Tactile Input: Touch and Feel

Support your child and their tactile experiences in these ways:

• Water play

• Sand Play

• Fill a large bin with rice, beans, dry pasta, and use tweezers, chopsticks, scoopers and digging tools such as those found at the beach

• Sand paper

• Crayon rubbings

• Play with fabrics of different weights and textures.

How to make a lap buddy for fidgeting

A lap buddy can help soothe and give fidgeters something to do! Plus, making your own lap buddy can be a fun activity and facilitate connection with a useful object!

Supplies for Weighted Lap Buddy:

• Socks (high cotton socks, like knee socks or athletic tube socks, are great), or leggings or tights

• Rice or combination rice and dry beans (about 2 pounds per buddy)

• Buttons, google eyes (something for eyes)

• Rubber bands, ribbon (for tight closure)

• Funnel (or cardboard towel roll for a chute)

• Measuring cup

• Needle and thread if using buttons, glue if using google eyes

• Lavender or geranium essential oil (optional)

Step 1: Cut leggings or tights legs off, or ready your sock (right side out)

Step 2: Tie knot in the end if you are using tights, or use a rubber band to make a tight closure if the sock is very thick add ribbon at this point for tongue if you wish

Step 3: Sew or glue on eyes

Step 4: Add drop of essential oil if using it to rice, pour rice/beans into your Buddy using funnel or chute

Step 5: Tie off end securely

Ways to Stimulate Body Awareness

Here are some ways to stimulate body awareness by using proprioceptive input while at home:

• Animal walks: Frog jump, bunny hop, snake slither, sideways monkey jumps, duck walk, bear walk, donkey kicks, penguin walk.

• Wheelbarrow walks

• Tug of war

• Hopscotch

• Heavy marching

• Jumping (two foot takeoff and landing)

• Hopping (one leg, then other leg)

• Zoom ball

• Crawling under couch cushions

• Jumping on a small trampoline

• Jumping and crashing on the bed

• Playing in a body sock

• Vacuuming

• Moving furniture

• Carrying books from one room to another

• Help wash windows, tabletop, etc

• Carrying, sorting, folding laundry

• Make a “sandwich” by firmly pressing on your child’s arms, legs, and back with pillows

• Make a “burrito” by rolling them up in a blanket

• Push a stroller or cart filled with weighted objects like groceries

• Wear a backpack filled with toyd

When Learning Is at Home

Sensory integration plays an important role in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of a child. A “sensory smart” space to learn at home provides children with many opportunities for heavy work, movement, and other calming or alerting sensory activities to improve their ability to attend and focus during school-related tasks. Here are some strategies to implement:

• Alternative Seating Positions - Have your children sit on a therapy ball/ball chair if they need to move, or if they need space by themselves, have them lie on a beanbag chair or on their tummy.

• Allow for movement breaks and schedule structured movement such as stretching and yoga positions, to reenergize your children throughout the  day.

• Organize interactive indoor/outdoor activities (Red Rover, Red Rover; hopscotch; leapfrog; parachute activities; ball games) during break times.

• Provide your “on the go” children with a weighted neck/shoulder wrap or weighted lap pad to help them stay in their seats and finish their work. (See previous blog post on making a lap buddy.)

• Heavy Work/Organizing Activities - Use these strategies as preparatory activities for desk time or at transition times throughout the day. Give children who seek out “heavy work” special jobs pushing or lifting weighted (e.g., chairs, tables, etc.) or erasing a chalkboard or dry erase board.

• Alternative Writing Utensils - Have your children use a wrist weight, or adaptive grips to provide more feedback and awareness to their hands during writing activities.

• Introduce chewy and resistive snacks (gum, granola bars, and bagels) or mouth fidgets for your children who need oral sensory input to organize themselves. 

Environmental Changes and Equipment for a Sensory Smart Learning Space:  Design a quiet area with comfortable cushions and beanbag chairs, headphones with calming music, a study table for kids.

• Minimize visual distractions by organizing materials in bins or cabinets. A natural environment with sunlight, green plants, and fish tanks, also promotes a calm learning environment.

• Add equipment to your space that will provide both calming and alerting sensory inputs, for example a rocking chair, net or hammock swing, and small exercise trampoline. 

Vestibular Input: Spin and Swing

If your child likes to spin and swing, or benefits from vestibular stimulation, here are some activities to support those endeavors:

• Rolling (like a log sideways)

• Roll up and down along your spine

• Sit and Spin. Scootering

• Swing on a playground

• Swing, stop, start, in different directions

• Seesaws

• Hanging upside down

• Toe touches

• Lie in a hammock

• Dance

• Cartwheels

• Airplane rides

• Laundry pull (sheets, blankets)