Heavy Work | Helping Kids Build Strong Bodies and Minds

When kids seem to have endless energy or struggle with focus, they might just need a bit more of something- heavy work. This type of physical activity helps children develop important skills like body awareness, balance, and coordination.

Heavy Work Activites:

Animal walks - Encourage kids to crawl like a bear, hop like a frog, or slither like a snake to build body awareness.

Rolling, spinning, jumping, hopping, swinging, pulling, throwing, catching, and hanging - Things like tug-of-war, bean bag toss, jumping on a trampoline, or using monkey bars can all support muscle development and strengthen the vestibular system.

Obstacle courses - Use pillows, taped lines, or furniture to create a fun indoor challenge for climbing, crawling, and balancing.

Balance work - Walk along a taped line, hop on one foot, or stand on a pillow to practice stability.

Heavy work - Pushing a laundry basket, carrying books, or pulling a wagon can engage proprioception.

For indoor movement, resources like the Whale Chair (for rocking), the Indoor Balance Beam (for balance & obstacle courses), and a Climbing Triangle (for climbing & sliding) can provide even more opportunities for development.