Welcome to the Physical & Occupational Therapies portion of our monthly newsletter, where our Related Services therapists share activities, advice and relevant literature!

October 2024 - Heavy Work Activities for Kids
Heavy work is a tool that therapists use to regulate students' sensory systems. Providing strong proprioceptive input (heavy work) on the joints and muscles will help to calm the body and make students feel more oriented in space, while also improving strength and body awareness. Heavy work provides proprioceptive input in a safe way and can be used throughout the day. Once students are regulated, they are more focused on classwork and daily living skills along with increased ability to interact with peers and develop social skills. Lots of heavy work activities are fun and can be completed at home with little to no equipment.
- Lisa Bruno, Occupational Therapist at Celebrate the Children

• Climb a tree
• Push someone on a swing
• Play on a teeter totter or seesaw
• Build a fort
• Obstacle course
• Animal walks
• Pillow fight
• Pull a wagon/sled filled with objects or a friend
• Play catch with bean bags or a ball
• Climb up a slide
• Monkey bars
• Hang and/or swing on a bar at the park
• Crawl backwards 

• Climb a chair or couch
• Carry a pile of books
• Push a bobo doll or punching bag
• Play statue
• Carry a bucket of water or sand
• Play tug of war
• Wheelbarrow walking
• Resistance cycling
• Push a door open
• Army crawl
• Hand pushing game with a friend
• Dig in the dirt, garden, or sandbox
• Do pushups
• Squish, knead, or play with play dough
• Ride a scooter board on your tummy and use your hands to move

Source: And Next Comes L Hyperlexia Resources