Let's talk about the importance of foot massage for young children. And also about what will help us in this best of all - about massage mats that can help the crumbs grow active, vigorous and healthy. We will learn how to choose correctly, as well as make a massage mat for children with our own hands.

Children are encouraged to walk barefoot on different surfaces - grass, warm earth, sand - massaging their feet and developing their gait. In big cities, where everything is covered with asphalt and paving stones, as well as at home, where there is only a place for a carpet laid on a laminate, it will not be possible to give the child a full development. That is why pediatricians recommend using a massage mat, because it is a great helper for parents in maintaining the health of the baby.

Description of the massage mat and what is its use

A massage mat for children is not a toy on which a child learns to walk. This is a very useful device, thanks to which the baby will receive enough useful exercises to strengthen not only the musculoskeletal system, but also health in general.

At its core, a rug is a base made of silicone, rubber or PVC, covered with a variety of reliefs. It may contain tubercles, pimples or bulges that will affect the foot from pressing it.

These rugs come in a variety of shapes, colors and uses. But their goal is always the same - to give the baby a full foot massage.

They are produced in the form of bright squares and rectangles, turtles, cartoon characters and butterflies, decorating the floor of the nursery and attracting the attention of the crumbs.

If we delve into the essence of the issue, then the massage mat:

• trains the muscle tissue of the baby,
• massages both legs at the same time, giving the same load,
• carries out the prevention of scoliosis, flat feet, hip dysplasia, as well as other diseases of the musculoskeletal system,
• eliminates the primary symptoms of colds,
• improves mood, thanks to bright colors and playful form.

How and when to use a massage mat at home

It is not enough just to buy a rug and put it on the floor, hoping that the baby will understand its main function. You need to engage in it regularly, but only so that the baby perceives it as a game, and not as something obligatory and not interesting.

At first, it will be enough to put the child on the mat. Do not demand any action from him, let him just stand and get to know his new friend. Let him tactilely get used to the relief under his feet and listen thoughtfully to his body. It is very important that the baby himself understands that the rug is his friend and will help him, not harm him.

Over time, start moving and walking on the mat. At first, a small gap will be enough - up to 5 minutes per lesson. Do not overdo it with the number of approaches. In the first years of life, a couple of minutes of walking on the mat no more than three times a day is enough. Then your baby will not have time to get tired. Gradually, you can increase the time spent on the mat. And also, when the baby will feel more confident, let him run on the surface, somersault or crawl.

Please note that if you have chosen a rug with several types of surface, then you can only walk on it in one direction - from small bumps to larger ones, and then return to the beginning on the floor, and not on the rug.

The baby and his foot need time to recover. And if you change direction, then his legs will receive only stress instead of benefit, and next time he will no longer want to play on such a rug.

How to choose the right massage mat for children

Nowadays, there are so many rugs that it is difficult to choose just one. And given that the variety is not only in price and colors, inexperienced parents can make a big mistake in choosing the right massage mat for children.

In order for the mat to help your baby, you need to consider several factors:

• size,
• surface,
• filling.

It is quite logical that the older the child, the larger the area should be the size of the rug itself. If a baby who has just learned to stand will feel comfortable on a rug up to 50x50 cm in size, then older children will not be interested in playing on such a small surface. After all, they need to move, which means that you should immediately consider for how long you want to get an assistant in the development of children's health.

As we have already said, most massage mats are made of rubber, silicone or PVC. This affects the density of the rug, its stability and durability.

Do not forget that by purchasing rugs made from natural materials, you also give safety. After all, they are non-toxic and more wear-resistant, while synthetic ones quickly lose their functionality and can harm the baby if, for example, he wants to try it on a tooth.

Do not write off the strength of the surface. After all, popular rubber massage mats may be too dense and hard for the delicate feet of the crumbs. And PVC rugs, on the contrary, will be so soft that they will wash out over time and lose their preventive properties.

That is why when choosing a massage mat, pay attention to what they are made of and how they are combined. After all, it is best to give preference to precisely those rugs on which different fillings are provided.

So they can have a harder area with large bumps that stimulate points on the foot, and next to it there will be a soft relaxation zone where the baby can rest his legs.

This is done so that the baby can always rest if he gets tired of walking on a relief surface or feels discomfort. It will also push him to get to the end of the mat.

Therefore, before carrying the rug to the checkout, ask yourself the following questions:

• how long do i plan to use it?
• Do I need a cheap or safe mat?
• Will my baby walk on such hard terrain?

And only after you can accurately and completely answer these questions, you can complete your search.

Orthopedic mat or massage mat? What are the differences and similarities?

Despite the fact that all this time we have been talking only about massage mats, it is worth remembering that there are also orthopedic mats for children. And, even though most often they are not separated, or even confused, we still want to figure out - is there a difference in them?

At first glance, both rugs perform the main function - the formation of the correct gait and the musculoskeletal system of the baby, but if you dig deeper, there will be differences:

• a massage mat is used regularly and is aimed at preventing not only diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but also to maintain muscle tone, improve blood circulation, and an orthopedic mat is used for treatment,
• structurally, an orthopedic rug is always divided into several sections. It can simultaneously accommodate surfaces with imitation of grass, rocky terrain or other irregularities, while the massage mat can be completely covered with one relief.

Therefore, most of the combined or typesetting rugs are precisely orthopedic, bearing a therapeutic effect, and not just a pleasant massage on the feet of your crumbs.

But still main similarity of all rugs in their goal of helping parents raise healthy children.

You can clearly understand how an orthopedic mat for children works and what its benefits are in the video review Baby Nelly:

DIY massage mat

Creating a rug yourself is much more budgetary than buying a similar one in a store. And therefore, we suggest that you arm yourself with everything you need and create an orthopedic rug with your own hands.

Basic requirements for a do-it-yourself rug

At different ages, with different physical activity and under different conditions, we will need completely different rugs. It is necessary to think carefully, what is the goal we are pursuing?

Massage mats created by parents on their own are also divided into types. So these days there are:

• massage mats made from natural materials,
• massage mats from sewing accessories, as well as improvised materials,
• textile rugs, which at their core most often have some kind of filler,
• combined rugs (which are most often referred to as orthopedic).

As you can see, a massage mat can be made from anything. In addition, it is very important to know a few basic requirements for rugs, so that upon completion of this, you will not be disappointed with the result:

• the elements of the massage mat should not cause pain, so we recommend that you exclude any objects with sharp corners from the materials, as this will not bring any benefit, and even scare the baby away from classes,
• if you plan to make the rug combined, then be sure to provide relaxation zones - uncovered areas on which children's feet will rest from the load,
• the size depends not only on your desire, but also on the age of the fidget. If you are creating a massage mat for children who have just stood up, then a small square will be enough for you, on which he will only stand or shift from foot to foot. Older, and therefore active children will get bored on such a rug, so they need to provide a larger area for them.

If you want to save your energy and materials when creating a massage mat, you can either make it large at once or sew Velcro to the main and additional sections in order to add new sections if necessary.

In general, orthopedic and massage mats for children according to the method of creation and assembly can be divided into:

• stuffed, where all the massage elements are inside, in sewn pillows or bags,
• type-setting, where elements are sewn, glued or otherwise attached to the surface.

Massage mat made of natural materials

The most common way to massage the feet of any person, regardless of age and height, is to walk along a rocky beach. Pebbles of different sizes and shapes put pressure on the nerve endings of the leg better than any massage therapist and does not require any effort from us, except for a uniform step.

• electrical conductivity due to quartz in the composition of the stone allows you to give a weak and useful electromassage,
• natural, non-toxic origin,
• smooth, rounded shape, not harmful to children's feet,
• availability

These pebbles are great for creating massage mats, either simple single material or as a patch on a combo mat.

First, decide on a base. It is very important to remember that pebbles are an unyielding material that does not change shape and therefore is solid and does not play along with the foot. Therefore, it is not enough just to take a piece of dense fabric and stick stones on it. It is very important that the base is soft enough to flex under pressure.

Therefore, we recommend sewing a pillow from two dense fabrics, and inserting several layers of padding polyester or foam rubber with a thickness of at least 15 mm inside. Such a layer will be enough so that when pressed, the pebble deepens a little, succumbing and softening the baby's step.

After preparing the base, you can also take on the attachment of the pebbles themselves to the rug. Don't forget that we are creating for children - big fidgets and naturalists - so the glue must be non-toxic, but strong.

PVA is considered the safest glue, but it can only be used if your base is made of cotton, otherwise the pebbles will periodically fall off, and this creates a risk of being tested on the tooth.

It will be more effective to use building glue or universal polymer glue. However, do not forget that then there should be a lot of pebbles in order to close all access to the surface with glue, or you will have to point the adhesive material onto the pebbles so that it does not show up because of it.

You can clearly understand how to create a simple but effective pebble massage mat thanks to a detailed video master class from Guidecentral English:

However, not only pebbles are great for creating massage mats. If your home loves nuts, then you can create a great fidget leg trainer.

Walnut shells, glued upside down to the base, will give an excellent massage and therapeutic effect. These mats will develop the baby's foot and allow it to be more flexible.

Well, chestnuts will become an excellent material for an orthopedic rug. After all, besides the fact that they have the most suitable size and shape, they also emit useful, healing fumes.

They can be sewn onto a base, which will be the same in density and thickness as for a pebble rug. Or strung on a fishing line and put such beads on a carpet or thick carpet.

The only disadvantage of using chestnuts as the base material for an orthopedic rug is that they are not durable.

From long-term storage, and even more so from trampling, the shell will crack, and this not only causes discomfort for the children's foot, but also provokes the release of tannins contained in the nut kernels, which is unsafe for the health of the crumbs. It is worth monitoring their condition and saying goodbye to them in time.

Massage mat made of fittings and improvised materials

And yet, not everyone has the opportunity to collect nuts or pick up pebbles from the sea, and there are plenty of sewing accessories in the house of every needlewoman.

First of all, pay attention to the buttons. After all, they:

• are certified for chemical resistance, which means they are safe for our kids,
• durable and wear-resistant,
• are of different sizes and shapes.

First, choose a base. And here you have no restrictions, everything will go to work:

• old terry towels
• stool cushions,
• piece of carpet
• a sandwich made of cotton and synthetic winterizer, which is made by quilting masters.

Even a thick blanket will do! The main thing is that you have enough buttons and strength to sew them on.

Arrange them wisely. After all, if you randomly sew buttons in bulk, then you can not only not get the expected effect, but also harm.

Therefore, be guided by the following principles:

• do not allow large gaps between buttons,
• place small buttons closer to each other, forming footprints so that the baby puts his foot on them, sew large ones between the footprints.

However, you can create a massage mat for children with your own hands without using buttons, other improvised materials will do.

sew on felt-tip pen cases and handles to the base, and here is a finished path in front of you, along which the baby will run fun and with interest.

Caps for 5 liter bottles will be excellent tubercles for a child's foot. Lay them out in the form of a pattern or arrange them in stripes depending on the size to increase the load on the baby's legs.

Sew on like buttons chocolate egg capsules.

Position on base wine corks. If they are not enough for a full-fledged rug, you can cut them into disks and sew them on.

Use sponges, knotted ribbons or artificial turf trimmings as material, sewing them onto a dense base.

Moreover, please note that the basis can be a thick towel that is no longer used for its intended purpose, a fleece blanket or a small piece of carpet.

Massage mat with fillers (textile mat)

One of the most effective massage mats for children are bulk. Their main feature is that you will not find any reliefs on the surface, but to the touch they are much more pleasant and attractive even for an adult, like an anti-stress toy that you want to knead and iron.

Inside such a rug is not just foam rubber or a synthetic winterizer, inside there is a material that gives the same massage effect that is useful for a child's foot.

To create a bulk massage mat with your own hands, you will need:

• thick fabric,
• various filler,
• Velcro (optional)
• thread, scissors and a sewing machine.

For the base, you can take any fabric, even old jeans. The main requirement is wear resistance so that the mat does not tear during active use.

With the filler will have to tinker a bit. Most often, it is recommended to use cereals, but you can replace them:

• plant seeds,
• pits of small fruits (such as apricots or plums)
• cherry pits,
• wooden beads of different sizes.

But how the rug will look depends on the place in the house. After all, you can:

• sew a long track, start a line at the same distance from each other to make pockets, and after inserting the filler bags inside, sew everything up and arrange it with an oblique trim,
• sew separate bags, and then assemble them into one rug, moreover, it does not have to be square or rectangular, choose the shape yourself,
• sew a few pillows, and fasten them with Velcro sewn along the edge.

In the latter case, you can not only adjust and choose the size of the massage mat, but also change the combination of fillers. In addition, such a rug can always be put away in the closet or taken with you to visit, so that your baby does not get bored and spend time with benefit.

The most common and effective do-it-yourself massage mats can be called combined. They can use a huge variety of materials, which will only benefit children's legs. In addition, they have not only a preventive, but also a therapeutic effect. That is why they are often called orthopedic.

They got the name "combined" due to the fact that several zones with different relief can be located on one rug, which allows the child's foot to change the load and sensations from it.

Such rugs are both more difficult to perform and simpler at the same time. After all, a variety of material will go into work, and the sections will be smaller, which means that it will take less effort to put everything together. But its overall size will be larger and you need to take a very responsible approach to the combination of relief so as not to harm the baby.

The most common and simple orthopedic rug can be called a rug for two sectors - with pebbles and buttons, respectively. Even it has everything you need for the proper development of the foot, gait and spine.

Creating such a rug is very simple - take a suitable base (a piece of carpet or a thick towel is best) and divide it into two zones. They should be visually the same size so that the period of loading and relaxation for the foot is the same. Next, simply glue the pebbles on one section of the base and sew the buttons on the other.

Olga Platonova I am happy to share my experience in the video master class:

But more complex combinations of many sectors are more common:

• using available materials,
• with a combination of type-setting and bulk sections,
• themed rugs, on which children not only walk, but also learn something new.

The principle of creating such an orthopedic rug is only to sew sectors of the same size and sew a previously prepared relief to them. The basic set of materials will look something like this:

• base fabric,
• foam rubber or synthetic winterizer for sealing the base,
• cereals, seeds or bones for bulk sections,
• buttons, old felt-tip pens, pencils, beads and other accessories,
• corks, lids, sponges, capsules and containers from shoe covers,
• thread, needles and scissors.

The easiest way to create a rug is to arrange massage elements on one canvas. Its convenience and simplicity lies in the fact that you do not need a lot of effort to sew the base itself - just take a suitable piece of carpet, an old blanket or a large towel.

If you want to make the rug more neat and attractive, then take a bright fabric (cotton, calico or satin is best), cut the top layer out of it and sew massage elements to it, and then assemble a classic sandwich from two layers of fabric and a filler layer, like a quilt.

Yana Agayeva will be happy to tell us how to easily and conveniently arrange everything on a combined rug in her video master class:

If you want to sew the sections separately in order to alternate the typesetting sections of the rug with bulk ones, you will have to work a little. To begin with, you will need to tailor the required number of squares or rectangles - future sectors - sew on some massage elements, pour cereal and other filler into others, and then sew them all into one long track.

How to alternate relief and what is more suitable for your baby? The answer is only in your heart, because all children are different, and if some like to walk on the sand, then others will find such entertainment boring. And as a hint, we suggest looking at Ekaterina Kuzmina and being inspired by her combined rug, in which she used only improvised materials.

If you want to combine education and health in one rug, then you will love the idea of ​​​​creating a themed rug. After all, this way the baby will not only develop his musculoskeletal system, but also learn something new.

Try to sew an original rug with a river, a meadow and a house, or send your baby on a trip around the world, or even let go into space for a couple of minutes. And an excellent, understandable master class of the video channel will help us with this. Women's hobby:

The health of the baby is the main concern of parents. We all know that it is much more difficult to treat than to prevent the disease. This means that prevention must come first.

Massages and health groups are a great way out, but they require a lot of time and money, while a massage mat for children becomes a friend, helper and great game for several years to come!

Biologically active points located on the soles of the feet, it is useful to periodically massage. You can use the services of a massage therapist or purchase special massage devices in the store. However, there is nothing easier than making a simple massage mat. The costs are minimal, the health benefits are huge and there are a lot of impressions when making it yourself.

We make a massage rug with our own hands from buttons

You will need a dense material (drape), a variety of buttons and a thread with a needle.

Prepare two identical pieces of material. On one of them sew buttons. They should be located at a small distance from each other. Alternate small and large buttons, smooth and embossed. Take strong threads so that the buttons do not come off when washing the rug.

When everything is ready, put the second piece of material on top. Sew along the sides and turn right side out. Align the corners, stitch the remaining cut with a hidden seam. For beauty, skip the edging. Carpet is ready!

The perfect pebble massager in a master class

Prepare neat smooth stones. Preferably flat. You will need a polypropylene rug and wool material.

Place a pebble in the center of the rug, cover with material and sew. Place the next stone close to it, cover with material, fix with pins and lay a line. Do this with all the stones until the entire rug is filled with them. Cut the remnants of the material that are outside the rug in the form of a fringe, trim. For beauty, several pebbles can be covered with red or yellow material.

You should get something like this massage mat:

Cover foot massage mat

Before its manufacture, it will take some time to collect and prepare caps from plastic bottles. You will also need a thick fishing line, an awl and glue.

Each cap is perforated in several places.

To make a beautiful rug, you can fasten the caps by color, following the pattern. The rug can be assembled in the form of a rectangle or mosaic.

We pass the fishing line through the hole in the lid, connect it with the next lid.

The beginning of the fishing line must be well fixed with a strong knot. It is advisable to additionally fasten with glue.

Consistently connect the caps with fishing line. Depending on the shape of the rug, four or more holes can be made in the lid.

At the end of the work, we fix the fishing line in the same way as at the beginning.

To give the rug greater strength, the fishing line can be passed around the perimeter of the rug.

The rug is double sided. One side is softer, the other is hard, with a pronounced massage effect.

We heal children thanks to a useful product

All mothers want their child to never get sick, grow up healthy and strong. To do this, it is necessary to strengthen their immunity, conduct wellness procedures.

A good helper for parents can be a children's massage rug, which is very easy to make with your own hands.

Children's rug with ladybugs

Well suited for the prevention of children's flat feet. The rug is made in the form of a large green leaf. Ladybugs are located on it, each of which is filled with cereals.

The child, walking on such a leaf, massages the feet. If you spin on your back on ladybugs, you get a wonderful back massage.

The technology for preparing such a rug is easy to disassemble by watching the master class.

A large leaf of a tree is cut out of green fabric. Ladybugs are getting ready.

Then the ladybugs are arranged on the sheet. All details are carefully stitched.

Inside each cow, you need to place cereals (peas, buckwheat, beans, rice grains) and sew up the holes.

Don't forget to sew on buttons or beads for eyes. The massage mat is amazing.

Pencils to help

Prepare the base of the rug from a dense material. Make a markup where the pencils will be located. According to this markup, sew strips of multi-colored fabric. Disguise a pencil in each of them and sew with a seam.

For the health of children's feet

To make an orthopedic rug is within the power of any parent, even with their own hands. It will turn out no worse than analogues bought in the store. It is desirable to use it for children after a year, when the arch of the foot has already formed.

For its manufacture, any material that is on the farm is useful. Various cereals, polypropylene balls, flat pebbles, plastic corks are suitable. The material is desirable to use coarse quality. For example, velveteen, burlap.

Orthopedic track

It is good if the rug is made in the form of a track, on which various massage elements are combined. You can start with buttons, smoothly moving to elements with sewn-in cereals, and finish with a section with soft balls, inside of which a synthetic winterizer is sewn. The child will love walking along this path.

You need to determine how many squares will be on your track. In order to prepare a square, the material is folded in half with the right side inward. It is ground from three sides, turned inside out, the corners are straightened. The required number of squares is being prepared.

On the first, we sew various buttons at the same distance from each other. Inside the square we place a layer of thin foam rubber. On the second square, we prepare sections with cereals. To do this, we pour grains inside (about 1/3 of the total volume), evenly distribute. Divide into small squares, stitch. We fill in the entire template in this way.

The third section of the track will be with soft balls. To do this, cut the fabric in the form of circles. We fill each of them with cotton wool or synthetic winterizer, sew it with threads. The resulting balls are tightly attached to the track.

Evgenia Bulycheva

Recently, the results of medical examinations indicate a deterioration in the condition preschool health, an increase in the number of children with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including flat feet. Therefore, there is an urgent need to pay close attention to this problem.

A number of methods are used to treat and prevent flat feet. Children in therapeutic gymnastics are barefoot. This provides not only wellness, but also a tempering effect. To strengthen the musculoskeletal apparatus of the ankle joint and foot, various types are recommended. walk: on pebble, sand, ribbed and orthopedic tracks, massage mats, along an inclined plane. The foot is reflexively "picked up", there is an active formation of vaults. As a result, pain in the legs decreases and stops, the spring function of the foot is restored, in addition, the overall tone of the body increases, weakened leg muscles strengthen, coordination of movements is trained, and a correct and beautiful gait is formed.

In order to diversify this work, to increase the interest of children in it, the teaching staff of the MKDOU "Kindergarten No. 18 "Chamomile" decided to replenish the equipment for the prevention of flat feet with interesting homemade massage paths .

When creating them, teachers used a variety of materials (corks, cereals, wooden sticks, felt-tip pens, buttons, cords, washcloths, etc.). Useless at first glance objects have turned into bright, easy-to-use equipment.

Not only teachers showed their creativity, invention and fantasy. Parents of our pupils were also actively involved in this work.

By joint efforts, without significant financial costs, they were able to improve and replenish traditional sports equipment, develop and introduce author's, original, variable models and designs.

I would like to express special gratitude for the provided equipment to the tutors Lavrova N. Yu. and Rudakova T. E.

Today, the problem of the health of the younger generation is particularly acute. The diagnosis of "flat feet" is quite common, but you should not hang labels ahead of time. Up to 5-6 years old, the child's foot has a so-called "flat-footed" contour, so at an early age only an experienced orthopedist can identify problems. Nevertheless, no one bothers to engage in recreational physical education and prevention in order to prevent problems in the future.

This deformity of the foot negatively affects the well-being of the child, he may experience discomfort during long walking, running, as the spring and shock-absorbing functions of the feet are disturbed.

Due to the presence of flat feet, the child may complain of headaches, fatigue.

Prevention of flat feet involves first of all wearing high-quality, correct in all respects shoes(in accordance with the size, made of natural materials, with a high back, low heels, the sole is elastic and not too thin), as well as strengthening the musculoskeletal apparatus of the foot, increasing the tone and strength of the muscles of the foot and lower leg.

Under no circumstances should you wear someone else's shoes. Children's foot quickly "copies" other people's defects, adapts to the "old master".

Many mistakenly believe that the situation can be corrected by loading the legs to the maximum with all kinds of physical exercises. Do not overdo it! Everything related to the load on the legs in the case of flat feet should be carefully dosed. With flat feet it is useful to swim, the feet in this case are not overloaded, but receive sufficient training.

Any mother, taking care of the health of her child, is able to make massage mats with her own hands. The baby woke up - ran along the path of health, left the bathroom - stamped his feet on the prickly rug. There is a free minute - it looked like pebbles, bumps and all kinds of things sewn onto the rug. It will not be difficult to do this several times a day, there is absolutely no need to force anyone, it is enough to offer in a playful way to cross the swamp, get to Yaga, go to a cafe for lunch, etc.

How to make a massage mat for the prevention of flat feet?

The first and most important rule is that the rug must be safe. Nothing that can be crushed, broken and hurt. Nothing that can cause an allergic reaction or pain.

1. Cork rug

irinazaytseva.ru

It is convenient to use a narrow carpet as a basis. In traffic jams, you need to pierce holes in advance, and then sew them to the base with strong threads or fishing line.

www.funnybottle.ru

If desired, you can sort the corks by color and draw according to a pre-compiled scheme. If you use a sufficiently strong fishing line, the corks can not be sewn onto the base, but simply attached to each other. By the way, it is not difficult to process (wash) such a rug. This option is suitable for kindergarten, where strict adherence to sanitary standards and rules is required.

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If fiddling with a needle isn't for you, use liquid nails to glue the corks to the base. Do not leave large voids between the traffic jams - it will be painful for the child to step.

2. Ladybugs with cereals

An equally common option is bags with different fillers: small pebbles, beans, peas, rice, buckwheat, etc. How to decorate a product beautifully - here someone has sharpened handles)) The point is in alternating tactile sensations. If everything is sewn tip-top, you can wash it, the main thing is not to overdo it with the temperature, otherwise instead of a massage we will get porridge-baby!

3. Button massage mat

Surely, in every house there are ownerless buttons. Sew them on the base - here is the finished do-it-yourself massage mat.

4. Pebble rug

Using liquid nails or any other “strong” glue, you can make a massage foot mat from smooth pebbles. Walking on it is a pleasure. Such a rug may well "register" in the bathroom or hallway, as it is also beautiful.

5. Chestnut Massage Mat

An eco-friendly, practical free chestnut mat to help massage baby's feet.

6. Combined massage mat from improvised materials

Soft bath covers can be an excellent base for a massage mat - easy to clean, dries quickly. The only caveat is that it is better not to sew on “spare parts”, but to glue them. Smooth wooden sticks, pencils, old felt-tip pens, dishwashing sponges - everything can come in handy. If you use glass, as in the photo, then you need to make sure that there are no chips, otherwise the child will get hurt. There should be no burrs on wooden blanks to exclude splinters.

You can sew traces on the base. Each pair is different materials. It is better to alternate prickly with smooth, rough. So the children's legs will have the opportunity to "take a break."

www.stranamam.ru

Among other things, jeans or any other dense fabric is suitable as a base.

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Always watch the strength of the sewn elements and do not leave the child unattended. To tear off, having played, a button dangling on one thread and pull it into your mouth - it won’t take much time, but it will add trouble.

It is convenient to store the rug rolled into a tube or disassembled if the parts are sewn into separate small fragments.

Take care of yourself and your kids. Let the handmade massage mat become part of your baby's barefoot life. Be healthy! If you have experience in creating a similar product, tell us about it in the comments.

Today, almost every mother knows the way to an orthopedic doctor. Many follow the recommendations of experts and purchase orthopedic shoes for babies with a special insole, a high back and a secure fastener around the ankle so that the child, who is just starting to take his first steps, does not twist his leg, stumbling so that the child's foot is formed correctly.

For the same purpose, a special foot massage is done. Experts say that by working with a child under 1 year old, problems with flat feet can be completely avoided.

If you follow the thesis of Dr. Komarovsky: “the child should be thin, hungry and dirty”, and let the child run barefoot, you can lay a good foundation for future health. This is how our ancestors lived, famous for their good health. Today, we forget about walking barefoot, and there are no conditions for this: after all, you can’t let your children walk barefoot in the yard, which is full of fragments and other garbage.

So what to do? Very simple: make a massage mat!

contributes to the correct formation of the arch of the foot; avoids flat feet; stimulates blood circulation and improves metabolic processes in the lower extremities; actively affects the reflexogenic zones of the feet, which in turn stimulates cardiovascular activity, improves blood circulation in general; supporters of Chinese medicine argue that foot massage affects biologically active acupuncture points that are associated with internal organs, stimulate the immune system; positively affects the entire musculoskeletal system; develops the vestibular apparatus.

Anyone can build such a useful “simulator” for health. To develop it, you only need to arm yourself with desire, imagination and some affordable household items.

Motherhood offers a selection of ideas for creating a DIY massage mat.

You can make a massage mat based on natural materials: chestnuts, acorns, cereals, polished sea pebbles, etc. You can attach them to a fishing line, glue, fill fabric bags, plastic bags or paper files with them.

Buttons and bottle caps are great materials for making rugs. See what kind of sea with fish or a starry sky you can get.

Textile rugs are very interesting in terms of design. They can be designed in the form of classics, an oriental carpet, elements fastened with buttons, a voluminous convex “simulator”. Inside the resulting compartments fall asleep "massage" stuffing.

The first timid steps of the crumbs are an attempt to learn how to walk. But when the basics are fixed, the baby begins to run. At this time, the actual question arises of whether the child walks correctly and how his foot is formed. Unfortunately, many kids have problems with their feet. Flat feet, clubfoot and other equally serious pathologies can harm the health of the child. That is why, at the first alarming "bells", parents must definitely show the baby to the orthopedist. In addition, it is very important to carry out regular preventive maintenance. Along with exercise therapy, the massage mat will bring the greatest benefit to the formation of the correct foot in a child.

Why is it needed?

Foot health should be given close attention from early childhood. This is the best prevention of the development of flat feet in children. For such purposes, many techniques have been developed to stimulate the children's foot. One of the quite affordable and very effective ways is a foot massage mat.

The human foot contains many nerve endings. Doctors have confirmed that the health of the child's body depends on:

• gait;
• proper distribution of the load on the legs.

Unfortunately, the paradox lies in the fact that orthopedists can make the diagnosis of "flat feet" only by the age of five. The time to correct the defect is already almost lost.

That is why doctors themselves recommend using a massage mat for children older than a year. However, one should not rush to purchase an industrial product. Do not forget that the skin of the crumbs is very delicate. Orthopedic massage mats, widely available on the market, are an excellent solution for foot training.

How to get out of this situation? The best option is to make a massage mat for children with your own hands. Such an event will not only give you great pleasure if you connect your imagination, but the baby will also be madly in love with him, who will help you with great enthusiasm.

And you can be sure that you will practically not have to force the baby to practice on the rug, because he created this masterpiece almost on his own! Well, I took some help from you.

Do-it-yourself rug

Such an adaptation does not cause great difficulties. A massage mat is very easy to make with your own hands. You can even come up with a whole track of a non-standard format, along which the baby will run from one room to another. At this time, there is an excellent prevention of flat feet and postural disorders.

These paths have many healing properties. 5-10 minutes of daily exercise is enough for the child's foot to form correctly.

However, you should be aware that the massage mat, for all its effectiveness, is not able to replace a professional full-fledged massage. But in combination with the above therapy option, the path you created will significantly increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Before making a massage mat for children, you should clearly understand for what purposes it is intended. Medical specialists distinguish 2 types of such tracks:

1. Therapeutic. For their manufacture, it is desirable to use solid materials - pebbles, beads, coffee beans.
2. Preventive. In this case, preference is given to softer components: cereals, synthetic winterizer, cotton wool.

Materials for the orthopedic track

You can make a children's massage mat from any improvised materials. Many craftsmen offer whole developments of such options. We will use their advice to determine what materials may be required to make an orthopedic track.

So, you can make a wonderful massage mat with your own hands from the following components:

• caps from plastic bottles or jars of baby food;
• smooth pebbles;
• buttons of various sizes and shapes;
• fabrics of various textures;
• different types of cereals;
• pencils, markers;
• tubules for drinks;
• beads;
• old washcloths;
• corrugated candy boxes.

This is not a complete list of all materials that can be used for an orthopedic rug. Use whatever details you find in your home.

Rug using cereals

The ingredients for such a path can be found in every home. For a baby, it is best to use:

• buckwheat;
• beans;
• peas.

To make a rug, you will need fabric from which to sew small pouches. Each of them is filled with one of the types of cereals. Arrange such bags among themselves, forming one common path, consisting of several segments.

This massage mat will be an excellent prophylactic against flat feet for a one-year-old baby.

Application of pebbles

Mats made with these ingredients are the perfect preventative solution for healthy baby feet. Such a rug is suitable for a room characterized by high humidity (bathroom).

To make a foot massage mat, you need to stock up:

• pebbles;
• glue (prefer transparent);
• track (it is recommended to take a rubber one as a basis).

Stick the pebbles on the rug in a completely different order. At the same time, try to fill the entire area completely. Just do not forget that the pebbles should not have sharp protrusions.

And to interest the baby and give the rug an aesthetic look, use pebbles of various colors, making original intricate patterns.

Using salt dough

This is an amazing option that will not only help prevent flat feet in children, but also complement the interior in an original way.

Initially, make a variety of figures from salt dough. It can be:

• ordinary pebbles;
• animal figurines (if you have molds);
• flowers;
• clouds.

The main thing is to follow the basic rule in the manufacture - materials for massage mats should not have sharp corners!

Give time to dry the elements of the future track. Then be sure to decorate them using gouache or ordinary paints. These details are sure to please your child.

After the paint has dried, cover the top layer of the figurines with clear varnish.

You can attach the manufactured elements to the base using superglue.

But just remember that a massage mat is good only if the baby walking on it does not experience pain and this path does not provoke swelling of the feet.

Combination of different elements

A baby massage mat can be created by combining a variety of details. For the track, select an oblong piece of fabric, on it alternately place all the elements in the household.

A great rug can be made as follows:

1. At the beginning of the path, sew on a regular washcloth used for the shower.
2. It may be followed by a bag filled with chickpeas, beans, peas.
3. Next, sew on baby food lids. To do this, they must be prepared. Poke 2 holes in each with a nail and hammer. This will allow the covers to be easily sewn onto the surface of the fabric.
4. The next step is the tubes designed for drinks. You can use pencils. They must be sewn in at least three places. This will provide a fortress. Because children love to check the details for "strength".
5. After the tubes, you can sew ordinary sponges designed for washing dishes. Just place them hard side up.
6. Next, you can sew a mat.
7. The next step should be caps from plastic bottles. Do not forget to do, as in the case of baby food lids, they have 2 holes. This will allow you to easily sew the details to the fabric. Such elements are an excellent massager for children's legs.
8. After them, sew on old unnecessary beads, laying them curved on the fabric. You can use regular beads.
9. A great solution would be to use a candy container. Just place it upside down.
10. For the final step, use an old, fairly soft washcloth.

This rug is sure to please your child. Especially if you come up with a variety of games about the need to pass the "obstacle course".

Knitted rugs

You can use another great option on how to create a do-it-yourself massage mat for children. This track is perfect for children 3-5 years old. These are ordinary knitted rugs (made of jute or vegetable fiber). You can make such tracks from twisted rope.

This option is the most gentle massage for children's legs. It is a preparatory stage for the next big loads - the use of tracks with buttons or pebbles.

Conclusion

The massage mat, created by the caring hands of parents, allows not only to harden the feet, but also, with the skillful attitude of adults, makes it possible to fantasize, play, and imagine. Such a creation delights kids and surprises.

Therefore, gain inspiration, self-confidence and create for your crumbs not just a healing rug, but a wonderful field for games and development.