Testimonial from Physical Therapist Kelly McDermott

My students love the Octaband.  It is an excellent tool for our gross motor groups.  It promotes visual attention, coordination, motor planning, strength and endurance.  Students of varying ages, cognitive levels and physical abilities can participate and most of all... have fun. The little ones love the texture. They like to wrap it around themselves. Sometimes I wrap 2 of the legs around them, and the kids then have to get themselves out of it. Their very favorite activity is to bounce the beanbag on it. The turtle beanbag with the flat bottom works best.  The octaband helps improve their attention span. They call it the THNEED, from Dr. Seuss’ Lorax. (“A Thneed's a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need!") They do sometimes fight over which color band they get. They love to be the one who is underneath in the center.

One particular student who is shy and doesn't typically participate in our gross motor group activities without continuous prompting, etc... loves the Octaband.  He is a 4 year old little boy with a cortical vision impairment and developmental delays.  The Octaband brought him out of his shell. It is the one activity that he really enjoys.  We tried the "mine"/ "ours" game this week and it was a big hit.  Thanks again for sharing the evolution of the Octaband with our department. 

Sincerely,
Kelly McDermott, DPT, Boston Public Schools