---
title: Simple Tricks
description: "Image retrieved from: redesign.ppi-testing.com I have mentioned before that we use something called the Universal Exercise Unit.  It allows us to help kids to work on activating their muscles against a set amount of resistance so that they become better at turning the correct muscle on and off at the correct time without using a […]"
---

[Try Alphabet Yoga Cards for Free >>](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/download/free-yoga)

- [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142)
- [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}})

- [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)
- Get Started 
    - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care)
    - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)
    - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form)

[![StarfishLogo@2x](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=544&height=112&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "StarfishLogo@2x")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/)

- [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
  
  Show submenu for Therapy Services 
  
    - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy)
    - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy)
    - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids)
    - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program)
- For Parents
  
  Show submenu for For Parents 
  
    - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
    - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)
    - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop)
    - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq)
    - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards)
- [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team)
    - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values)
    - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why)

[Contact Click to Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)

Close

- [Therapy Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
  
  Show submenu for Therapy Services 
  
    - [Physical Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/physical-therapy)
    - [Occupational Therapy](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/occupational-therapy)
    - [Motor Smart Kids](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/motor-smart-kids)
    - [Gross Motor Program](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services/gross-motor-program)
- For Parents
  
  Show submenu for For Parents 
  
    - [Free Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
    - [Blog & Articles](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)
    - [Shop Games & Tools](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/shop)
    - [FAQs](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/faq)
    - [Free Yoga Cards](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/resource/alphabet-yoga-cards)
- [About Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/about-us)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Our Team](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team)
    - [Our Mission & Values](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/about/mission-values)
    - [Why Choose Us?](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/our-team#why)

- [Contact Us](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)
- Get Started 
    - [Plan of Care Evaluation](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/plan-of-care)
    - [Telehealth Consult](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)
    - [New Patient Forms](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/intake-form)

- [650-638-9142](tel:650-638-9142)
- [admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:{{item.email}})

[Contact](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/contact-us)

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

[< See All Posts](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog)

[Developmental Milestones](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/developmental-milestones), [education](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/tag/education)

---

# Simple Tricks

![default-image](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Starfish/images/custom-images/default-image.svg)

[![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "pediatools")](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)

Image retrieved from: redesign.ppi-testing.com

I have mentioned before that we use something called the [Universal Exercise Unit](https://youtu.be/xAsnjPWrdaY).  It allows us to help kids to work on activating their muscles against a set amount of resistance so that they become better at turning the correct muscle on and off at the correct time without using a lot of compensations.  While doing exercises in here we have a few kids that have a hard time figuring out how to stabilize the rest of their body so that only one body part will move.  For example, if I have a kiddo lying on their back, and I want them to move one leg out to the side, often they will try to engage their whole upper body in this motion so that their head and shoulders ends up off to one side rather than in the middle.  Well, I decided to try a trick because me asking the kiddo to keep their head in the middle wasn’t working.  While I was at the AOTA conference I picked up some kid friendly resistance bands and tools from [PediaTools](https://www.pediatools.com/Products.html) (I am sure I will write a post about these great tools later).  Because they are soft and squishy and not too big, I stuck one under this kiddo’s head and told him that he had to keep his head on it’s ‘pedestal’ and not to let it fall off!  Well it worked.  He was able to keep his head and trunk in midline while isolating his leg movements.  We have tried this 2-3 times now and it has worked every time.  It hasn’t carried over yet if I don’t have something under his head but the reality is he needs lots of practice to learn how to turn on the correct muscles for moving and the correct muscles for stabilizing.  Sometimes all it takes are some simple tricks to help these kiddo’s teach their bodies and muscles!

What simple tricks have you found that work?

[![Share on facebook](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/facebook-icon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on twitter](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/twitter-icon.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on instagram](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/instagram-icon.svg)](http://www.instagram.com/share.php?u=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram) [![Share on linkedin](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/linkedin-icon.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on pinterest](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/pinterest-icon.svg)](https://in.pinterest.com) [![Share on whatsapp](https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/4172253/OneTheme/social-icons/whatsapp-icon.svg)](https://web.whatsapp.com)

[Previous Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/stickers-so-simple-yet-so-effective)

<https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog>

[Next Post](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/spots-multiple-fun-uses)

### Book Your Telehealth Consult Now

Get Expert Pediatric Therapy Advice from the Comfort of Home! One-hour personalized consultation with licensed pediatric therapists. No insurance required.

[Book Now Click to Book Now](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/consult/telehealth)

[![Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png?width=200&height=41&name=StarfishLogo@2x.png "Starfish Therapies Logo - Pediatric Therapy Making a Difference in a San Francisco")](https://www.starfishtherapies.com)

Helping Kids Shine Brighter Every Day

Starfish Therapies provides pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapy services designed to support every child's unique developmental journey. Whether in-person or through telehealth, our expert therapists work hand-in-hand with families to build skills, confidence, and independence in a fun, nurturing environment. Serving children of all ages in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

[Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StarfishTherapies/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/starfishtherapies/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/MotorSmartKids) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.linkedin.com/company/starfish-therapies) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/c/StarfishTherapies)

##### Quick Links

- [Services](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/services)
- [Resources](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/starfishresources)
- [Policies](https://www.starfishtherapies.com/policies)

##### Information

[1601 Old Bayshore Highway #221 Burlingame, CA 94010](https://goo.gl/maps/iW2CLPDxUwm)

[Phone: (650) 638-9142](tel:6506389142)

Fax: (650) 638-9141

[Text: (650) 413-9921](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com)

[admin@starfishtherapies.com](mailto:admin@starfishtherapies.com)

Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Stacy Menz",
    "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/author/stacy-menz"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-05-14T02:54:51.921Z",
  "datePublished" : "2012-05-16T14:59:32.000Z",
  "headline" : "Simple Tricks",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/blog/2012/05/simple-tricks",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.starfishtherapies.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/StarfishLogo@2x.png"
    },
    "name" : "Starfish Therapies"
  }
}
```