Outdoor Winter Heavy Work Activities for Kids {Free Printable}

A list of heavy work activities for kids that can be done outdoors in the snow during the winter months.

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If you're at all familiar with sensory diets and/or the different sensory systems, then you've likely heard of heavy work activities before.

And you probably already know that these types of activities are a great way to calm your child's body.

That's because these types of activities provide deep proprioceptive sensory input. Or, in simpler terms, they are tasks that provide input to a child's muscles and joints and help them gain a better senses of where their body is and what it's doing.

Usually, heavy work activities are things your child might do naturally throughout the day or are simple chores. But maybe you're looking for something new for your child to do since it's winter?

Well, this list of winter heavy work activities includes a variety of activities your child can do outdoors in the snow. So you can sneak in some extra sensory activities this winter!

So get ready to bundle those kids up and head outdoors for these simple - yet effective - heavy work ideas!

Winter Heavy Work Activities for Kids

While heavy work can involve doing actual "work" like chores, it doesn't always have to be the case. Oftentimes the way kids already play in the winter and snow are great heavy work activities all on their own.

 Just getting all the layers of winter gear on - or off! - qualifies as a heavy work activity. I mean have you tried to put boots on once you have snow pants on? It can be exhausting!

Anyway, here's a list of 20 fun ways for kids to sneak in some heavy work while playing outdoors in the snow:

1. Make a snowman

2. Make a snow angel

3. Pull someone or something in a sled

4. Pull a sled up a hill

5. Shovel snow

6. Bury your legs in the snow

7. Make a snow fort

8. Push or pull something through the snow

9. Dust the snow off of the car

10. Scrap ice off of sidewalks or driveway

11. Scrap ice off of car windows

12. Dig a hole in the snow

13. Jump on a snow covered trampoline

14. Sweep snow off of the trampoline

15. Have a snowball fight

16. Jump into a pile of snow

17. Make snowballs and stomp on them

18. Make a snow maze

19. Carry buckets filled with snow

20. Make a snow obstacle course

Download the Free Printable List of Heavy Work Activities

Want to save this list of winter heavy work activities and keep it handy? To get a copy of this printable list, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

Heavy Work Activities for School {Free Printable}

If you're looking for heavy work activities for school, then you'll love this free printable list of ideas for doing heavy work in the classroom. It's a great list for teachers to keep handy!

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Heavy work is beneficial for all kids, but is particularly calming for kids with sensory needs and/or autism because it provides proprioceptive input and helps them regulate.

Doing a simple heavy work activity, like those listed below, also quickly helps to improve focus and attention. They can also help reset a day for kids by providing a much needed sensory break during long school days.

This list of heavy work activities for kids is geared specifically towards the classroom and provides quick and easy ideas for implementing proprioceptive sensory activities naturally into the school day.

There is also a free printable list of heavy work activities for the classroom included below.

Heavy Work Activities in the Classroom & Around the School

These heavy work ideas are ones that occur naturally throughout the school day and/or can be done right within the classroom. They provide much needed proprioceptive input for the kids who are craving that type of sensory input.

So if your child needs a quick body break at school, then these 15 heavy work activities for school are perfect for that! You can even just use this list as inspiration to come up with your own ideas.

1. Erase chalkboards or whiteboards

2. Sharpen pencils with a manual pencil sharpener 

3. Fill plastic crates with books to take to other classrooms

4. Stack chairs 

5. Move packs of paper for the printer/photocopier 

6. Staple paper, especially onto bulletin boards 

7. Take down chairs at the beginning of the day 

8. Place chairs on desks at the end of the day 

9. Rearrange desks or furniture in the classroom 

10. Help the gym teacher move mats, hang them up, etc.

11. Ride a scooter board around the hallway 

12. Carry books with both hands, hugging tight to chest 

13. Open and hold doors for people 

14. Help the janitor or caretaker empty garbage cans, recycling, mopping, sweeping, etc. 

15. Climb on playground equipment

Download the Free Printable List of Heavy Work Activities for School

Don't forget to print off a copy of this list of school based heavy work activities. To get a copy of this printable list, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

Heavy Work Activities for Home {Free Printable}

This free printable list of heavy work activities for home will make planning your child's sensory diet so easy! Who knew household chores could be so beneficial?

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It's no secret that heavy work activities are beneficial for kids, especially those with sensory issues or autism. 

You certainly don't have to get creative when it comes to finding heavy work activities for kids because most household chores work perfectly. 

So if you are looking for some heavy work activities for kids to do at home, then look no further than this list of 30 simple ideas.

Heavy Work Activities for Kids to Do at Home

Chores are good for kids, right? You bet! They are one of the easiest heavy work activities that you likely already incorporate into your day. But, in case you need a little more inspiration, here are 30 heavy work activities that kids can do right at home.

1. Carry groceries into the house

2. Carry a laundry basket full of clothes

3. Build a fort

4. Move garbage or recycling bins to the curb

5. Make the bed

6. Do outdoor chores: mow the grass, shovel snow, rake the leaves, etc.

7. Do indoor chores: vacuum, sweep, mop, etc.

8. Load or unload the dishwasher

9. Push, move, or drag furniture

10. Sort recycling

11. Water plants with a watering can

12. Stack chairs

13. Wash the car

14. Remove couch cushions and put them back

15. Fill a pillowcase or bag with stuffed animals

16. Make or build something using real tools like a hammer, sander, screwdriver, etc.

17. Give the dog a bath

18. Carry a small pet

19. Drink thick liquids through a straw or try some fun twisty straws

20. Clean windows

21. Have a pillow fight

22. Push chairs in at the table

23. Push or pull boxes or laundry basket filled with toys, books, or small child

24. Stuff pillows into pillowcases

25. Stuff duvet into a duvet cover

26. Empty the garbage

27. Pull laundry out of the washer or dryer

28. Climb a chair or couch

29. Make an obstacle course

30. Stack and unstack cans or boxes of food

Download the Free Printable List

To get a copy of this printable list, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

50 Heavy Work Activities for Kids {Free Printable}

Need to incorporate some heavy work into your child's sensory diet? Try this list of heavy work activities for kids as a starting point and be sure to grab the free printable list that's included!

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As part of our son's sensory diet, we incorporate a lot of heavy work activities into his day. These activities usually take the form of chores around the house or during play time using heavy objects. These heavy work activities help him focus and/or even calm him if he is headed for a sensory meltdown.

So I've compiled a list of 50 heavy work activities for kids that you can try at home and I've even included a free printable list so that you can keep it handy at all times.

These activities are great for all kids, even if they aren't autistic and/or have sensory processing issues.

What is Heavy Work?

If you have a child with autism and/or sensory processing disorder, then you are likely already familiar with the terms heavy work and proprioception. However, if you are unfamiliar with the term, then heavy work can be defined as:

"tasks that involve heavy resistance for the muscles and joints. It involves proprioceptive input, the awareness of posture, movement, and resistance relating to the body." - source: Heavy Work Fact Sheet

Basically, heavy work activities are used to calm kids, provide input to a child's muscles and joints, and help increase a child's focus and attention.

I also have a list of heavy work ideas for school and a list of heavy work ideas for home...you know, in case this list of 50 activities here doesn't do the trick for you.

Play Time Heavy Work Activities for Kids

Heavy work activities can easily be incorporated into play time. In fact, a lot of the games and activities that your child is already doing at the park can be classified as heavy work. Here are some play time suggestions:

1. Climb a tree

2. Push someone on a swing

3. Play on a teeter totter or seesaw

4. Build a fort

5. Obstacle course

6. Animal walks: crab walk, lizard crawl (uses hands only) - grab the free Google Slides deck here

7. Pillow fight - You can find more gross motor pillow activities here

8. Pull a wagon or sled filled with objects or with a person riding in it

9. Play catch with bean bags

10. Play catch with a large ball

11. Climb up a slide

12. Monkey bars

13. Climb at the playground (ladders, rock walls, etc.)

14. Hang and/or swing on a bar at the park

15. Crawl backwards using hands

16. Carry bean bags

17. Climb a chair or couch

18. Carry a pile of books

19. Push a bobo doll or punching bag

20. Play statue (adult stands as straight as possible and child tries to push adult)

21. Carry a bucket of water or sand

22. Play tug of war - You can use a rope, blanket, scarf, or even our homemade sensory tunnel or homemade stretchy bands

23. Wheelbarrow walking

24. Resistance cycling (adult and child face each other, put feet together, and pedal)

25. Push a door (adult puts resistance on a door while child tries to push the door closed)

26. Army crawl (no knees allowed)

27. Hand pushing game (adult and child place hands together and push back and forth)

28. Dig in the dirt, garden, or sandbox

29. Do pushups

30. Squish, knead, and play with play dough or silly putty or theraputty

31. Ride a scooter board on your tummy and use hands to move

Heavy Work Activities for Kids: Chores Around the House or While Out & About

Involving your kids in chores around the house not only benefits the household and teaches them responsibility, but you are also providing them with the heavy work sensory input that they may need. Things like yard work, laundry, and grocery shopping are everyday activities that provide lots of great heavy work opportunities for kids.

1. Pull laundry out of the washer and/or dryer

2. Carry large bottles, boxes, etc. and/or sort recycling

3. Carry groceries and/or shopping bags and put away groceries

4. Shovel snow

5. Rake the leaves

6. Gather firewood

7. Mow the grass

8. Load or unload the dishwasher

9. Move garbage and/or recycling bins to the curb

10. Staple paper together

11. Use a paper punch or hole punch to make confetti out of paper

12. Rip paper or cardboard

13. Push, move, or carry large rocks

14. Push a shopping cart

15. Vacuum

16. Sweep or mop the floor

17. Push a wheelbarrow

18. Return library books

19. Push, move, or drag furniture

Download the Free Printable Cheat Sheet

To get a copy of this printable cheat sheet, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable