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Heavy Work for Kids: Outdoor Play for Regulation & ADHD
If you’ve ever wondered how to support your child’s energy, focus, or regulation without turning your home into a therapy clinic, this conversation is for you.
In this interview, occupational therapist Diana Fitts, OTR/L shares how one of the most powerful regulation tools for kids, especially those with ADHD, is already all around us: nature.
We explore the concept of “heavy work,” what it actually means for your child’s nervous system, and how everyday outdoor play like carrying logs, climbing, and digging can support regulation in ways that feel intuitive, playful, and effective. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of when your child might benefit from this kind of input and simple, doable ways to weave it into your daily rhythms.
What Emotional Regulation Really Means for Kids
Regulation doesn't mean your child is calm and quiet. It means their nervous system can move through big feelings and come back. Here's what regulation looks like in real life, and how co-regulation with a safe adult helps kids get there.
Sensory Overload or Intentional Behavior? The 8 Sensory Systems
There are 8 sensory systems, and they all have specific jobs! Kids who have sensory differences often fall on one or the other end of a spectrum. They may be Sensory Craving/Seeking, or Sensory Avoiding. Take a look at the following signs, and if they are familiar, consider taking a look at our newest resource on the 8 sensory systems to learn more about what your child might be experiencing in one or more system, plus get some activities to do with them.
As play therapists, we make sure to consider individual sensory differences when working with kids, and we make sure to help parents do the same! Here is a quick reminder for things to consider in your environment if your child is showing the above behaviors consistently or after being in specific environments
• need for movement
• noise levels
• sensory stimulation
• Trauma history