• Create an obstacle course! Kids can balance the Up on Top pieces throughout the course or have the Up on Top pieces be an event within the course. 

Sensory 4

Skills

• The Up on Top pieces provide extra sensory input as kids can feel the different weights and sizes of the pieces on their heads.
• The sense responsible for balance and processing movement—vestibular input—is engaged as kids are challenged to move around without letting the Up on Top pieces fall off of their heads.
• The Up on Top pieces act like “receptors” for kids to feel the pressure on their bodies when moving and balancing with the pieces on their head, which can heighten proprioceptive input through play. 

Play Ideas

• Kids can balance other soft items on top of their heads from around the house—start easy with a washcloth, move onto a bean bag or even a pillow.
• Try to balance all three Up on Top piece simultaneously on top of head and on top of both shoulders. 

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• The achievement of successfully balancing the Up on Top pieces can heighten self-esteem and confidence, which can extend into other areas of life such as school.
• With the ability to be enjoyed alone or in a group, Weplay’s Up on Top can be used for independent or group play, depending on the desires and abilities of the children.
• Playing with Up on Top can inspire motivation to accomplish a task and achieve the stability needed to balance the Up on Top pieces. 

Play Ideas

• Magic show! Have kids use the 3 Up on Top pieces like cups on a table during a magic show. Find something small to place under the concave pieces and shift them around to mix them up.
• Use the Up on Top pieces as hats for pretend play dress up. They could be top hats, or even be the child’s pet!
• With the durable and soft material of the Up on Top pieces, children can use these as drums to play their favorite songs. To mix it up, bring in pots and pans to add to the band.