As clinicians, we understand the importance of preparation. In individual therapy, we naturally build in regulation, muscle prep, sensory input, or connection before expecting a child to engage in more complex tasks. We don’t jump straight into fine motor work without first preparing the body. We don’t expect focus without first establishing safety and rapport.
But in group settings, that intentional preparation can easily get lost.
When we’re working alongside a classroom schedule or supporting multiple children at once, it’s tempting to move straight into the activity. And that’s often where the therapeutic flow begins to unravel.
Warm-ups are what protect that flow – especially in groups.
A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
Years ago, when push-in therapy suddenly became the norm, I was working as an occupational therapist in a preschool. I was told to provide 30 minutes of pull-out therapy and 30 minutes of push-in therapy per child each week.
Push-in had many strengths. But I quickly realized something wasn’t working.
During art time, I didn’t want to interrupt the flow of the classroom. Instead of creating space for agency and dynamic engagement, I found myself giving instructions. The natural therapy flow – muscle prep, sensory preparation, grading tasks – disappeared. Children followed commands more than they explored. Individual goals weren’t truly being addressed.
There was no therapeutic process.
So I sat down with the teacher.
Instead of attaching therapy to what was already happening, we started planning together. What if the entire group prepared their muscles before fine motor tasks? What if everyone checked their chair size before sitting? What if we replaced smocks with oversized t-shirts so children could practice dressing skills independently? What if activities were intentionally graded – upgraded for some, downgraded for others – within the same group structure?
Everything changed.
The therapeutic process returned. Preparation happened.. Goals were embedded. And perhaps most importantly, the therapeutic principles continued even when I wasn’t there.
That shift from “push-in support” to intentional group structure is where the power of warm-ups became crystal clear.
Why Group Warm-Ups Are Essential in Therapy Groups
1. Group warm-up activities create Psychological Safety
Children often enter group settings unsure of what’s expected. Peer environments can be powerful, but also overwhelming.
A predictable, engaging warm-up:
- Lowers anxiety
- Creates structure
- Gives children time to observe peers before being expected to perform
Children naturally look to their peers when something feels confusing or challenging. A shared, whole-group warm-up allows that modeling to happen safely and organically.
2. Group warm-up activities restore the Therapeutic Process
Warm-ups allow you to:
- Prepare muscles before fine motor tasks
- Incorporate sensory regulation
- Embed movement and body awareness
- Prime executive functioning skills
Instead of jumping straight into a seated task, you’re building readiness. You’re creating flow. And that flow makes the rest of the session more effective.
3. Group warm-up activities allow for Natural Grading Within a Group
When everyone is participating in the same warm-up, you can:
- Upgrade for children who need more challenge
- Downgrade for children who need support
- Adjust in real time
The beauty of group work is that one structure can hold many levels – if it’s planned intentionally.
And it all starts with the warm-up.
3 Simple Warm-Ups You Can Use Tomorrow
- Freeze Dance
Play music and invite children to move freely. When the music stops, everyone freezes.
This builds inhibition, body awareness, auditory processing, and regulation – all within a joyful, shared experience. - Alphabet Circle Game
Sit in a circle. Each child says a letter of the alphabet and a word that starts with it.
This supports language retrieval, turn-taking, working memory, and peer attention. It can be simplified with visual supports or upgraded with categories. - Simon Says
Children follow instructions only if preceded by “Simon says.”
This strengthens impulse control, listening skills, motor planning, and flexible thinking – while giving you easy opportunities to grade movements up or down.
Simple activities. Powerful therapeutic impact.
If you’d like more ready-to-use ideas, I’ve created a free download with 35 Ice Breakers to Use With Kids – designed specifically for therapy groups to build regulation, connection, and engagement from the very first minutes.
– Simply fill in your details on the form above and download the free PDF.
And if you’re ready to go deeper into designing structured, effective therapy groups that embed goals, allow for grading, and maintain therapeutic flow – even when you’re not in the room – explore our Group Work Course here.
Because when warm-ups are intentional, group work becomes more than management. It becomes meaningful.