16 Deep Pressure Activities For Toddlers
Learn some of the best deep pressure activities for toddlers! These calming sensory strategies will have a calming effect on your child’s nervous system and help your child’s body to relax.
Have you ever had such a strong pressure hug that it actually calmed your entire body down?
Deep touch pressure therapy is a powerful tool to help with specific sensory needs and overstimulated children.
Some kids have sensory processing issues which makes it difficult for some activities. One way to help these children with sensory processing difficulties is through deep pressure therapy!
In this guide, you will learn what deep pressure is, how beneficial deep pressure input is for toddlers, and some of the best deep pressure activities for kids to enjoy.

What are Deep Pressure Activities for Kids?
Deep pressure is the idea of using pressure to help calm your toddler – especially those who seek to self regulate using deep pressure.
Things like needing to lean on you, crawling into tight crawl spaces, or even needing/wanting weighted blankets are all signs that your toddler seeks out deep pressure activities to begin with.
Benefits of Deep Pressure Therapy for Toddlers
Here are a few benefits of calming deep pressure sensory input for toddlers:
- Calming Effect: Deep pressure therapy can help toddlers regulate their sensory input, leading to a calming effect on their central nervous system.
This can be especially beneficial for toddlers who experience sensory processing issues or have difficulty self-soothing.
The physiological effects of deep touch pressure help with both the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system helping your child to reduce stress, lower heart rate, and rest. - Anxiety Reduction: The gentle, firm pressure provided by deep pressure can help reduce anxiety in toddlers, promoting a sense of security and comfort.
This can be particularly useful during times of stress or transition, such as bedtime or when facing unfamiliar situations. - Improved Sleep: Many toddlers struggle with sleep disturbances, so it can aid in promoting better sleep quality.
The comforting pressure can help toddlers relax and fall asleep more easily, leading to more restful nights for both the child and their caregivers. - Enhanced Focus and Attention: For toddlers with attention difficulties or hyperactivity, deep pressure stimulation can help improve focus by providing sensory input that promotes a sense of grounding and stability.
This can be helpful during activities that require concentration, such as learning tasks or quiet playtime. - Sensory Integration: It can also assist toddlers in integrating sensory information more effectively, helping them better understand and navigate their environment. This can lead to improved coordination, body awareness, and overall sensory processing skills.
- Emotional Regulation: By providing deep pressure input, it can assist toddlers in regulating their emotions. It can help them feel more in control of their feelings and reactions, reducing instances of meltdowns or tantrums.
- Promotes Body Awareness: The gentle pressure can help toddlers develop a better awareness of their body and its boundaries.
This can be particularly beneficial for children who seek out sensory experiences, have trouble with their proprioceptive system, or have difficulty understanding personal space. - Supports Relaxation: It encourages the release of calming neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, promoting relaxation and a sense of well-being in toddlers.
This can be especially helpful for children who are easily overstimulated or prone to sensory overload. - Non-Invasive Intervention: Unlike some other therapeutic interventions, deep touch pressure therapy is non-invasive and can be easily incorporated into daily routines.
It offers a gentle, natural way to support toddlers’ sensory needs and emotional well-being. - Parent-Child Bonding: Engaging in deep touch stimulation with toddlers, such as through gentle massages or cuddling with weighted blankets, can strengthen the parent-child bond.
It provides an opportunity for nurturing touch and close physical contact, fostering feelings of security and connection between caregiver and child.
Pin This Post For Later:

Best Deep Pressure Activities for Toddlers
Here are some of the deep pressure activities for toddlers at home! While some can be effective in the classroom, most of these are best suited for parents.
As with any toddler activity, it’s important to gauge how your toddler is responding. Deep pressure activities aren’t a one-size-fits-all so it’s possible your toddler may enjoy some of these more than others!
There are two main types of sensory processing disorders. One seeks these deep pressure exercises and the other does not like them. Watch and see how your child reacts to see if they will benefit from these activities.
Weighted Blanket
A weighted blanket or compression vest can provide deep pressure for your child. You must get one that fits your child’s weight correctly. You don’t want it to be too heavy.
This kind of gentle pressure can help a lot in calming your toddler! We love to have a weighted blanket in the calm down corner of their room so they can feel comfortable while reading books.
Chair Push Ups
Chair push-ups for toddlers can provide beneficial deep pressure sensory stimulation, which is important for their development and overall well-being.
Chair push-ups involve pushing against the weight of their body, which provides proprioceptive input.
This deep pressure stimulation can help toddlers regulate their sensory systems, improving body awareness and coordination.
Massage
Gentle massages using firm but gentle pressure can be very calming for toddlers. Focus on areas like the arms, legs, back, and feet to provide soothing sensory input.
We like to do firm stroking along the back, arms, and legs. It is one of the best calming sensory activities for kids!
Bear Hugs
Here is how to give a deep pressure hug: Wrap your arms around your toddler and squeeze for a big hug.
In the moment, when a toddler may have trouble calming down, it might be a good idea to do a long hug with even some rocking or swaying to really get pressure all over and make your toddler feel more comfortable.
Simple acts of giving hugs and snuggling with your toddler can provide gentle deep pressure input, promoting feelings of security and comfort and can instantly calm children. I know it always works with my toddlers!
Make a Burrito
Have you ever rolled yourself into a blanket burrito and thought about how nice, safe, and comfortable you felt? I remember doing that as a kid all the time and loved it.
That same feeling can be replicated for a toddler who is having trouble calming down.
Next time your toddler is feeling particularly upset, stop what you’re doing and ask if they want to make a blanket burrito!

It can be a great distraction to help in an escalated moment and also put a little fun and comfort into the interaction!
Using a blanket, wrap your child as tightly as they want to form a burrito. It’s one of the top deep pressure sensory activities kids love doing time and time again.
Squishing and Squeezing
Encourage your toddler to engage in activities that involve squishing or squeezing, such as playing with stress balls, clay, or therapy putty. Lots of calming toys for kids would work great.
These activities provide deep pressure input to the hands and fingers and are great brain breaks for school.
These sensory tools can be used by occupational therapists and during panic attacks.
You will find so many great deep pressure sensory toys that all involve your child squishing or squeezing something. It is one of the great self regulation activities for toddlers they can do on their own.
Heavy Work Activities
Engage your toddler in “heavy work” activities that involve pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects. This could include pushing a toy stroller, pulling a wagon, or carrying a basket of toys.
Heavy lifting plays and important role in helping the parasympathetic activity and is a great way for young children to help with household chores as many involve heavy lifting!
Sensory Swings
Swinging on a swing is a type of movement that is instantly relaxing, but a special sensory swing provides added tactile input and is great for deep pressure touch.

If safe and appropriate, provide your toddler with access to a sensory swing or hammock. Swinging gently back and forth provides deep pressure input and can be very calming for toddlers.
I have also found it very effective in calming them down when they have high energy levels!
Deep Breathing Exercises
Teach your toddler deep breathing exercises, such as “balloon breathing” or “flower breathing.” Encourage them to take slow, deep breaths while placing gentle pressure on their abdomen.
Animal Walks
Encourage your toddler to engage in animal walks, such as bear walks (walking on hands and feet) or crab walks. These activities provide proprioceptive input to the joints and muscles.
Plus toddlers love acting like animals!
Wheelbarrow Walking
One of the deep pressure activities for the classroom is wheelbarrow walking. It helps many of the sensory systems and helps provide joint and muscle deep pressure.
It’s a great way to transition into something else and help when kids have tons of energy and need help calming down.
Therapy Ball Bouncing
If you have a yoga ball or therapy ball, it’s another one of the best deep pressure activities for toddlers to enjoy.
Bouncing on a therapy ball provides deep pressure input to the body, which can be calming and regulating for individuals, including toddlers.

This sensory input helps them become more aware of their bodies and can have a soothing effect on their nervous systems.
Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses can be great fun for toddlers but can also provide some deep pressure sensory therapy too.
Moving through an obstacle course requires toddlers to engage in various physical activities such as crawling, climbing, jumping, and pushing objects.
These activities naturally exert pressure on different parts of their bodies, providing deep pressure stimulation.
You can even make many obstacles in your course to involve activities that require toddlers to bear weight on their limbs or against surfaces.
For example, climbing over a cushion or crawling under a weighted blanket. These weight-bearing activities provide deep pressure input, which can be calming and organizing for the nervous system.
Yoga
Yoga can be huge in helping your toddler engage in some deep pressure activities! The stretching, pushing, and pulling motions can fulfill the deep pressure sensation that your toddler is looking for.
Many yoga poses require toddlers to support their own body weight, such as downward-facing dog, plank pose, or warrior pose.
These weight-bearing poses provide deep pressure input to the muscles and joints, promoting proprioception and body awareness.
Additionally, your toddler will experience the mental health boost that exercise gives you!
Swimming or Bath
Swimming is considered a deep pressure activity because it involves immersion in water, which naturally provides gentle, uniform pressure on the entire body.
Even taking a bath can provide some sensory input and have a calming effect on your kids. Try using some bath time playdough for a fun sensory activity during their bath!
Compression Fort
Young children love making forts, so you can easily make a compression fort that uses large pillows and blankets to provide a calming effect on your kid.
It is one of the fun ideas for deep pressure activities that help the vestibular system and isn’t hard to make at home either!
Deep Pressure Activities for Kids Wrap-Up
These are just some of the top deep pressure activities for toddlers and younger kids to enjoy. Anything that puts firm pressure on the body might have a positive effect on your kid, so try it out and see how relaxed your child is afterward!
