How nice it is sometimes to walk barefoot on the beach at the very edge of the water! And even if there is not the beauty of the sea coast around, but a modest, but so native Ural landscape, the benefits of such a walk are no less. The only thing that can prevent this is the onset of cold weather. Yes, summer is short in our area, and we really want to extend it. And if it is not in our power to influence weather conditions, then everyone can save a piece of summer. The idea of creating a foot massage mat came just in time for the end of summer. The prospect of imprisoning my feet for a long time in shoe captivity was not at all pleasing. I’m also somehow not in the mood to wander barefoot through puddles or snow. Meanwhile, feet tired during the day need not only freedom, but also a good massage.
So-called foot therapy- not only an excellent way of relaxation, but also the prevention of flat feet in children. I remember in kindergarten, after quiet time, we always splashed our bare feet on rubber foot massage mats. These can still be found in stores if desired, but they are unlikely to be very popular among modern children.
I offer you a more interesting and low-cost version of a massage mat with stones, which your loved ones will certainly like. In this article I will tell you how to make a foot massage mat with your own hands.
Foot massage mat: materials and tools
- Base for the rug;
- Sea or river stones;
- Glue.
How to make a foot massage mat with your own hands
Preparation
First you need to prepare the materials. The first step is to collect the stones, because we are going to make a massage mat with stones. I collected stones on the bank of the nearest river. It is better to choose stones of the same size, round in shape without sharp corners. This will make the surface of the future rug more uniform.
Since I did not collect the stones alone, it was not possible to maintain uniformity in size. However, this did not at all worsen its massage properties.
So, the stones have been collected. Now you need to clean them of sand and dirt. You can even soak them for several hours in a solution of potassium permanganate or soap, then rinse them thoroughly under running water. We place clean stones on a towel to remove excess moisture, and then leave them on a dry surface for a day to dry.
The basis
For the base, you can take any durable material. The ideal option is awning fabric or tarpaulin. The finished rug can be easily rolled up and stored in a closet. A rubberized bathroom mat will also be a good basis for a future massager. This material is moisture resistant and easy to maintain. True, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to roll up a finished rug on a rubberized base, but it can easily fit, for example, under a sofa or at the bottom of a closet.
Before pasting, it would be better to degrease the rubberized base with alcohol or acetone. If you choose fabric, wash it and iron it thoroughly.
Dimensions
If you have the desire, time and enough material, you can make a whole massage track. But, in my opinion, the optimal size for a rug is this: an adult’s foot in width and two feet in length. Such a massager will not take up much space in the apartment and at the same time will perfectly cope with its main function.
Glue
The choice of glue must be taken seriously, since the quality of the future rug depends on it. If you don’t want to constantly re-glue the fallen stones afterwards, then choose glue with reliable fixation. Moment type glue is perfect. It is quite possible that using a glue gun you can securely attach the stones to the base. But the glue consumption is quite high, and the refills for the gun are not cheap, so, in my opinion, it is worth looking for a more economical option.
I only have universal PVA in sufficient quantity at home. It is suitable for gluing almost any materials, and considering the fact that I did not intend to roll up the mat, the degree of fixation suited me quite well.
Main process
So, the materials are ready, so let’s proceed directly to making the rug. There are two ways of pasting, you can choose the most convenient for you.
- Apply glue evenly to the base, and then arrange the stones in the desired order, cover with something the size of the rug (for example, a kitchen wooden board or tray), press tightly with weights and leave for a day. You can use dumbbells or a cast iron frying pan as a weight.
- A better, but at the same time troublesome, method is to apply glue to each pebble. This way you can control the pressing force, which will ensure reliable fixation of all parts of the future rug. After pasting, in the same way as in the first case, we dry the finished product under a load for 24 hours.
By the way, the density of gluing the stones to the base depends only on your desire. However, too large gaps should be avoided, otherwise the massage effect will be minimized.
Ready
When the glue dries, you can proceed directly to the massage. Five minutes a day of intense stomping on such a carpet is enough to improve blood flow and relieve tension from the lower extremities. Not to mention that on the feet, as well as on the palms, there are many points associated with various parts of our body. Stimulating these points has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire body.
But the most important thing is that the massage mat will be great entertainment for your child. My son, for example, loves to stomp on it while watching cartoons. I think it's a good way to combine business with pleasure.
It's no secret that the baby's health needs to be taken care of from birth. And a massage mat is a great opportunity to do this.
For the health of the child, you need to purchase or make your own massage mat for children.
A massage mat is not a toy, but an opportunity to stimulate the child’s body in an easy and relaxed way.
Foot massage increases blood flow and trains the foot muscles.
This device helps:
- Accelerate the functioning of the child’s brain;
- Develop immunity;
- Stimulate the emotional state;
- Maintain cardiac activity;
- Relieve fatigue;
- Develop the vestibular apparatus.
The massage mat helps the formation of the ankle joint, relieves fatigue, and prevents scoliosis and osteochondrosis.
Scientists provide convincing arguments in favor of the fact that foot massage has a positive effect on the condition of the internal organs and on the emotional health of the child.
This is why it is so important to have a massage mat for your child at home.
It is very difficult to create conditions for the baby to be sufficiently active in an apartment, and a massage mat will help the child develop properly.
How and when to use a massage mat at home
Parents need to remember that simply purchasing a mat and placing it in a visible place is not enough. Still, first of all, a rug is a serious therapeutic device. In addition, once standing on an uneven (or even prickly) surface, the baby will not want to touch it anymore.
It is especially necessary if your child has been diagnosed with varus or valgus foot deformity, asymmetrical gait, or flat feet.
Children need to be taught this device gradually, carefully and in the form of play. Try to interest the baby.
To begin, simply place your child on the mat. Let him have the opportunity to “get acquainted” with the accessory, get used to it and understand that there is nothing wrong with unevenness. Give time to “make friends” with the rug.
The mat works great for preventing various diseases.
Then start moving along the surface. In the first years of life, no more than five minutes, and no more than three times a day. Basic exercises: walking at different paces or standing still.
Important! If there are different types of bumps on the surface, then you should walk in one direction: from small to larger bumps.
Kinds
Forms
The form is selected based on your personal preferences, conditions and capabilities. Circle, square, rectangle or oval - the choice is yours.
Rectangular or square options are more common.
Size
It can be different: from small (like a bedside rug) to impressive sizes. Some parents prefer to cover the entire space of the nursery with such a rug. And sometimes they make several separate small fragments with a massage surface, and then place them close to each other.
In addition to strengthening the legs, the massage mat sends signals to the brain, thereby training its work, developing the departments that are responsible for memory, thinking, and speech.
Remember, if the rug is small, it will be inconvenient to perform exercises on it. After all, it’s only at the very beginning that the baby just stands; as he gets older, he will need to perform certain exercises on him.
There are several types of children's foot massage mats.
Materials
Variations are possible here. The main thing you will need:
- thick fabric (such as “jeans”);
- a bedspread you no longer use;
- a piece of rubber or a rubber mat (a yoga mat will do);
- laminate.
Rugs vary in the material from which they are made.
Elements for sewing
Anything that can be sewn will do:
- buttons;
- wooden and acrylic beads;
- plastic bottle caps;
- hot coasters;
- sponges for washing dishes;
- curtain rings;
- curlers;
- pencils;
- ballpoint pen refills;
- grates for kitchen sinks;
- thick braid or rope.
They can be soft and elastic, for children in the first years of life, or they can be quite hard, for older children.
And this list can be expanded endlessly.
There are options for bedding with sewn-in elements: small bags filled with cereal or sand.
You need to choose an orthopedic mat based on the age of the child.
Items that can be glued
As they say, what can't be sewn can only be glued. And this is absolutely true when it comes to creating a massage surface.
You can make a rug yourself from chestnuts, pebbles, bottle caps, and various ropes.
You can glue:
- pebbles (natural sea or artificial for an aquarium);
- coffee beans;
- beans or peas;
- walnut shells;
- wooden elements: cubes, bars, disks.
Tactile models
To make tactile models, it is important to use as many different “feel” elements as possible. Therefore, Velcro, zippers, and fabrics of different textures are added to the above details.
For a child from 1 to 3 years old, it is necessary to choose a soft surface with slight unevenness.
Developmental models
They are made using different objects and fragments, and are distinguished by the presence of numbers or letters, various geometric shapes or elements of the surrounding world (flowers, butterflies, river, bridge, etc.)
Children perceive them as a toy and activities on such a rug do not cause aggression in them.
Making a massage mat for children with your own hands
Basic requirements for a rug made by yourself
A DIY rug is a more budget-friendly option than one purchased in a store. If you take into account a number of recommendations, then it will not be inferior in functionality.
An orthopedic rug should not emit unpleasant odors and should dry quickly.
- Eliminate elements with sharp corners. It is important that the child does not experience discomfort when seeing the accessory.
- If the model consists of several fragments with different elements, provide so-called rest areas, that is, soft areas for the legs to rest.
- The size depends not only on the area of the apartment, but also on the age of the child. For a baby, a small square is enough. But an older child will obviously get bored on a small rug. For this, it is worth considering a larger model with different coatings.
When using the mat, your feet should be clean, and the mat itself should be periodically treated with soapy water.
In order to later be able to add or remove fragments, sew Velcro onto the edges of the main fabric and individual sections. Then the accessory will be “new” every day.
With buttons
For this model, prepare buttons (as many as possible), thick fabric for the base, thinner fabric and a needle and thread.
For the base, you can use a sheet of hard felt or other dense material.
Buttons in random order, alternating large and small, are sewn onto the fabric with strong threads. Then the fabric with buttons is connected to a dense base. The finished canvas is trimmed with a border.
If desired, the buttons are arranged in different shapes. For example, you can make a sun, a cloud and butterflies out of buttons.
You can put a plastic insert inside and cover it with any material.
Orthopedic
To make an orthopedic model with your own hands, you will need many different elements: plugs, lids, bulky braid, a washcloth and everything you have at hand.
The more varied the texture of the elements, the greater the effect can be achieved.
Sand
To make this rug at home, you need thick fabric (linen, coarse cotton, denim), from which large flat pockets are sewn. Their sizes and numbers are arbitrary. Appliques in different styles are created on the pockets.
This will make the model more positive and enjoyable to work with.
The pockets are filled with different cereals, but in such a way that there is free space. Then the pockets are sewn up and connected to each other.
Railway
Your little son will certainly appreciate this massage attribute. After all, exercises on such a mat are not only good for health, but also very entertaining.
Buttons, voluminous cord and pieces of textured fabric are also sewn on. Then the individual fragments are connected.
To make it, various elements are sewn onto separate fragments of dense fabric, including two wide elastic bands attached in parallel, into which “sleepers” - wooden cylinders - are then inserted.
From pebbles
Perhaps the simplest option: pebbles are glued onto a dense base. First you need to check the surface of the stones to ensure there are no sharp or protruding corners. The shape and pattern of the rug are chosen based on your preferences and available materials.
You can decorate the rug in different ways, depending on your imagination, but the funnier the rug is, the easier it is to attract your child to play on it.
Textile massage mats
Variations are possible here. For example, a massage attribute, assembled from many small “bags” with filler.
Children usually enjoy studying on such rugs.
You can assemble the model in the form of a hopscotch game. Make fragments of textiles and fill them and arrange them in a certain order.
Combined massage mats
The name speaks for itself. These rugs combine even the most incongruous things. They are made from everything that comes to hand: buttons, rings for bathroom curtains, zippers, decorative elements of various shapes, dishcloths, braid and much more.
By exercising with a child from an early age on a massage mat, you can avoid many health problems.
By making such an accessory with your own hands, you not only prepare a fitness machine, but also create space for games and development.
VIDEO: DIY massage mats for children.
Orthopedic problems are a headache for almost every young mother nowadays. Disorders in the musculoskeletal system in children are very common - almost every second child can be found to have at least mild scoliosis. More serious problems, such as flat feet, are not as common, but still more common than we would like.
In addition to shoes, to prevent flat feet in children, you need to massage your feet. If you regularly devote time to this procedure during the first year of a child’s life, flat feet can be avoided.
Walking barefoot provides a good foot massage, and in the past, when everyone did this, flat feet were probably virtually unheard of. Now, living in the city, letting a child run barefoot on the ground is simply dangerous. Natural massage is being replaced by a device such as a massage mat, which you can make with your own hands.
Benefits of foot massage
This procedure has many beneficial effects on health:
- ensures the formation of the arches of the feet without disturbances;
- prevents the development of flat feet in children;
- stimulates blood circulation in the feet and improves metabolic processes in skin cells;
- has an effect on areas of the feet that are connected to all body systems, for example, the cardiovascular system, thereby improving circulatory function throughout the body;
- some doctors claim that foot massage affects special points on the surface of the feet associated with the immune system, which leads to increased defense of the body;
- a positive effect is exerted not only on the feet themselves, but also on the entire musculoskeletal system;
- The vestibular apparatus develops.
Related article: Suspended ceiling in the bathroom: do-it-yourself installation photo
Manufacturing methods
Anyone can make a massage mat with their own hands. For production, you can use any available materials - from natural ones, like pebbles and shells, to any artificial small objects, for example, plastic bottle caps.
Pebbles
Most children enjoy running on surfaces covered with flat, small stones, such as on the beach. You can easily organize such a piece of nature at home with your own hands.
To make a massage mat from pebbles, you need to prepare:
- a piece of rubberized carpet of a suitable size - there is no need to make a very large carpet, just long enough for the child to be able to take several steps;
- medium-sized pebbles - you can buy them or collect them yourself on the shore of any body of water, but you need to carefully select the stones so that they do not have sharp edges;
- glue – regular construction adhesive, known as liquid nails, will do.
The stones are thoroughly washed and dried. Then glue is applied to the base and pebbles are laid out. You need to place the stones tightly together and press them firmly to the surface of the carpet. When the glue is completely dry, you can begin the massage procedure.
Plastic lids
Plastic bottle caps are usually thrown away without a second thought, but they can be an excellent material for handicrafts. They can also be used to make a very effective massage mat for children.
To make this option, you will need the following materials:
- caps from any bottles, for example, soda or mineral water;
- the same as in the previous version, the base is made of dense material that should not slip on the floor surface;
- awl and strong thread.
The covers will adapt to the base using the principle of sewing on buttons. To do this, two holes are made in the surface of the lid using a heated awl. Then the lids are sewn to the base with the edges up. Thanks to the huge number of colors of the lids, you can make a multi-colored applique out of them - for example, a flower field, which will make your child more willing to walk through it.
Related article: How marine-style wallpaper is used in various interiors, in the nursery
To make the drawing neat, you need to plan it in advance and apply a sketch to the base. The product can be used immediately after sewing on the last element, which is an advantage over the previous option.
Buttons
It is very easy to make a massage mat from buttons with your own hands, but it will take much more time to make, and it will also require remarkable perseverance, since you will have to painstakingly sew on a large number of parts.
The following materials and tools are required:
- dense fabric base;
- a scattering of different buttons;
- needle and strong thread.
If, as in the version with lids, a certain pattern is conceived, it should be applied to the base in advance with a wax pencil or a piece of soap. You can sew on the buttons in any order, but it is most convenient to start with the largest ones and then attach smaller ones around them.
Cereals
The process of making a rug from cereals with your own hands is similar to other options, but in this case you will have to sew a lot more.
In this case, the dense base fabric will not only serve as a backing for the massage elements, but also as the upper surface of the mat. It is stitched in such a way that the result is several large pockets into which the cereal is poured (it should be more or less large - dry peas or beans are ideal), and then the pockets are stitched along the contour so that nothing spills out. Types of cereals can be combined, so the massage will affect points of different sizes.
Combined view
Children usually have a greater interest in rugs that are made of different materials, although such products are more difficult to make with your own hands. The rug is divided into the desired number of sections, with any number of different elements combined in convenient proportions.
