Around Mealtime

1. Develop a “meal prep” routine (We climb up on a stool, wash hands, march to table, pull the chairs out, help with table setting…)

2. Encourage active play before sitting for mealtime

3. Play push/ pull games or songs (pushing a weighted shopping cart or doing row-row-your boat)

4. Place a weighted beanbag on your toddler’s lap

5. Use weighted utensils or wrist weights to increase awareness of the hands and provide calming input

6. Have your toddler carry the heavy mayonnaise jar, and a few water bottles to the table

Tactile activities

7. Provide daily opportunity for playing in tactile bin (filled with beans, balls, rice, water, or sand)

8. Play with play dough and dig for treasures

9. Encourage messy play using finger paints, soap crayons, Jell-O, “Goblin Goo”

10. Swinging and spinning activities

11. Swimming activities

12. Create an obstacle course on the way to the meal or around the house

13. Jumping on a trampoline

14. Riding a tricycle

15. Make a burrito with your toddler between pillows

16. Pushing and pulling games like tug-of-war

17. Encourage toddler to wear a heavy backpack around house 20 min. before mealtime

18. Crashing games (jumping into pile of pillows)

19. Build a fort with pillows and blankets

20. Bear hugs

21. Use a weighted blanket for nighttime