Stability Ball

10 things to use that dusty exercise ball for just to ensure that the $25 you spent on it wasn't a total waste.



1. Baby bowling. Although it sounds painful, and possibly a little dangerous, if the ball connects just right with the baby, it can lead to surprising and uncontrollable giggles for all involved. Just note, the margin of error is very slim on this one. The exact technique could take weeks to perfect.

2. Baseball. The boys made this one up all on their own. They find that with the abnormally large ball they are much more accurate, even with the skinny bat, than they are when playing traditional baseball. They hate striking out, and now, they don't have to worry too much about that.



3. Hide-n-Seek Dodge Ball. This is one that can be played with any sized ball, but they enjoy playing with the huge one best. The rules? Easy. Kids hide, mom or dad find them, and then try to pelt them with the big ball (again accuracy not really an issue) before they make it safely back to base (aka the couch). Even though the ball oftentimes knocks them down, and occasionally out, they love playing it and will do so for hours. Totally worth being a little concussed.

4. Trampoline. This involves the dudes jumping spread eagle style off of the couch onto the ball so that it bounces them back up into the air, and then onto the floor in a crumpled, giggling (possibly broken-limbed) heap. Here's a tip, though. Make sure the ball is not too full of air; the consequences could prove disastrous.

5. Soccer. Played exactly like traditional soccer only again, accuracy is not much of an issue. And, it's fun to try to kick the ball into other players b/c it completely annihilates them.

6. Additional seating. Apparently, this one is actually considered a form of exercising so that makes it even more worthwhile.

7. Step stool. Not recommended. This has been tested numerous times at Casa de Dummies and always ends with the same, unintended, but not entirely unexpected consequence. So, I'll say that while in theory, you can use it to stand on in order to reach high places (bathroom sink, kitchen counter, top of refrigerator to get your Leapster even though you aren't supposed to), I feel that this should be avoided b/c 9 times outta 10 you are going to slip, fall, injure yourself badly, and then blame me for it. I already have enough people blaming me for crap, so I can do without any more, thank you very much.

8. Pet training. For whatever reason some dogs have a serious problem with this thing. Maybe its the fact that it's larger than most of the people in our house, or that it, at times, seems to sprout legs or wings or whatever b/c it winds up in the strangest places (backyard, bathroom, up the street). No matter the reason, it worked wonders for keeping our four legged friend away from the toilet, or the door, or wherever else I could do without his presence. Simply place the obnoxiously large ball in front of the main entrance, and voila, no pet disturbance, because he was frozen on the other side wondering if this punk was gonna start something.

9. Water Toy. Kinda ghetto to take it to the beach, and probably not even allowed at the pool, but stick that bad boy out in the yard and spray it and the kids with the hose for a little while, and they are convinced they are at some kind of awesome water park. Probably only works on kids, like mine, who have never actually been to an awesome water park, but whatever.

10. Exercise. I know, so obvious. And so unlikely. At least for me. Even though hubby purchased this a while back as a show of support for my weight loss efforts, I have yet to actually get any real usage outta the thing. I gave it the good ole college try, but I just suck at it. My balance is all off and my stomach muscles are about as firm as a pudding pie. Which makes using the freakin' ball both a necessity and an impossibility at the same time. But, for those of you with the gumption, the motivation, and the physical ability to work something like this, have at it b/c allegedly they work. Just ask Kim Strother's:)