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.

Putty Pancake Decorators

Putty Pancake Decorators

Steps:

  • Give your child a large chunk of Theraputty or stiff playdough. Encourage them to use both hands to squeeze, mash, and roll it into a thick ‘pancake’ on the paper plate. Press hard for heavy work!
  • Ask your child to hold the paper plate firmly steady with their helper hand to keep the ‘pancake’ from sliding.
  • Pick up the tweezers or tongs. Use a strong pincer grasp to grab one small bead at a time.
  • Carefully aim the bead. Push it firmly and precisely into the resistant putty surface to create a colorful design or pattern.
  • Repeat the process until the entire putty pancake is covered in decorative beads. Try using different colors or sizes of beads.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beads and Theraputty/Playdough are small objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Heavy Foil Rock Decorate

Heavy Foil Rock Decorate

Steps:

  • Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant foil into a large, manageable piece.
  • Use maximum hand force to crumple and squeeze the foil tightly. Form a dense, hard 3D rock shape (the ‘foundation’). Squeeze hard for heavy work input.
  • Place the finished foil rock securely onto the piece of cardboard base. This acts as a stable work surface.
  • Use the glue bottle to squeeze several small, controlled dots of liquid glue onto the foil rock surface.
  • Pick up one dry bean using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Carefully aim the bean at a wet glue dot. Press the bean firmly onto the resistant foil surface. Repeat until the foil rock is covered in textured dots.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans and small, dense foil pieces pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Steps:

  • Use markers to decorate 4 or 5 paper cups. Draw colorful faces or stripes on the outside.
  • Place the heavy bean bag flat onto a stable surface like a table or the floor.
  • Ask your child to press down firmly on the bean bag with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Use the dominant hand to pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
  • Aim the open clothespin and clip one paper cup onto the side of the resistant bean bag. The bag should hold the cup securely.
  • Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the decorated cups are attached to the heavy anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Clothespins and small pom-poms (if used) are small objects. They pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Twist and Drill Wall Work

Twist and Drill Wall Work

Steps:

  • First, use the masking tape to secure a piece of sturdy cardboard vertically onto a stable wall or door at your child’s chest height.
  • Press a large, thick lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly onto the center of the vertical cardboard. This is your resistant drill target.
  • Hold the craft stick like a pencil. Encourage your child to use their helper hand to stabilize the cardboard next to the putty.
  • Aim the craft stick at the putty. Use strong finger pressure and a twisting motion to ‘drill’ the stick deep into the resistant putty.
  • Switch directions and twist the stick the opposite way to pull it out. Repeat this drill motion, filling the putty surface with holes.
  • Try putting all the sticks in, then pull them out. See how fast you can twist and drill all the sticks into the target!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Theraputty (or playdough) and craft sticks are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a simple dot on one felt strip and a matching dot on one index card.
  • Place the felt strip flat. Roll the felt tightly around the pencil to create a dense, resistant cylinder.
  • Remove the pencil carefully while holding the felt roll firmly with your helper hand to keep the shape.
  • Pick up the paper clip using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
  • Slide the paper clip onto the felt cylinder to secure the roll. This requires effort and focus.
  • Set the finished felt scroll onto the Index Card that has the matching marker dot. Repeat for all felt strips.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips and felt scraps pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.