The positives of pushing, pulling and lifting!

All people can benefit from heavy work.  Heavy work is any physical activity which has a push-pull component.  

The benefit of heavy work is that it can:

1. help us regulate (the state where our brain can learn and cope with the change)
2. learn where our body is in space
3. if done often enough can help us stay fit and strong

Heavy work activities that can be done at home include vacuuming, moving furniture for vacuuming, taking the bins out, carrying and bringing wood in for the fire, carrying shopping bags.

The therapy team have been working with some classes this term developing a consistent program using gym equipment.

The program has included:

• Using visuals to help cue students into the activity and understand what they need to do.  Visuals are used to mark the repetitions, gradually increasing the number over time.
• Modelling the activity and doing it alongside the student.
• Each student has different things that motivate them e.g. food, iPad, music, swing - and a visual reminds them that they can have this once they have done the mahi.
• Repeating the same sequence of tasks.

It has been great to see the progress students have made - recognising symbols, increasing repetitions and taking part in tasks.

It is our intention that all students at Pītau-Allenvale will participate and experience how heavy work is beneficial for them.