Muscles, Movement, and Meltdowns: The Magic of Heavy Work
If your child is bouncing off the walls, struggling to focus, or meltdown at the smallest frustration. As pediatric occupational therapists, we often recommend heavy work as a part of a sensory diet to support kids’ regulation, attention, and body awareness. Heavy work refers to activities that activate the proprioceptive system- our body’s internal guide to where we are in space and how much force we’re using. Heavy work can help ALL kids regulate, but it’s especially beneficial for those who show signs of sensory dysregulation or poor proprioception. Research shows that proprioceptive input plays a critical role in emotional regulation, motor planning, and self-awareness and can reduce behavioral challenges.