Heavy Work: Calming the Sensory Seeker Through Movement

As both a foster parent and early intervention professional, I’ve worked with numerous children who struggle with self-regulation, constantly seeking input to organize their sensory systems. I want to share some insights on how “heavy work” activities can be a powerful tool for these children.

Understanding the Sensory Seeker

I’ve had the privilege of working with many children, including a foster child we lovingly called Little Monkey, who constantly craved sensory input. They were always moving, touching, and exploring, often in ways that seemed chaotic or disruptive.

These experiences taught me that sensory seekers aren’t being “difficult”; they’re trying to regulate their nervous systems. As the direct quote from NAPA Center explains,

“Sensory processing is the way your body takes in sensory information from the world and interprets this information in the brain, to respond. Our bodies are constantly receiving sensory input, processing it, and adjusting our responses, without us even realizing it is happening! The way sensory input is perceived and responded to varies from child to child. Sometimes sensory information goes to the brain but there is difficulty in organizing it to produce the appropriate responses.”

NAPACenter. (n.d.). How to tame your sensory seeker. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://napacenter.org/how-to-tame-your-sensory-seeker/

Heavy Work and Sensory Regulation

Sensory seekers often benefit from “heavy work” activities, which involve muscle effort and activate the proprioceptive system.

• Proprioceptive System: This system receives input from muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, and movement.
• Heavy Work: Activities like pushing, pulling, lifting, and jumping provide proprioceptive input, which can calm and regulate a dysregulated nervous system.

The Power of Proprioceptive Feedback

Sensory seekers may naturally seek out various sensory experiences, but it’s crucial to guide them toward appropriate and regulating activities. Often, this means prioritizing proprioceptive feedback through heavy work.

As occupational therapists have told me, “When in doubt, heavy work.” This helps their body regulate their cravings and behaviors.

Practical Heavy Work Activities for Littles

Here are some practical heavy work activities:

• Jumping: Trampolines, jumping jacks, rocket jumps, and star jumps.
• Movement While Seated: Using an air cushion or therapy ball.
• Work Activities: Pushing a shopping cart, carrying groceries, or pulling a wagon.
• Playground Activities: Climbing equipment, slides, and swings.
• Rhythmic Movement: Swinging or jumping with consistent patterns.
• Whole-Body Input: Squishing into large pillows.
• Deep Pressure: Rolling a therapy ball along the back.

Finding Regulation Through Movement

Remember, what works for one child may not work for another. It’s worth trying a variety of things. I hope these stories give you ideas of what you might try in the future.

References

• Beck, C. (2025). Heavy Work Activities. The OT Toolbox. https://www.theottoolbox.com/heavy-work-activities/
• Gigliotti, F., Giovannone, F., Belli, A., & Sogos, C. (2024). Atypical Sensory Processing in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Clinical Phenotypes in Preschool-Aged Children. Children (Basel), 11(7), 875. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39062324/
• NAPACenter. (n.d.). How to tame your sensory seeker. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://napacenter.org/how-to-tame-your-sensory-seeker/

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