10 Ways to Use Weighted Sensory Stuffed Animals

Weighted sensory stuffed animals are a great way to help your sensory seeking child to feel calm, more relaxed and more focused.

They can also be used for heavy work sensory activities without it feeling like it’s therapy.

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10 Ways to Use Weighted Sensory Stuffed Animals

With weighted sensory items, the extra weight gives input to the body for kids who have an under-responsive system, helping wake up the system as well give a physical outlet for extra energy. 

We use heavy work to help our kiddo calm down and focus both at home and at school.

For example, at school he often helps move books or school supplies to sneak in heavy work throughout the day.

Today, Jenni from Joyful Journey Mom is sharing her 10 favorite activities for the weighted sensory stuffed bear she made for her kiddos.

1. Take your Bear for a stroll

Use a baby stroller or plastic shopping cart for the bear and go for a walk.

The increased weight is great for proprioception.

2. Pushing or pulling Weighted Sensory Bear in laundry basket

We set up cones on the floor and push the bear around the cones.

Or a child can push and pull around the house adding more items to the basket.

3. Rock a Bye Baby

Rocking motion is great for the vestibular system and it helps with calming.

Make this part of pretend play or turn on a lullaby and pretend it’s your bear’s bedtime.

4. Tossing Bear in the Air

This is one of our favorites although it can get a little wild.

Heavy work and coordination is combined in this activity.

5. Swinging Together

We have a net swing (affiliate link) and adding our new bear on my daughter’s lap makes swinging an even better calming activity.

6. Carry Weighted Sensory Bear in Backpack

I have tried placing various items in my daughter’s backpack, but she doesn’t see the fun in that.

But when it’s her bear, she does not mind at all.

Just make sure your bear is not too heavy for this activity.

7. Carry Bear on shoulders

Shoulders are a great place for input and for regulation.

You can walk, skip, step over objects or simply sit holding the bear in this position.

8. Dance with your Bear

Music makes everything fun.

I usually model various moves like moving the bear away from the body and then back for a hug.

9. Take Your Bear to the playground

My daughter was so tired after taking her bear up and down the slide, in the swings and even going up the stairs to get to the slide.

That’s heavy work at it’s best.

10. Calming down with Bear

Have bear sit on your child’s lap as you read together, watch TV or color together.

The deep pressure is calming and can be a part of a daily bedtime calming routine.

More often than not, my daughter will seek this input herself and now she has a tool that doesn’t look medical or therapeutic.

Have fun discovering more ways to play with weighted sensory stuffed animals!

DIY Weighted Sensory Stuffed Animal

To make a weighted stuffed animal, place weighted pellets or beads inside a sealed nylon sock or double-bagged zip-top bag.

Open a seam on an existing plush toy or insert the pouch while assembling a new one.

Surround the pouch with soft stuffing, then hand-sew the opening closed.

More Gross Motor Ideas for Kids

More gross motor ideas for kids offer active, hands-on activities that build coordination, balance, and movement skills through playful learning.

• 5 Terrific Sensory Crash Pad Activities
• How to Make a Weighted Tie Blanket
• 10 Ways to Play on a Balance Beam for Kids
• Apple Tree Gross Motor Game
• Vertical Writing Builds Core Muscles
• Gross Motor Activity: Scooter Slalom
• Beds Are For Jumping and Other Everyday Sensory Activities

SENSORY SUMMER SERIES

This post is part of the Sensory Summer series, hosted by Mommy Evolution in partnership with The Sensory Spectrum.

I encourage you to follow us all summer and visit our Sensory Summer landing page to get the latest sensory fun for your kiddos!

About Jenni

Jenni is a mother of 5 by birth and adoption.

She writes about special needs, adoption and life as a transracial family at Joyful Journey Mom.