Do you feel like your child always has “ants in their pants” or gets upset easily?
Does your child have frequent meltdowns or seem to bump into everything around them?

Some children have difficulty with emotional regulation and sensory processing. These children may benefit from heavy work activities, which help calm, organize, and regulate their bodies. Heavy work includes activities that provide proprioceptive input to the muscles and joints, through actions such as pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, or squeezing. Heavy work supports children in many important ways. Heavy work helps children understand body awareness, where their body is in space, and move more safely and efficiently. Some children may need a lot of heavy work, while others may need only a little to feel calm and organized. Heavy work helps regulate the nervous system by providing deep pressure, helping the body move from a fight-or-flight state into a rest-and-regulate state, reducing the chance of behaviors escalating. Heavy work can help children who feel overstimulated by their environment, feel more grounded and calmer. After heavy work, children may be less impulsive and better able to participate in daily activities.        

Common signs that your child may benefit from heavy work:

• Seeking constant movement
• Bumping into or crashing into people or objects
• Demonstrates difficulty sitting still
• Has meltdowns during changes in routine or during transitions
• Easily overwhelmed or overstimulated in large crowds or noisy environments

When to provide heavy work:

• Before transitions
• After high-energy activities
• During signs of dysregulation
• Before or after school
• Before seated activities like meals
• Before bedtime

Heavy work is a powerful tool that helps children feel calm, organized, and ready to engage. When used regularly and proactively, it can support emotional regulation, sensory processing, and overall participation in daily life.

Examples of heavy work activities:

• Animal walks (crab, bear, snake crawls, frog jumps)
• Pushing a loaded laundry basket or box
• Carrying a heavy backpack
• Joint compression and limb squeezes
• Carrying weighted stuffed animal
• Rolling child up tightly in a blanket (Do not cover face)
• Rolling, pinching, using shape cutters with play doh
• Wall/chair push ups
• Jumping jacks
• Weighted blankets/vest
• Holding yoga poses
• Wheelbarrow walks
• Bear hugs

If you have further questions related to sensory processing or heavy work, please reach out to Lindsey Lubel OTR/L at llubel0530@gmail.com

Lindsey Lubel is a dedicated occupational therapist with over eight years of experience specializing in pediatric care. She began her academic journey at the University of Georgia and went on to earn her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Augusta University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia). Currently, Lindsey serves as an occupational therapist in the acute rehab department at Northside Hospital, where she brings compassionate, individualized care to her patients. Her commitment to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities extends beyond her clinical role. Lindsey is also the president of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta, where she actively leads initiatives to empower families and supports inclusion.