Propreoception

The proprioceptive system is the ability to know where our body parts are in relation to each other and the environment, without using sight. The receptors are located in our joints and muscles which are activated by weight bearing and heavy work.

A child with poor proprioception may misjudge the amount of force and range of movement necessary for a task leading them to appear clumsy, move constantly and overcompensate by using vision to guide their movements e.g. needing to watch the nib of the pencil to write. Proprioceptive activities can also have a calming effect on the child, although the child’s own attempts to seek this calm can appear as destructive behaviours such as kicking, pushing, biting and grinding teeth.

Follw this week's blog for suggested activities by our school OT.