OT Tips
Summer Sensory Development
As the school year ends, it’s important to continue fostering sensory experiences for our children over the summer. Sensory processing opportunities are abundant during this time, offering unique chances for our elementary and middle school students to explore, learn and develop in fun and engaging ways. By incorporating sensory experiences into your child’s summer routine, you can help promote their sensory development, regulate their nervous system and ensure a summer filled with exploration, growth and joy.
1. Outdoor Adventures: Encourage your child to explore the great outdoors! Nature provides an array of sensory experiences such as feeling different textures like grass, sand and rocks under their feet, hearing the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind, and experiencing the varying temperatures and smells of the environment. Take trips to parks, beaches and hiking trails to immerse your child in these sensory-rich experiences.
2. Water Play: Water play is not only refreshing but also an excellent sensory activity. Whether it’s swimming, playing in a sprinkler or simply splashing in a kiddie
pool, water activities provide opportunities for tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular input. Water play can help regulate your child’s sensory system and promote relaxation and fun at the same time.
3. Sensory-Friendly Events: Look out for sensory-friendly events in your community. Many local organizations and businesses host sensory-friendly movie screenings, museum days and other activities designed specifically for children with sensory processing differences. These events often feature reduced lighting and noise levels, providing a comfortable environment for children who may be sensitive to sensory stimuli.
4. Gardening and Planting: Engage your child in gardening activities to stimulate their senses and foster a connection with nature. Planting seeds, watering plants and harvesting fruits and vegetables provide opportunities for tactile exploration, visual stimulation, and olfactory experiences. Gardening also promotes fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and a sense of responsibility.
5. Sensory-Friendly Crafts: Get creative with sensory-friendly crafts that engage multiple senses. Activities such as finger painting, playing with kinetic sand and making DIY sensory bottles allow children to explore different textures, colors and materials while enhancing their fine motor skills and creativity. Pinterest and educational websites offer a plethora of ideas for sensory-friendly crafts suitable for all ages.
Summer Sensory Activities Archives - The Chaos and the Clutter
Summer Sensory Activities
Sand, sun, wind and water are all part of the summer months. They are also all amazing sensory experiences. This is a great time of year to enjoy many different types of sensory input. Many times, the best type of sensory experience is messy so now that the weather is warm, it is time to go outside and have some fun.
If the beach is overwhelming, try using a container of sand to allow your child to become more comfortable with how it feels. Swimming in the ocean or the pool is a fantastic way to cool off and it provides resistance that can improve overall strength. It can also help to regulate your sensory system with all that proprioceptive input. Being still and taking time to feel the warmth of the sun on your face, or the cooler night air while listening to wildlife is a way to help to quiet your sensory system and bring overall calm. The smell of an outdoor fire and the taste of sticky, sweet, melted marshmallows is a summer sensory experience for everyone to try. Learn 17 Cool Summer Sensory Activities That Help Kids.
The Holiday Season and the Sensory System
The holidays are upon us. This season brings with it an abundance of sensory input. The lights, the smell and taste of unfamiliar food, the hugs from relatives and friends, the sounds of holiday songs or the many voices of large gatherings may be a part of your holiday traditions. Some of these sensory experiences are welcome, some are tolerable, and some go so far as to send a sensitive sensory system into overload. At the point of sensory overload, some children may overreact, and some may shut down. It is difficult for a child to regulate his/her responses to sensory input especially during times when there are changes in typical family routines.
If new foods can be difficult, prepare a trial meal so Thanksgiving dinner will not be the first time your child is exposed to the smells and tastes of the meal.
If lights, sounds and touch can be difficult, there are some things you can do to prepare your child. Plan time in a sensory limited environment. For example, resting in a quiet, dark room with a weighted blanket. This can help by decreasing all forms of sensory input which will help to regulate the sensory system. You may want to do this before the gathering. It can also be helpful after all the fun, to help your child return to a place of calm.
Making a plan with your child on how to take a break during a holiday gathering can also be helpful. Let them know if they need a break, to ask and you will be able to help them find a quiet place to settle their sensory system. For more information about the sensory system, watch this short video. What is Sensory Processing?
Food for Thought: What do ice cream sundaes and sensory processing have in common?
We all have our preferences and make choices about what to add to our ice cream for the perfect sundae. Some people may prefer chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, while others may choose vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream. Similarly, we all have individual sensory preferences that help us to remain regulated so that we may participate in our daily activities. Every time we make a sundae, we do not necessarily make it the same way. When it comes to seeking and/or avoiding certain types of sensory input, that also may shift and change.
An Ice cream sundae has many choices just like the choices of sensory input:
- Proprioception: Sense of deep pressure - jumping, weighted blanket
- Vestibular: Sense of movement - swinging, spinning
- Auditory: Sense of hearing - music, silence, alarm
- Visual: Sense of sight - lighting, colors
- Tactile: Sense of touch - fidgets, putty, different textures
- Olfactory: Sense of smell - aromatherapy, food
We all seek out or avoid different types of sensory input regularly throughout our day. Sensory strategies are things we can use or do to provide comfort, stimulation, or minimize sensory information. Sensory integration happens when our sensory system is regulated and supports our emotional and behavioral regulation. It is helpful to recognize the role that our sensory system plays in our overall ability to participate in our daily activities
OT Transitioning Tips
As we transition from the winter months to spring, it gives us a chance to think about switching from one thing to another. Transitions can be difficult for children. Ending one thing and beginning something different requires the ability to stop and shift. When a child is doing something they prefer, it can be much more difficult when they need to change over to something they do not like to do.
To help them with this, we can provide them with some strategies. For example, providing your child with clear expectations prior to asking them to shift will give them time to process what is coming next. Sometimes using a timer is helpful to give them a visual representation of time passing.
Having them picture themselves making the shift can also help. For example, when it is time to transition from a device to dinner, ask your child to describe what they need to do. For example, your child can say, “I will start by exiting my game, and I should then shut down the device.” Envisioning these steps may help them to make the shift with more ease.
Quick Tips for Transitioning:
- Set clear, concise expectations ahead of time
- Help child visualize transition by having them tell you what they will do
- Set a timer 5-10 minutes before transitioning and allow child to watch time pass