Crashing, Jumping, Hugging Too Hard? Your Kid Might Just Be a Proprioceptive Genius (a.k.a. Welcome to the Zoomies)

Let me set the scene.

It’s 7:45 p.m. You’ve dimmed the lights, cued the lullabies, lit a lavender candle, and said, “Okay, bedtime!”

And your kid?

Is sprinting down the hallway like a caffeinated squirrel, launching themselves into a pile of couch cushions like it’s the Olympic finals in Human Cannonballing.

Sound familiar?

You, dear parent, may be witnessing a case of the zoomies—and no, they’re not “bad” or “wired.” They might actually be self-regulating in the most brilliant, body-intelligent way.

Wait… What Are Zoomies, and Why Do They Happen?

You’ve seen dogs do it—those wild, full-speed laps around the living room for no reason. That’s zoomies.

Turns out, humans get them too. Especially kids. And especially at bedtime.

But here’s the twist: they’re not being hyper despite being tired. They’re bouncing off the walls because their nervous system needs to discharge energy before it can rest. Think of it like letting the fizz out of a shaken soda bottle—if you try to cap it too fast, it’s going to explode.

The solution? Let the fizz out. On purpose.

So, What’s Actually Happening Here?

Enter: Proprioception

Proprioception is your body’s built-in GPS system. It tells you where your limbs are in space, how much pressure you’re using, and helps you move without constantly tripping over the cat.

When kids are constantly:

• Crashing into furniture,

• Jumping off beds,

• Wrestling their sibling into a carpet burrito...

…it’s not defiance. It’s proprioceptive seeking. They’re craving deep pressure, resistance, and movement to help their nervous systems feel calm and organized.

Some kids need a LOT of this kind of input to regulate their energy and emotions. (And let’s be honest—some adults do, too.)

How Proprioceptive Needs Show Up in Real Life

It’s not always zoomies. Sometimes it looks sneakier, softer, or a little confusing:

• 🧸 Constantly hugging you too hard

• 🚪 Bumping into furniture, people, and walls like a human pinball

• 👕 Chewing sleeves, collars, pencils, fingers

• 🐙 Lying limp and floppy on the floor (low tone = needing more input)

• 🐒 Climbing, pushing, or dragging heavy stuff for fun

• 🐻 Asking to be squeezed or massaged “harder!”

• 💥 Full-body meltdowns that come out of nowhere (hint: it’s not nowhere)

One of my kids still asks for a firm back massage every single night. Another one needs a serious weight-lifting and push-up session followed by a 10-minute verbal monologue before their brain even considers sleep. For years, I tried to stop it. Now I build it in.

What Is “Heavy Work” and Why Do Kids Need It?

Heavy work = anything that activates muscles and joints with pressure, resistance, or weight. It’s like a nervous system smoothie. Delicious. Grounding. Calming. Necessary.

Heavy work helps kids:

• Regulate energy

• Increase focus

• Improve coordination

• Calm big emotions

• Transition smoothly

• Feel safer in their bodies

And the best part? You don’t need fancy equipment. Your house is full of proprioceptive opportunities.

10 Easy, Fun, Kid-Approved Proprioceptive Activities

1. Wall push-ups (“You’re a superhero. Push the wall down.”)

2. Bear walks or crab walks down the hall

3. Pushing laundry baskets full of books

4. Carrying groceries or a weighted backpack (short periods only!)

5. Rolling up like a burrito in a blanket

6. Jumping on a trampoline, mattress, or couch cushions

7. Tug-of-war with a towel

8. Steamroller game (roll an exercise ball over their body)

9. Squeezing putty, playdough, or stress balls

10. Helping with chores that involve pushing/pulling ("You’re the vacuum commander!")

This isn’t just “play.” It’s nervous system medicine.

Bonus Tool: A Sensory-Friendly Bath Can Help Too

Bath time isn’t just for washing—when done intentionally, it’s a full-on regulation ritual.

Try:

• Low lighting (skip the overhead glare)

• A soft projector light (stars, waves, or calming motion)

• Epsom salts for muscle relaxation

• Warm water poured slowly over shoulders (think spa vibes)

• A mini massage with a washcloth or lotion

• Toys that offer resistance (pushing boats, squeezing foam)

Layer in calm sounds, gentle scents, and slow touch—and you’ve got a nervous system-safe space in a tub.

Calm From the Inside Out: 4 Acupressure Points to Try

These gentle touch points from Chinese medicine can support your child’s regulation—before bed, after bath, during a meltdown, or while they’re snuggling up for a story.

You don’t need to be a practitioner. Just ask permission, go slow, and bring warm, loving hands.

Pericardium 6 (Nei Guan – “Inner Gate”)

• Location: Inside of the wrist, three finger-widths below the crease

• Use it for: Anxiety, transitions, nausea, general calm

• Try: Press gently with your thumb for 30–60 seconds while holding hands or drying off after bath.

Kidney 1 (Yongquan – “Bubbling Spring”)

• Location: On the sole of the foot, just under the ball

• Use it for: Grounding, calming, helping kids “come back into their body”

• Try: During a lotion rub or foot massage.

Large Intestine 4 (Hegu – “Union Valley”)

• Location: The webbing between thumb and index finger

• Use it for: Releasing tension and emotional pressure

• Try: Light pressure during calm-down time. (Avoid during pregnancy!)

GV20 (Bai Hui – “Hundred Meetings”)

• Location: At the top of the head, centerline of the skull

• Use it for: Centering, focus, calming over-arousal

• Try: Rest your hand here softly during a cuddle, bedtime story, or moment of stillness.

Even one of these touch points, offered with attunement and connection, can make a big difference.

Parents Need Regulation Too

Let’s be honest. After a full day of dodging flying shoes, negotiating snack requests, and being the emotional anchor for your family, you might need proprioceptive input too.

Try:

• A walk with a lightly weighted backpack- or even just get outside for a few minutes

• Lying under a heavy comforter, weighted blanket or even yours kids weighted stuffies

• Rolling out your feet or massaging between your toes

• Letting your kid give you a mini massage

• Shaking, Legs up the wall or other somatic practices.

When kids see us regulate ourselves, they learn it’s safe to do the same.

Final Word: What Looks Like “Too Much” Might Just Be “Not Enough”

When your kid is zooming, crashing, clinging, or chewing their sleeve off—it’s not about misbehavior.

It’s about a brilliant body doing what it knows to do: trying to feel safe and centered.

Let’s stop trying to force stillness, and instead offer them ways to move, press, push, and breathe into themselves.They don’t need less energy.They need better ways to use that energy.

And when we help them do that? We don’t just calm the chaos—we create connection.