Sensory Integration Activities

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Sensory integration activities can prompt the brain to process sensory information more effectively, helping the child respond more appropriately to the environment.

The simple sensory integration activities on this page are aimed primarily at children with sensory modulation difficulties. These children may be

  • sensory seeking,
  • under responsive to sensory stimulation, or
  • over responsive to sensory stimulation. Over responsive children are sometimes described as tactile defensive or sensory defensive.

If these terms are new to you, pop over and read my information page on sensory processing disorder to get a better understanding.

Parents can make use of these simple sensory integration activities and exercises to complement occupational therapy sessions that their child may be receiving. If your child is receiving occupational therapy, please ensure you check the suitability of the activities with your child's therapist! The information on this page is not a substitute for an occupational therapy evaluation!

This page contains affiliate links (#Ad) to products similar to what I use. I may receive a commission if you purchase through my links. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything.

Creating a Safe Sensory Corner

The beauty of a “sensory corner” is that it can provide stimulation to the under-responsive child, sensory input for the sensory seeking child, and a safe retreat for the sensory defensive child. Having a safe space that can help a child deal with sensory processing issues is an important step in assisting the child to recognize strategies that work for his/her specific needs. 

There is no set recipe or instructions for making a sensory corner - you will need to discover what your child responds well to by observing your child, talking with your child, and getting feedback from therapists and teachers who are involved with your child.

You can make your sensory corner fit your budget and your resources, as well as the space you have available!

Here are a few suggestions:

Make a "Sensory Corner" by blocking off a corner of a room and using soft furnishings with a variety of textures.

A big comfy bean bag chair#Ad provides wonderful deep pressure and a snuggly effect which can be very calming.

You can also make a giant pillow or use an old mattress that can also double as a crash pad if your child wants to throw him/herself down on it!

Beanbag chair

Some children enjoy being completely secluded in a little tent or wigwam. Others, however, prefer to not be closed off, so find out what works for your child!

In a tent

Some children find a lava lamp#Ad or fish aquarium soothing to look at, and others appreciate having headphones with which they can listen to soft soothing music, or even to white noise.

Wearing headphones

Put A Sensory Box In The Sensory Corner

A "sensory box" is filled with objects that have different textures and weights, that your child can explore or fiddle with.

Playing with or touching these objects could be soothing for an overstimulated child, or calming for a child who is wound up and sensory seeking. Items in the box can also be used to help a distracted child focus on listening to a book being read or paying attention to a lesson.

Find out more about how to make your own sensory box with objects you probably already have at home!

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Heavy Work / Proprioceptive Activities

Information from the muscles and joints is called proprioception.

Proprioceptive information comes to the brain from muscles and joints which are involved in activity, especially when they are working hard. That is why they are often referred to as heavy work activities. Heavy work activities help your child to really “feel” their muscles and joints working, and the proprioceptive information sent to the brain helps your child's brain to better integrate sensory information.

If your child struggles to sit still to listen to a lesson, then try a stress ball to squeeze, chewing gum, or a special chew toy to give proprioception input before or during the lesson.

In addition, try incorporating some of the following suggestions into your child's daily routine - these are excellent sensory integration activities for kids who are always craving movement and crashing into things. They can also help stimulate a lethargic child.

  • Let your child push a trolley, sweep the yard, dig in the garden, or any other activity that lets their muscles work hard.
Pushing a trolley at the shops
Raking up the leaves
  • Jumping on a trampoline and climbing on playground equipment are also good for proprioceptive input.
Bouncing
Climbing

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Deep Pressure Activities

Giving deep pressure is a very effective way of helping an overstimulated or distressed child to calm down and reorganize his/her emotions and behavior.

Have you ever felt much better after getting a bear hug from someone you love? Deep pressure works the same way! Although it seems passive, these deep pressure ideas are great sensory integration activities.

Here are some simple ways to provide deep pressure for your child:

Let your child lie on a mat or folded blanket and pack pillows on top to make him into a pizza or sandwich. Very Important: Never cover your child's face!!

Covered with pillows and cushions

Your child may also enjoy being wrapped in a blanket or snuggling in a beanbag for some deep pressure stimulation.

Snug under a bean bag chair

The child in the photo is sitting in a snug kiddie armchair and using a hand-held massager#Ad.

The snugness of the chair helps him feel secure and the massager gives him vibration and deep pressure input.

Using a handheld massager

Weighted vests#Ad, weighted blankets and weighted lap blankets#Ad are also effective ways to give passive proprioceptive input, and many children find the deep pressure sensory support to be very helpful and calming

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Vestibular Sensory Integration Activities

Most movement activities will stimulate the vestibular system in the inner ear, which helps the body to know how it is moving and how fast it is moving.

Depending on their intensity, vestibular activities can be stimulating for an under-responsive child, or calming for a sensory seeking or over-responsive child.

vestibular activity for sensory integrationUse the slide!

Trampolines, rocking horses, swings, roundabouts or slides are all good vestibular sensory integration activities. Here are a few vestibular exercises you can try in the classroom, as well!

A child who is gravitationally insecure may fear movement and avoid escalators, elevators and playground apparatus. They need to experience very gentle, safe movement.

It will be less scary for them to move while sitting or lying down, rather than while standing up, or to try a gentle activity while being held by a parent.

Try gentle bouncing on a trampoline while lying or sitting, swinging on a very low swing, and rocking on a rocking horse.

a gentle vestibular sensory integration activityBouncing on a trampoline

Be careful not to force a fearful child to take part in an activity – be guided by your child's reactions.

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Oral-Motor Activities

Some children chew excessively on clothing, pencils and other inappropriate objects. They are usually seeking tactile and proprioceptive input through their mouths, perhaps to help themselves concentrate or to reduce anxiety.

Blowing bubbles with a straw, drinking thick milkshake/yogurt through a straw and blowing on harmonicas are simple sensory integration activities that can help meet a child's oral-motor needs.

Some kids benefit from chewing gum or eating very crunchy food, while others need to chew on something more durable like special chewy pendants.

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Helpful Books and Resources

  • No Longer A Secret #Ad is a book full of practical, easy-to-implement, sensory integration activities and tips that be can used at home and at school.
  • Max and Me #Ad is a fantastic book for kids, to help them understand how and why they may be struggling with sensory integration.
  • Check out my brief reviews of a wide range of sensory processing books - suitable for parents, teachers and therapists!
  • These related pages on my site may also be helpful for you:


Thank you for visiting my page! I hope you found these sensory integration activities to be useful!

If you want to to stay in touch with new pages and updates to my site, please sign up for my occasional newsletter!


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References

  • Miller, L.J. (2006). Sensational Kids. New York: Perigree. (revised edition 2014 by TarcherPerigree)
  • Bialer, D.S.; Miller, L.J. (2011) No Longer A Secret. Texas: Sensory World Publishing
  • Biel, L. ; Peske, N. (2009) Raising A Sensory Smart Child.  New York: Penguin Books
  • Kranowitz, C.S. (2003) The Out-Of-Sync Child Has Fun. New York: Perigree

You can view brief reviews of each book on my OT Books page.


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