What are heavy work activities?

Heavy work activities can help children who have trouble with attention, arousal, self calming, and sensory problems.  A heavy work activity requires the muscles and joints to work harder than normal.  

What heavy work activities will help my child?

Games
• Play tug of war.
• Do jumping jacks, scissors jump, hop on one or two feet.
• Do animal walks (bear, snake, crab, dog, etc.).
• Crawl over obstacles.
• Play wrestling.
• Play Simon Says game.
• Go through an obstacle course.
• Play with play dough, squishy balls or bubble wrap.

Weights
• Wear a weighted vest when attention to task is needed. *Child needs to be able to put on and take off the vest themselves.
• Wear a backpack or fanny pack with items that add weight.
• Carry, push or pull weighted objects.

Outdoor Activities
• Jump rope.
• Shovel or rake outdoors.
• Hold and pull hose to water grass, flowers, or garden.

Other
• Roll on the floor.
• Roll up your body in a blanket.  Keep your head out.
• Use a bodysock.  A bodysock is like a pillow case.  It is a sack that hugs your child as they play in it.
• Push hands together.   
• Lock fingers together and try pull hands away from each other. 
• Do wall, floor or chair pushups.
• Push on wall or other stable surface.
• Chew on chewy, sugar free foods like   gum, dried fruit or bagel.
• Make tight fists and then open hands.
• Help carry grocery bags.
• Push or lift a laundry basket.