Proprioceptive Activities

Proprioception is the sense of the body’s position and movement in space. It is important for balance, coordination, and many other aspects of physical and cognitive development. Children with special needs may have difficulty with proprioception, which can lead to challenges in these areas.

There are a number of activities and interventions that can help children with special needs improve their proprioception. Some examples include:

• Heavy work activities: These activities involve providing deep pressure to the body, which can help to calm and organize the nervous system. Examples include jumping on a trampoline, squeezing a ball, or wearing a weighted vest.
• Trunk rotation activities: These activities help to improve the child’s ability to rotate their trunk, which is important for balance and coordination. Examples include rolling, swinging, or doing cartwheels.
• Cross-body movements: These activities involve moving the arms and legs in opposite directions, which helps to improve the child’s body awareness. Examples include crawling, marching, or playing catch.
• Sensory integration therapy: This therapy uses a variety of activities to help children process sensory information more effectively. This can be helpful for improving proprioception and other sensory processing challenges.

If you are concerned that your child may have difficulty with proprioception, talk to their doctor or a physical therapist. They can help you assess your child’s proprioception and recommend appropriate activities and interventions.