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.

Resistant Rip Mural

Resistant Rip Mural

Steps:

  • Secure a large sheet of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape.
  • Place several long strips of masking tape horizontally across the cardboard, sticky side OUT, creating several large, sticky ‘target zones’ or frames.
  • Give your child a large, flat piece of thick cardboard.
  • Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the thick cardboard into small, jagged pieces (this requires strong effort!).
  • Encourage them to pick up one torn piece and firmly press it onto the vertical sticky target, filling the frames to create a textured mural.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the vertical cardboard surface is stable and cannot fall or slide during the activity. Always supervise young children to ensure they do not attempt to ingest torn cardboard or masking tape pieces.

Felt Resistance Wall

Felt Resistance Wall

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Cut 5 to 6 narrow strips of felt, about 1 inch wide.
  • Help your child glue the felt strips vertically onto the cardboard. Leave a very narrow gap between each felt strip to create resistant channels.
  • Once the glue is completely dry, have your child hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep the wall steady.
  • Challenge your child to pick up a craft stick. Push the stick straight through one of the narrow felt channels. This requires controlled force.
  • Continue inserting all the sticks into the wall, working to keep the cardboard from tipping or moving during the push.
  • When finished, gently pull the sticks out (working those muscles again!) and repeat the building process.

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision, especially during the preparation phase involving scissors and glue. Ensure the child pushes the sticks away from their face and body to prevent accidental poking.

Sticky Bean Rescue

Sticky Bean Rescue

Steps:

  • Take a handful of Theraputty and hide the dry beans deep inside it. Mash the putty into a firm ball.
  • Press the putty firmly into the bottom of the plastic container. This keeps the sticky base steady for the rescue mission.
  • Pick up the tongs. Use them to carefully grip one bean at a time and pull it straight out of the sticky putty.
  • Transfer the rescued beans into a separate pile on the table. Count how many beans you saved!
  • If a bean is too deep or stubborn, use a craft stick to gently loosen it from the putty before trying again with the tongs.

Safety Tip:
Beans and Theraputty are small objects. Maintain constant adult supervision during this activity, as these materials pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child washes hands after using the putty.

Precision Glue Constellations

Precision Glue Constellations

Steps:

  • Draw a constellation map on the construction paper. Use a marker to draw 8-10 dots (stars) and number them sequentially.
  • Glue the map to the cardboard base to keep it stable. Place the sequins in a small, shallow container.
  • Hold the glue bottle like a pencil. Starting at dot number one, squeeze the glue bottle with controlled force to draw a neat line to dot number two.
  • Continue connecting all the numbered dots with a thin line of glue, working on steady pressure to keep the line smooth.
  • Immediately sprinkle the sequins over the wet glue lines, covering the entire constellation path. Shake off the excess and admire your starry art!

Safety Tip:
Glue and sequins are non-toxic but require supervision. Ensure the child washes hands immediately after play and does not put sequins near the face or mouth.

Cactus Needle Push

Cactus Needle Push

Steps:

  • Press the Theraputty firmly into the bottom of the container. This creates a stable, resistant ‘desert floor’ for your cactus garden.
  • Break the dry spaghetti into short, 2-inch pieces. Breaking the spaghetti gives the hands extra feedback and motor planning practice.
  • Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to pick up one spaghetti piece (a ‘needle’).
  • Push the needle straight down into the putty. Encourage a strong, controlled push to insert it without breaking it.
  • Plant many needles close together to make a spiky cactus texture. Fill the entire putty surface!
  • Select a small pom-pom using your precise pincer grasp. Carefully place the pom-pom onto the top of a spaghetti needle to create a colorful ‘cactus flower’.

Safety Tip:
Spaghetti pieces are sharp when broken. Always supervise closely. Uncooked spaghetti, small pom-poms, and putty are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.