We have eight senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, auditory, vestibular, interception, and proprioception). Our proprioceptive system provides feedback through our muscles and joints to figure out where our body is in space. Some proprioceptive activities are also referred as “heavy work” activities.
Examples of Heavy Work Activities
Heavy work activities add resistance during pulling or pushing, which helps children feel calm and organized, by giving them more muscle activation and resistance, and therefore, more information about where their bodies are in space. Here are five heavy work activities using household items for your child to participate in throughout the day!
- 1) Pushing a Laundry Basket:
- Throw some dirty clothes in the basket and push the basket to the washing machine. They can even help to throw in the dirty clothes into the machine. Once laundry is done, throw the clean clothes back in the basket and push it back to the rooms. For additional resistance, add in blankets or thicker books to the bottom to help with increasing the input they are receiving.
- 2) Vacuuming:
- Have your child help to push a vacuum to clean the living room. For older children, they might be able to do it on their own – saving you time and giving them the input they need through their shoulders and trunk.
- 3) Cooking:
- Have your child help to take out and put in groceries when cooking dinner. They can also help to stir and knead bread dough to help in the kitchen. Get creative with where you are storing ingredients…if you know you’ll need sugar or flour, put those in a lower cupboard so that your child has to find the ingredients and lift them to the counter!
- 4) Rearranging:
- Have your child move chairs or small furniture items. They can also rearrange books on a book shelf. Moving around items, especially with pushing, pulling or carrying provides great input to the upper body and trunk.
- 5) Outdoor Work:
- In the Winter, have your child shovel snow. In the Fall, the child can rake leaves. In the Spring and Summer time, the child can help with gardening and other yard work, such as digging and carrying dirt.
Help Your Child Stay Regulated
As you can see, lots of these “chores” can help a child with lower sensory regulation or understanding of where their body is in space to gain more calming sensations once the work is complete. And, side benefit, you get some help getting your list complete too! So activate those little helpers around the house and help them get and stay regulated.
If you continue to have concerns about your child’s sensory system, call our pediatric Occupational Therapists today at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center for a full sensory system assessment. They can give you suggestions specific to what your child needs and would benefit from! A sensory evaluation can be scheduled by calling our office at 773-687-9241 today!
