Skill: Proprioception

Proprioception is how your body knows what position it is in. It is the sense that enables us to know where the different parts of our body are, how they are moving, and how much strength our muscles need to use. Our muscles, joints, and skin all contain sensory receptors that contribute to proprioceptive input.

Tee-Weave Card Creator

Tee-Weave Card Creator

Steps:

  • Fold three index cards tightly in half to create one thick, sturdy base. Press hard along the fold for maximum resistance.
  • Use the hole puncher to squeeze and punch 6 to 8 starter holes along the edges of the folded card. Squeezing the puncher requires strength!
  • Hold the thick card steady with your helper hand to keep it stabilized on the table.
  • Pick up one golf tee using a strong pincer grasp. Aim the tee at one of the punched holes.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the tee completely through the layered cardboard base. Remove the tee.
  • Repeat this forceful piercing action until all punched holes have been filled with tees and then removed.
  • Pick up a stiff pipe cleaner and use your fingertips to lace it through the newly pierced holes, creating a colorful pattern.

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have pointed ends. Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the tee straight down into the card, away from the face or body.

Tape-Wrapped Block Unwind

Tape-Wrapped Block Unwind

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Tightly wrap 3 to 4 blocks completely in masking tape. Cover all surfaces of the block.
  • Place the wrapped blocks in the plastic container. Tell your child they are ‘tape monsters’ that need rescuing.
  • Challenge your child to hold the block firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Use the thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to find an edge of the tape strip.
  • Encourage a strong, controlled pull to peel the sticky tape off the block against the resistance.
  • Continue pulling and peeling all the tape until the block is fully unwrapped and rescued! Repeat the challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not put tape or small pieces of material in their mouths. Discard small, crumpled tape pieces immediately after peeling.

Tension Track Push

Tension Track Push

Steps:

  • Twist three pipe cleaners together tightly to create 4-5 thick, stiff ‘resistance bands.’
  • Stretch and secure these bands tightly across the sturdy cardboard base using masking tape underneath.
  • The bands should be spaced out to create narrow tracks for the beans.
  • Place the beans and craft sticks in the container. Ask the child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Pick up one bean using a neat pincer grasp. Load it onto the tip of the craft stick.
  • Aim the loaded stick at the cardboard track between two tight bands.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to slide the bean under the taut pipe cleaner band.
  • Continue pushing the bean along the track until it reaches the end. Repeat until all tracks are filled with beans.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beans, pipe cleaners, and small cardboard pieces are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Wet Paper Squeeze & Drop

Wet Paper Squeeze & Drop

Steps:

  • Tear the newspaper into small strips using both hands. Focus on strong, controlled pulls.
  • Fill the bucket halfway with water. Submerge the newspaper strips until they are fully saturated and mushy.
  • Grab a large handful of wet paper. Squeeze the paper tightly over the bucket to remove the water. Aim for maximum effort!
  • Squeeze the remaining damp paper firmly into dense, hard balls (your ‘fortress rocks’).
  • Place the empty plastic container target nearby. Hold the container steady with your helper hand.
  • Use your working hand to aim and drop the wet paper ball precisely into the narrow target opening. Repeat until all rocks are delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place wet paper or small pieces of material in their mouths. This activity can be messy; choose a water-safe work area.

Tension Net Drop

Tension Net Drop

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Twist two pipe cleaners tightly together to make 3 to 4 thick, sturdy “bands.”
  • Stretch the pipe cleaner bands across the container opening. Crisscross them to create a tight, resistant net.
  • Use masking tape to anchor the ends firmly to the container sides.
  • Place the buttons and craft sticks nearby. Ask your child to pick up a button using their pincer grasp.
  • Hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides proximal stability.
  • Use the craft stick to aim the button at the resistant pipe cleaner net.
  • Encourage a strong, controlled push to send the button popping through the network.
  • Repeat until all buttons are successfully dropped inside.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Buttons, pipe cleaners, and craft sticks are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.