Heavy Work and Deep Pressure
These activities make your child’s muscles work against resistance. Not only will these activities improve your child’s strength, they will also help organize your child if he/she is “overly active” or overstimulated.
These activities will also provide your child with firm pressure over the skin and body. This can have an organizing and calming effect on your child as well as improve his/her body awareness.
Exercises
Wall Push-ups
Chin-ups
Pushing against another person using arms, legs, or back
Squeezing or stretching a thera-band, putty, play-dough, or squishy toy/fidget
Lifting or pushing heavy things around the house such as weights, boxes of books, or heavy laundry baskets
Rock climbing
Hiking
Climbing stairs
Chewing or Oral exercises:
use a thin straw to drink a thick milkshake, smoothie, yogurt, or pudding
chew against resistance (gum, bagels, raw fruits/veggies, soft pretzels, taffy, starbursts, or jerky