7 Simple Ways to Get Proprioceptive Input

7 Simple Ways to Get
Proprioceptive Input

Most children benefit from proprioceptive sensory work built into their day. The
proprioceptive system receptors are located in our joints and muscles and tell us where
our body is in space. The benefits of stimulating this system vary for different children
but can help children feel regulated, calm, and ready to focus. Unlike the vestibular
system, the proprioceptive system cannot be overloaded. The benefits of heavy work last
for up to two hours after engaging. Try to build planned activities into your day to
support your student or child’s participation all day long.

Play: Play is a creative and natural method of learning and exploring the world.
Encourage running and jumping as part of play, draw a hopscotch game in chalk or
offer a jump rope. Indoor and outdoor trampolines provide lots of sensory input to the
lower body. If you have monkey bars nearby, try to test how long you can hang on.
Create an obstacle course including several of these activities to make a memorable
play experience.

Animal walks: Common in physical and occupational therapy and physical education
classes, animal walks are fun and motivating and great for sensory input and motor
planning. Try crab walks, bear walks, a snake crawls, dinosaur marches and
wheelbarrow walks. Get creative and make up a new animal walk!

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Animal walks: Common in physical and occupational therapy and physical
education classes, animal walks are fun and motivating and great for sensory
input and motor planning. Try crab walks, bear walks, a snake crawls, dinosaur
marches and wheelbarrow walks. Get creative and make up a new animal walk!

Clean up a space: This is a functional life skill that children can practice at
any age. Some cleaning activities like vacuuming or sweeping provide
proprioceptive input. Younger and older kids can use a towel and wide
sweeping motion to wipe down tables or spills. For even heavier input, delegate
the task of pushing in chairs or pushing light furniture into place to kiddos.

Carry: Carrying heavy items can be a purposeful activity where children get a
chance to help out. Try letting them bring in groceries, carry books to another
room, move their chair by themselves or wear a slightly weighted backpack.

Get outside: For children of all ages, the outdoors provides lots of
opportunities for proprioceptive input. Go on a nature walk. The more
challenging the climb, the more proprioceptive input they will get. Using a
small shovel to move snow or dig dirt is another way children can help out.

Snack time: Do you know anyone that chews on a pen or pencil? The jaw has
several proprioceptors, and by chewing on something hard, people get lots of
regulating input. A more functional strategy would be to eat something
crunchy or chewy. Carrots, celery, nuts, and granola work well and can easily
work into your usual snack time. Older kids (and adults) can get the same
benefit by eating crunchy foods or chewing gum.

Use a weighted ball: Try a soft weighted ball for a quick and easy way to get
input. Starting at two pounds and increasing to higher weights, weighted balls
are versatile and easy to have nearby. Try throwing and catching the ball,
rolling it back and forth to each other, or slamming it onto the ground.

Apart from these physical activities, you can also do some additional things like
Occupational Therapy For Handwriting, Occupational Therapy For Sensory
Integration, and Occupational Therapy For Self Regulation to enhance the all-
over capability of children.

© 2022 Kioko Center. All Rights [email protected]
Reserved. Privacy Policy.