25+ Fun Proprioceptive Activities to Get Your Kids Moving

As parents, we all want our kids to develop strong physical and cognitive abilities. One of the most important aspects of physical development is proprioceptive input, which is the sense of where our body is in space.

Here are 25 fun proprioceptive activities to get your kids up and moving quickly and help their physical and mental development.

benefits of Proprioceptive Activities

Grounding and stability:

For children who struggle with coordination or balance, proprioceptive input can provide a sense of where their body is in space, helping them feel more grounded and stable in their movements.

Sensory processing regulation:

In busy environments, providing proprioceptive input can help children better process sensory information, leading to improved focus and overall sensory awareness.

Calming and soothing:

Proprioceptive input calms the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety while promoting a sense of relaxation and well-being.

Improved physical fitness:

Proprioceptive input activities require physical effort, which can improve strength and endurance, leading to better overall physical fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Body awareness and coordination:

Improving proprioception can help children better understand where their body is in space, improving coordination and reducing the risk of falls and accidents.

Mood and energy boost:

Proprioceptive input activities can be fun and engaging, increasing mood and energy levels and promoting an overall sense of happiness and positivity.

fun proprioceptive activities that your kids will enjoy

Wall push-ups

Perfect for superheroes in training! Stand facing a wall and push against it with your hands, providing resistance and proprioceptive input to build super strength. And don’t forget to make superhero sound effects while doing it!

Pillow squeeze

Squeeze the silly out! Encourage your child to squeeze a pillow with their arms and legs, providing resistance and proprioceptive input to their upper and lower body. You can even make it a silly competition and see who can squeeze their pillow the hardest!

Crawling

Ready, set, crawl! Get your child crawling on all fours like a speedy cheetah, providing proprioceptive input to their arms and legs while improving their coordination and body awareness.

You can even create a fun obstacle course for your child to crawl through, like a jungle adventure or a space mission!

Animal walks

Take a walk on the wild side and channel your inner jungle animal with roars and growls – your child will love it, and you might even get a laugh out of it!

Roar like a lion or hop like a bunny, and get your child moving in fun ways with animal walks that help improve overall coordination and body awareness.

Jumping jacks

Turn up the tunes and get your groove on with some funky jumping jacks, perfect for boosting your child’s mood and coordination skills. Jump, clap, and repeat!

Classic exercise that provides a lot of proprioceptive input to the body challenges your child to do as many as they can and beat their own record.

Obstacle courses

Make it a superhero training course and let your child save the day with their heroic moves – cape and mask optional!

Create a fun-filled adventure with an obstacle course using everyday items in your home to challenge your child to move in various directions, increasing their body awareness and control while being a ninja warrior.

Balloon volleyball

Ready, set, serve! But watch out for that tricky wind – it might send the balloon flying in the wrong direction, adding an extra element of surprise to the game.

Up, up and away! A fun variation of regular volleyball that provides resistance and proprioceptive input to the arms and hands while pretending to be in space.

Wheelbarrow walks

Who needs a gym when you have a willing child to push you around? Take turns being the wheelbarrow and see who can go the longest without collapsing into giggles.

Push and pull like a wheelbarrow, challenge your child’s upper body, and provide proprioceptive input to their arms and hands with this fun activity.

Tug of war 

Channel your inner gladiator and pull your way to victory! Tug of War is an exciting game that gives your arms and upper body lots of resistance and proprioceptive input to make you feel like a warrior.

Trampoline bouncing 

Bounce, bounce, baby! Jumping on a trampoline improves balance and coordination and gives you a fun and wacky way to get your daily dose of proprioceptive input.

Yoga poses 

Strike a pose; feel the flow! Yoga poses are a great way to get your child stretching, relaxing, and feeling their body’s proprioceptive input as they channel their inner zen master.

Dancing 

Get ready to break it down! Dancing is a fun and funky way to get your child moving while improving their coordination and providing proprioceptive input that makes them feel like a dance floor diva.

Hula hooping 

Spin to win! Hula hooping is a delightful activity that provides proprioceptive input to the hips and core while spinning like a carnival performer, making your child feel like a champion circus clown.

Scooter board races

It’s time to put the pedal to the metal! Challenge your child to scooter board races and watch them improve their balance, coordination, and speed while feeling like a professional racer. Just make sure they don’t turn into speed demons!

Climbing

Let your child’s inner monkey shine! Climbing is a fantastic way to provide proprioceptive input to the arms and legs while boosting their confidence and adventurous spirit. Plus, they’ll have a blast feeling like Tarzan swinging through the trees.

Pushing or pulling heavy objects: 

Get ready to flex those muscles! Encourage your child to push or pull heavy objects like a superhero, providing proprioceptive input to their arms and upper body while feeling strong and powerful. Don’t be surprised if they start asking for their own cape!

Jump rope

It’s time to jump for joy! Jumping rope is a great way to provide proprioceptive input to the body while improving cardiovascular health and having fun jumping like a kangaroo. And who knows, they may even come up with their own jump rope rhymes!

Swinging on a swing

Reach for the sky! Swinging on a swing is a classic activity that provides proprioceptive input to the whole body while feeling like a superhero soaring through the air. Let’s just hope they don’t start demanding a cape and mask to complete their superhero look!

Playing in a sensory bin

Get ready to get your hands dirty! Creating a sensory bin filled with different textures is a great way to provide proprioceptive input to the hands and arms while having fun exploring different textures like a scientist. Just be sure to have some towels handy for the inevitable mess!

Bouncing on a therapy ball

Let’s bounce, baby! Bouncing on a therapy ball is a fun way to improve balance and coordination while providing lots of proprioceptive input to the body, bouncing like a jumping jellybean. It’s like being on a mini trampoline but with more bouncing power!

Crab walk

Get your child scuttling like a crab with this fun activity! Have them walk on their hands and feet with their tummy facing up towards the sky.

This activity provides great proprioceptive input to the arms, shoulders, and legs while improving body awareness and coordination.

Tumbling

Cartwheels, somersaults, and rolls – oh my! Tumbling is a fun way to get your child moving while improving their coordination and proprioceptive input to the arms, legs, and core. You can even set up a tumbling mat in your home for added safety.

Bouncing on a therapy ball

Hop on a therapy ball and bounce away! Bouncing on a therapy ball is a fun way to provide proprioceptive input to the entire body, improving overall body awareness and strengthening core muscles. Challenge your child to see how high they can bounce or how long they can balance.

Wheelchair races

If you have a child with mobility challenges, wheelchair races are a fantastic way to improve their physical fitness and proprioceptive input to the arms and hands. Set up an obstacle course or race track in your backyard, and let the races begin!

Stair climbing

Stair climbing is a simple yet effective way to provide proprioceptive input to the legs, improving strength and endurance while also improving body awareness and coordination.

Encourage your child to climb the stairs in various ways, such as hopping on one foot or taking giant steps. Just be sure to supervise to ensure safety.

There you go, dear parents! Twenty-five amazing activities to get your kiddos up and grooving while fueling their proprioceptive development. We hope you and your little ones enjoy these activities, and remember to let loose and be silly!

These activities will benefit their physical and mental health, reducing stress and anxiety while boosting their mood and energy. Your kids will love it, and so will you!