Proprioception - Page 3 of 19

Banded Post Stretch

Steps:

Adult Prep: Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the plastic container to create a stable base.
Adult Prep: Twist several pipe cleaners tightly into small, stiff rings or loops. These are your ‘bands’ that need stretching.
Have your child insert 6 to 8 craft sticks vertically into the playdough base. Ensure they stand up straight and firmly.
Challenge your child to pick up one pipe cleaner band. They must use both hands together to pull and stretch the band open.
Hold the container steady with the non-dominant hand. Use the stretched band and aim it carefully onto the top of a standing craft stick.
Continue stretching and placing the bands until every craft stick tower is ringed. Try placing multiple bands on one stick for a stack.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners are small and pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child does not place materials near their mouth.

Cardboard Clip Sculpture

Steps:

First, draw several straight lines or large shapes onto the cardboard using a marker.
Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the cardboard along the drawn lines. Encourage strong pulling and pressing action for maximum heavy work input.
Place the paper clips into the plastic container next to the workspace.
Take two torn cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with your non-dominant (helper) hand to keep them steady.
Use your dominant hand to squeeze open a paper clip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
Clip the paper clip onto the edges of the two cardboard pieces to connect them securely. Continue adding pieces to build a chain or a free-standing sculpture.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the child handles torn cardboard edges carefully, as they can sometimes be sharp. Collect and store all small paper clips immediately after the activity.

Tight Stick Wedge Push

Steps:

Fold an index card tightly in half lengthwise. This creates a stiff, narrow V-shaped wedge.
Press a small lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly down inside the V-wedge. The putty should be resistant.
Place the loaded index card wedge flat inside the plastic container to keep it stable on the table.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to aim and push the stick straight down into the resistant putty through the narrow V-opening.
Encourage strong, controlled pushes until the putty wedge is completely filled with sticks. Pull the sticks out for a reverse challenge.

Safety Tip:
Theraputty, playdough, and craft sticks are small objects. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards for children in this age group.

Ribbon Resistance Unwind

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut several strips of ribbon (about 12 inches long). Secure one end of a ribbon strip firmly onto a craft stick using a small piece of masking tape.
Adult Prep: Tightly wrap the ribbon all the way down the stick until it is completely covered. Secure the loose end of the ribbon/stick assembly firmly inside the plastic container with more masking tape (this anchors the stick).
Have your child sit at a table and hold the plastic container steady with their helper hand to prevent it from sliding. This requires proximal stability.
Challenge the child to use their working hand to pinch the exposed end of the ribbon. Encourage them to use a strong, controlled pull and unwind motion to free the ribbon from the stick.
Once the ribbon is completely unwound, gently peel the starting tape off the stick and wrap a new ribbon tightly around the stick to play again.

Safety Tip:
Ribbon and small pieces of masking tape are small objects. Constant adult supervision is required to prevent choking hazards for children in this age group.

Putty Pat Painters

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a large piece of cardboard target vertically onto a stable wall or door using masking tape.
Use markers to draw a simple target shape, like a large circle, on the cardboard at your child’s chest height.
Help your child press a large lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly onto the flat side of the sponge.
Encourage your child to use their helper hand to stabilize the cardboard target on the wall.
Challenge them to use a strong, controlled ‘pat’ motion to press the putty-covered sponge onto the marked target zone.
Repeat this firm pressing and patting action until the entire marked area is covered in colorful, sticky putty patches.

Safety Tip:
Theraputty and playdough are choking hazards if ingested. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the vertical cardboard target is secured tightly so it cannot fall or shift during the strong patting action.