Including Heavy Work in Your Child’s Day (Proprioception)

Heavy work is important to include in your child’s daily activities. It increases body awareness, gives your child input, helps with attention, and calms them down. Children who can benefit from heavy work include children diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. Also, children with low muscle tone, children who are defensive, and children who are aggressive.

Here are some ideas for heavy work:

1.     Crash Pad- First, clear a space to make sure it is safe. Then, create a crash pad with cushions and pillows or a mattress for your child to crash and jump upon. Your child can also lift the crash pad up to retrieve things underneath for heavy work as well.

 

2.     Pushing Activities- Have your child push a laundry basket, box, or cart around the house. You can even have two children do a "push race".

 

3.     Cleaning Time/ Chores - Have your child push a vacuum, rake leaves, sweep/ mop a floor or empty/ take out trash.

 

4.     Tug a war- Have your child play a game of tug a war with a rope.

 

5.     Ball activity- Have your child roll different size balls across the room

 

6.     Backpack walk- Have your child go for a walk carrying a filled backpack.

 

7.     Playtime- Have your child crawl across a floor while pushing cars, trucks, and other toys that have wheels.

 

8.     Stacking- Have your child pick up and stack chairs, blocks, or boxes.

 

9.     Jumping- Have child jump rope, play hop scotch, or jump on a trampoline.

 

10. Climbing- Let your child climb a tree, stairs, or on play ground equipment.

 

By providing input to your child’s muscles and joints, heavy work helps self regulate and calm your child’s body while building muscle and body awareness. It works best when done throughout the day. Most of these activities are so fun they won't even know that they are working!