Heavy Work Advice By: Stephanie

Let’s face it, children are getting more screen time now than ever before. School is being held via online platforms and the rainy PNW weather is limiting opportunities for outdoor play. iPads, laptops, and other technological devices are not only the forefront of entertainment, but also for education. As parents or guardians, you may be noticing changes in mood, increased meltdowns, restlessness and/or new undesirable behaviors in your children and it is no coincidence.  

The good news is that there are ways to help combat these difficulties. You may have already heard your occupational therapist use the term “heavy work”, or they may have given you activities that incorporate heavy work to complete at home. Heavy work is the term used to describe one of our foundational senses called ‘proprioception’. Proprioception is our ability to recognize where our body is in space and also helps us regulate the direction and amount of force to use when moving. It is detected through sensory receptors in the joints and muscles.  

When a child engages in play that requires pushing, pulling, lifting, or hanging, they are stimulating the proprioceptive sense.  Children with sensory processing concerns will either seek out this sort of activity, or they may completely avoid it.  Kids with proprioceptive dysfunction are often “sensory-seekers” or “sensory-avoiders”. The following are signs that your child may experience proprioceptive dysfunction: 

Sensory-Seeking Behaviors: 

• Seeks out pushing, pulling, jumping, and lifting activities 
• Exerts too much pressure for the task (writing too hard, slamming doors, stomping feet when walking, etc.) 
• Tends to play rough 
• Enjoys deep pressure (tight hugs, being rolled up tightly in a blanket, sleeping while surrounded by pillows or stuffed animals in bed) 
• Regularly bumps into objects or people 

• Demonstrates poor postural control (slumps when seated, leans on objects or people when standing, difficulty with balance activities) 
• Tends to bite or chew non-food items 
• Difficulty with coordination activities (riding a bike, jumping jacks, hop scotch, catching/throwing, etc.) 
• Often drops objects when carrying or holding them 
• Has a high pain tolerance  

Sensory Avoiding Behaviors:  

• Cautiously plays with others or avoids contact when playing with peers 
• Prefers quiet, calm environments or shows distress with noisy environments 
• Sensitive to touch 
• Sensitive to various types of clothing 

• Avoids common playground activities such as swinging or climbing 
• Strongly dislikes crowded places  
• Can hear background noises that most other people do not notice 
• Has poor balance and/or coordination  

Whether your child falls into either category, there are ways to incorporate proprioceptive activities into your day. One way to ensure they are getting this input is to schedule “recess” time during the day, just as they would if they were attending school in-person. However, the purpose of recess is not for kids to do whatever they want, but to choose heavy work activities to complete. For example, when children are offered breaks by their teachers, have them choose their preferred heavy work activity from the list below and engage in that activity for 20-30 minutes. This is a structured way for kids to get the input that they need while also giving them control to choose what they want to do. 

Here are ideas for heavy work activities that can be done indoors when the weather is not in your favor:
 
Chores: 

• Pull laundry out of washer and/or dryer 
• Carry large bottles, cans, or boxes 
• Sort recycling  
• Carry groceries and/or shopping bags 
• Load or unload the dishwasher 
• Rip paper or cardboard  
• Vaccuum  
• Sweep or mop floor 
• Push, drag, or move furniture  
• Pop bubble wrap with hands or feet 
• Push a shopping cart 
• Wipe down surfaces with a towel 
• Carry or push the laundry basket 
• Help mix ingredients when cooking or baking 
• Make the bed 

Playtime: 

• Animal walks (crab, bear, snake, bunny) 
• Build a fort 
• Pillow fight 
• Build an obstacle course (with couch cushions, chairs, blankets, boxes, etc.) 
• Squish, knead, and play with play dough or silly putty 
• Have a relay race with various exercises (wheelbarrow walks, army crawls, duck walks, bear crawls, inchworms) 
• Freeze tag 
• Simon Says 
• Ride a bike or scooter 
• Give sled rides to siblings in laundry basket, or push heavy objects in laundry basket 
• Hop scotch 
• Yoga poses 
• Jump rope 
• Wall push-ups, floor push-ups, or chair push-ups 

Engaging in heavy work activities promotes increased attention, a more regulated arousal level, and is beneficial for learning, playing, socializing, and completing daily tasks. It is also important to note that each child will react to heavy work activities differently. Let your child explore and note how each activity makes them feel or act to find the best methods that work for them specifically.  
 
Let your therapist know if you have any specific questions regarding proprioception and ways to incorporate it at home. Together, we can identify the best ways to help your child engage in heavy work to give their body the input it is craving, especially during these uncertain times.