Strengthening DD's core

[GherkinsOnToast]

DD1 (7) has dyspraxia and very poor muscle tone. We have noticed this more so recently as DD2 (5) has suddenly lost her toddler tummy and is developing the long lean child look. DD1 has the long lean arms and legs but no core tone at all. She is also starting to gain weight as she can't ride a bike/climbs on climbing frames/run like others her age. She hates anything physical because it is very tricky and awkward.

She has 1 to 1 swimming lesson for half an hour once a week, we walk most places, she has stopped doing tap recently as all her friends passed their exams (she was no where near co-ordinated enough for an exam routine) and have moved up a group and leaving her with the reception starters. She can't balance a bike to ride and the physical act of pedalling is currently impossible. We throw her out onto the trampoline daily, weather permitting and she is learning to bounce herself. We have been discharged from the Occupational Therapists as she has had the allocated 6 sessions and cuts mean they are so overloaded they can't offer us anything more.

Any ideas on good exercises to build core strength?

Please do (a lot) more work on the core work before you horseriding. At home so it is easy for her to flop after. There is no point in your DD being in pain. If you do go straight in start with 5- 10 mins max first. Please do also consider grip/hand strength issues with horseriding.

Don't start with wheelbarrows (we were a year into scapuloid work before wheelbarrows were in any way useful). The peanut ball really is your friend.

Thanks Toffee, not a damp squib at all I need to be reminded to go gently - we are planning on going very slowly and DH has discovered his work healthcare team have a physio on staff and they will see DD for a greatly reduced cost - which I suspect will be easier than trying to get a NHS referral for an already over stretched service.

We will work at home with the peanut and gym ball and any exercises the physio gives us. DD is desperate to ride and a local riding school who host a RDA group will take her to 'ride' out once a week for 10 minutes, nothing apart from sitting and just learning to balance whilst walking around the stable yard (which will give DD her little dose of pony too!)