Heavy Work

How:

How often should my child do heavy work activities?

Provide opportunities for your child to do heavy muscle work by incorporating activities into their normal daily routine (I.e. around mealtimes, playtime, before bedtime routine, Etc.).

Follow completion of each heavy work activity with deep breathing exercise (see below).

Choose heavy work activities that your child likes to do and are at their level.

Heavy Work Activities for Home

Deep Breathing

  1. Instruct child to place one hand on their stomach and the other in front of their mouth.

  2. With pursed lips (like a goldfish), take a deep breath in and then a long exhale.

  3. The child should feel their tummy ‘move out’ when breathing in.

  4. Start with 3-5 breaths if just learning and work up to 10 breaths.

Why:

Heavy work helps children:

  • To be calm and focused

  • To be more alert and attentive

  • Wake up their muscles and body awareness

  • Strengthen their shoulders, upper body and stomach muscles