Let Your Child Do the Heavy Lifting: Understanding Proprioception
What is Proprioception?
Unlike our senses of taste and smell, which are fairly easy to understand, proprioception is one of our senses that is a bit more nebulous. Proprioception is the body's ability to sense its position, movement, and orientation in space. Proprioceptive input refers to the sensory information that is received by the body through muscle and joint movements, pressure, and resistance. This sensory input is critical for our daily movements and plays a significant role in relaxation.
When we engage in activities that involve proprioceptive input, such as heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or deep pressure, our muscles and joints send signals to our brain that promote relaxation. This is because proprioceptive input activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's rest and digest response.
This is why incorporating activities that provide proprioceptive input before meal times can such a useful tool! It allows them to get their bodies in a “just right” arousal state where they are calm and alert when they come to the table.
10 Activity Ideas to Provide Proprioceptive Input Before Meals
Climbing: Climbing is a great proprioceptive activity that can help children develop strength, balance, and coordination. You can set up a climbing wall in your backyard or take your child to a local park that has a climbing structure.
Jumping: Jumping is another fun and effective proprioceptive activity. You can set up a mini trampoline or a jump rope in your backyard or play a game of hopscotch with your child.
Pushing and pulling: Pushing and pulling activities can help children develop their upper body strength and improve their proprioceptive skills. You can set up an obstacle course with tunnels, tires, and other objects that your child can push or pull.
Heavy lifting: Heavy lifting activities, such as carrying a backpack filled with books or carrying a basket filled with laundry, can help children develop their proprioceptive skills and build their strength.
Tug of war: Tug of war is a fun game that can help children develop their proprioceptive skills while building their strength and teamwork skills. You can play this game with your child and their friends.
Wall push-ups: Wall push-ups are a great way to help children develop their proprioceptive skills and build their upper body strength. You can ask your child to stand facing a wall and push their body away from the wall using their arms.
Yoga: Yoga is an excellent proprioceptive activity that can help children develop their balance, coordination, and flexibility. You can join a yoga class with your child or watch online videos to practice yoga at home.
Dancing: Dancing is a fun way to help children develop their proprioceptive skills while improving their balance, coordination, and rhythm. You can play some music and dance with your child at home.
Playing with playdough: Playing with playdough can help children develop their fine motor skills and proprioceptive skills. You can ask your child to knead the playdough, roll it into balls, and flatten it with their hands.
Sensory bins: Sensory bins are great proprioceptive activities that can help children develop their tactile and proprioceptive skills. You can set up a bin filled with rice, beans, or sand and ask your child to search for hidden objects or make patterns with their hands.
