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.

Corner Fold & Weave Push

Steps:

  • Give your child a piece of cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into rough, postage stamp-sized pieces.
  • Take one torn cardboard piece. Fold a corner tightly in half, then fold it over one more time to create a dense, narrow point.
  • Place the finished folded pieces in the plastic container. These are your weaving targets.
  • Take a pipe cleaner and curl one end into a loop to create a dull ‘needle.’
  • Hold the folded cardboard piece firmly steady with your helper hand.
  • Use your dominant hand to grip the pipe cleaner needle with a strong pincer grasp. Push the needle straight through the tight folded point of the cardboard.
  • Repeat this process, pushing the pipe cleaner through each resistant cardboard fold.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure any cut ends of the pipe cleaners are curled safely before starting the activity.

Vertical Tear & Crumple Press

Vertical Tear & Crumple Press

Steps:

  • Secure the cardboard piece vertically onto a stable wall or door using masking tape.
  • Use long strips of masking tape, sticky side OUT, to create a large shape (like a circle or square) onto the cardboard surface.
  • Give your toddler strips of construction paper. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the paper into small, rough pieces.
  • Challenge your child to crumple each torn piece tightly into a small, dense ball using only their fingertips.
  • Hold the cardboard steady with the helper hand. Pick up one dense paper ball using a pincer grasp.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to firmly press the paper ball onto the vertical sticky tape shape. Repeat until the shape is covered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Torn paper pieces are a choking hazard for children under three. Ensure your child remains standing or sitting stably and does not attempt to put materials in their mouth.

Wet Sponge Weight Weave

Wet Sponge Weight Weave

Steps:

  • Fill the container with water and soak the sponge fully. Wring it out hard so it is damp and dense, then press it firmly back into the container base.
  • Adult Prep: Tie one bead securely onto the end of a 12-inch piece of yarn. Tie the opposite end of the yarn onto the middle of one craft stick.
  • Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base on the table.
  • Using the working hand, aim the craft stick tip at the sponge. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick and the attached yarn/bead completely through the resistant sponge.
  • Pull the stick back out, feeling the resistance and drag of the yarn as it comes through the wet sponge. Repeat this push and pull action until your child tires.

Safety Tip:
Beads and yarn are small materials. Constant, direct adult supervision is required to ensure these items are not ingested, as they pose a choking hazard.

Cardboard Coin Mail

Cardboard Coin Mail

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a narrow, horizontal slot (about 1 inch long) into the container lid. Secure the lid tightly onto the container with masking tape.
  • Give your child the cardboard. Encourage them to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Challenge them to squeeze the hole puncher forcefully onto the cardboard to create a big pile of small cardboard ‘coins.’ Squeezing hard provides deep muscle input!
  • Ask your child to pick up one stiff cardboard coin using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Aim the cardboard coin at the narrow slot.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to mail the coin completely through the resistant slot. Repeat until all the coins are successfully delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Hole punchers can pinch fingers if hands are misplaced. Ensure all small cardboard pieces are collected immediately after play, as they pose a choking hazard.

Weighted Reel Rescue

Weighted Reel Rescue

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Secure the plastic container firmly onto the center of the cardboard base using masking tape. This makes a stable reel base. Tape one craft stick across the container opening, creating a spinning reel handle. Tie the yarn to the handle and attach the bean bag to the loose end.
  • Place the cardboard base on the floor. Unwind the yarn completely, setting the bean bag target a few feet away. Hold the container base firmly with your helper hand to keep it from sliding.
  • Use your working hand to grip the reel handle. Begin twisting the stick repeatedly (forearm rotation) to slowly reel the yarn back in. Keep reeling until the heavy bean bag reaches the container. Repeat the reeling and unwinding.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the cardboard base is firmly anchored so it does not tip or slide when the child applies rotational force. Monitor the child’s body position to ensure they sit or kneel stably while working.