Effective Proprioceptive Activities PLUS Signs They Are Needed!

8 Senses Series: Post #1

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This is the first post in the series: 8 Senses. In each post, you will…

1. Learn a bit about what the sense is
2. What signs to look for that your child is avoiding or seeking that sense
3. Activities to help your child who is avoiding or seeking that sense
4. Snag a free full-color printable on signs and activities for that sense

The Proprioceptive sense is my “favorite” – because it is the one that my son both seeks most often and responds best to.

The Proprioceptive System

The proprioceptive system is a sense in the muscles and joints. It relates to our sense of body awareness, including force and pressure. It also helps to regulate all of the senses. It can help twofold – it can calm people when their system is overwhelmed by too much sensory input. It can also alert the system, to allow the person to focus his attention. Every system is different, especially when talking about sensory processing disorder and autism.

What Signs Should I Look For?

Signs Your Child is Avoiding Proprioceptive Input

• He is clingy to you, but may dislike physical affection
• She avoids activities such as swinging and climbing
• He is sensitive to sound
• She is very cautious in how she plays with her peers
• He may appear to be tired or “lazy”
• She is uncoordinated in gait
• He is sensitive to touch and textures

Signs Your Child is Seeking Proprioceptive Input

• She grips her pencils tightly or writes with excessive pressure
• He walks on his toes, prefers to wear shoes on the wrong feet, and/or stands on objects
• She climbs on furniture
• He W-sits (see picture below)
• She engages in self-injurious behavior such as banging her head on a wall
• He throws himself onto furniture
• She roughhouses excessively
• He bites, chews, or sucks on objects like the collar of his sheet or his pencil

Proprioceptive Activities

Resistance

• Push or pull around a laundry basket filled with heavy objects
• Push a wall. Try taping a picture on the wall that your child can “push” for a count of 5
• Push around furniture

Heavy Lifting

• Carry heavy books
• Throw and catch heavy balls

Exercise

• Jump on a trampoline
• Run around outside
• Climb onto and hop off the couch (make sure the space is clear and he can safely land!)
• Jump on a “space hopper” like the ones below

Deep Pressure

• Give some big, tight, hugs
• Have your child lay down on the floor. Cover him with big pillows and push down. Do these in short bursts and carefully watch your child’s reaction
• Use weighted objects (best practice is to do this under the guidance of an OT)

Oral

• Chew on a chewie (here are ones I recommend)
• Blow bubbles
• Chew bubble gum (when your child is able to chew without choking or swallowing)
• Drink or blow through various types of straws

Weightbearing

• Bear crawl
• Push-ups
• Walk around wearing a heavy backpack
• Wheelbarrow walking
• Laying stomach-first on an exercise ball

Last Notes

Try these out both proactively and reactively. Do some tight hugs before a loud social event. If your child is running inside, throwing himself onto the couch and you would like to help him calm down, try a game of adventurer- ride the bouncy cow, bear crawl in the forest, and push the treasure (heavy things in the laundry basket) home!

Head to the bottom of this post to download a 3 page full-color printable of signs that proprioceptive input is needed, plus a page on activities!

You can just print out these beautiful full-color pages and use as needed. Or, if you would like them to be more sturdy for constant use, I recommend printing and laminating.

• Scotch Laminator
  • Reliable company
  • Comes with 20 sheets

• Scotch Laminating Pouches
  • Refill – you’re going to need them!

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