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Sensory Processing Play: Laundry Basket Push Game

June 4, 2014 By Heather Greutman 4 Comments

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I am excited to be participating in the Sensory Processing Play blog hop again today! I am sharing a really easy laundry basket push game, a perfect proprioception activity for your toddlers or kids of any age!

sensory processing play

What is Proprioception?

An easy description is proprioception is being able to know where your body is in space and where your limbs are in relation to your body. Muscle planning, grading muscle movement, being able to move your arms and legs without necessarily looking at them all falls under proprioception. Pushing, pulling, jumping, big heavy work movements can all be considered proprioception. Proprioception input is located in the large muscle groups and the spine. 

You can read more about Proprioception from these two great posts here:

  • Proprioceptive Input Explained – Lemon Lime Adventures
  • Sensory Processing: Proprioception – The Inspired Treehouse

Laundry Basket Push Game

  • Laundry basket
  • A few books (to make the basket somewhat heavy, I used two thicker kids books that we have)
  • Favorite toys (we used two balls, a musical dog and another stuffed animal)
  • Cones or color circles (optional)
  • Floor Tape (optional)

This activity is super easy to set up. Simply place a couple heavier size books into the bottom of the laundry basket. Then have your child pick out some of their favorite toys into the basket.

I started by placing the basket out in the yard. I knew my daughter loved pushing objects like this around because she had done so before with boxes and other larger items. However, the grass was not the best to push the laundry basket on. She did pick up the basket a few times and carried it some around the yard. This is still a really good heavy work and proprioception activity.

laundry basket push game 3

 

So I moved it up to the front porch, which was much easier for her to push around.

laundry basket push game 2

She ended up pushing this around the front porch for about 15-30 minutes! Here is a short video I took of her pushing it around the porch.

You can see in the video how much concentration she put into this activity! That is when you can tell an activity is really working. By taking an activity that your child is showing an interest in and adding just a bit of a challenge to it, they will want to keep doing it until they master it! In my daughter's case, that was taking her love of pushing empty boxes or carrying boxes around house and providing her a “just right” challenge by adding some weight and making it fun!

How to Adapt the Laundry Basket Push Game

  • Make an obstacle course with the colored floor circles or cones and have your child push the basket while weaving in and out of the spots or cones.
  • Make lines on the floor with the tape, either straight, zig-zags, a figure 8 design, etc. and have them push the laundry basket following the tape. This is a great way to add in some extra visual motor skills.

For more ideas you can follow my Pinterest boards below:

Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Sensory Fun on Pinterest.

Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Vestibular & Proprioceptive Activities on Pinterest.

I also share lots of ideas every day on my Facebook Page!

Golden Reflections Blog on Facebook

Be sure to check out all the other Proprioception activities shared today in the Sensory Processing Play Blog Hop!

Sensory processing play

Blessings,

 

Basic Shapes for Beginners - SensorySave50 300x300 button

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Filed Under: Sensory & Behavior Tagged With: Child Development, Gross Motor

 

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the Website.

Comments

  1. Emma @ P is for Preschooler says

    June 5, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    In our house a laundry basket is just as popular as a cardboard box (only sturdier!). I love how you used it for a proprioception activity!

    Reply
  2. Honey Rowland says

    June 13, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    We do a lot of heavy work here too! One of the favorite games we did was holding the wall up. I’d holler the wall was falling and start pushing on it. I’d holler I needed 2 more strong people. They’d come running and we’d push….ahh…memories.

    ~Honey

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sensory Stations - The Chaos and the Clutter says:
    July 21, 2014 at 5:56 am

    […] work like carrying books, a laundry basket push, pulling a wagon filled with rocks, carrying pails of […]

    Reply
  2. Ideas for Creative Sensory Play - The Chaos and the Clutter says:
    July 23, 2014 at 6:39 am

    […] Laundry Push […]

    Reply

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Welcome to Growing Hands-On Kids, a site dedicated to parents, caregivers, educators, therapists or anyone who works with children. My name is Heather and I’m a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based Occupational Therapy. I use my background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies through hands-on activities. You can read more about me by clicking here. I’m so glad to have you here!

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