Proprioception - Page 24 of 35

Sponge Stack Tilt

Steps:

Fill the bowl with water. Place the foam sponges inside to soak them fully.
Set the plastic container upside down on the floor to use as a narrow stacking platform.
Ask your child to kneel in front of the platform. This helps stabilize their core.
The child gently squeezes one sponge over the bowl to remove excess water.
Using both hands together, the child carries the damp sponge and stacks it carefully onto the container base.
Continue stacking sponges one by one. Count how many sponges they can stack before the tower falls over.

Safety Tip:
Since the floor might get wet, ensure the child is kneeling on a non-slip mat or towel to prevent accidental slips during movement.

Card Scroll Builders

Steps:

Place an Index Card flat on the table. Use your helper hand to stabilize the card firmly against the surface.
Use your working hand to place a pencil on the short edge of the card. Roll the card tightly around the pencil to create a firm scroll.
Once the card is fully rolled, carefully slide the pencil out while keeping the scroll tight. Place the finished scroll into the container.
Choose a small sticker. Use your precise pincer grasp (pinching fingers) to peel it off the backing.
Quickly wrap the sticker around the center of the scroll to keep it from unraveling. Challenge yourself to fill the container with colorful, tightly rolled scrolls!

Safety Tip:
Use large, age-appropriate stickers during this activity. Ensure close adult supervision to prevent the child from placing small stickers or paper pieces in the mouth.

Weighted Puck Push

Steps:

Prepare the ‘pucks’ by filling several small Ziplock Bags about 1/4 full with dry Beans or Rice. Seal them tightly.
Create a long ‘push stick’ by taping two Paper Rolls together end-to-end with Masking Tape to form a hockey stick.
Use Construction Paper and Masking Tape to create a goal on the floor about six feet away from the starting line.
Start in a half-kneeling position behind the pucks. Use the push stick to tap and guide one weighted puck at a time toward the goal.
Encourage the child to use the stick to sweep the pucks from their left side to their right side to practice Crossing Midline.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the playing area is clear of trip hazards. When using the long stick, remind the child to keep a safe distance from others and always supervise play.

Band Launcher Target

Steps:

Prep the launcher by taping one end of a craft stick firmly to the edge of a flat piece of cardboard. The stick must be able to spring back up.
Place the container (the target) a short distance away from the cardboard launch pad.
Encourage your child to use a precise pincer grasp to place a pom-pom onto the free end of the craft stick.
Use one hand to stabilize the cardboard while the other hand presses down on the craft stick tip using controlled force.
Quickly release the stick to launch the pom-pom toward the target container. Count the successful hits!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise to prevent small pom-poms from being placed in the mouth. Ensure the launch area is clear before shooting to avoid hitting anyone.

Noodle Chop Sort

Steps:

Use markers to color strips of paper that match the colors of your pool noodle. Tape these colored strips onto two separate baskets to create sorting targets.
Give your child the pool noodle and a pair of safety scissors. Encourage them to hold the noodle firmly with their ‘helper hand’ to keep it steady.
Challenge your child to cut the pool noodle into small, thin ‘coins’ or ‘slices.’ Remind them to use strong, full squeezes of the scissors.
Once the noodle is completely chopped, ask your child to look at the color targets. Sort the colorful foam coins into the matching color baskets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise closely when using scissors. Use child-safe scissors appropriate for their hand size. Since the age range includes younger preschoolers, ensure that cut noodle pieces are not placed in the mouth, as they can pose a choking hazard if ingested.