Sensory Calming Activities 







Sensory Calming Activities provide sensory input and they help your child stay calm, self regulate and be less fidgety. These sensory calming activities will also reduce
your child's stress and anxiety too.

Children with Sensory Processing Disorder should have sensory breaks throughout the day to fill their sensory diet. Sensory calming activities will also help your child when they are feeling restless, anger and frustration. Sensory calming activities can also be helpful to prevent meltdowns.













1. Do stretches

2. Use fidgets

3. Listen to music

4. Do some yoga

5. Sing ABC's

6. Kaleidoscopes

7. Go for a walk

8. Ask for a hug

9. Chew gum

10. Chew on a chew toy

11. Hum or sing a song

12. Use a weighted snake or weighted animal

13. Wear noise reduction headphones

14. Use a weighted or a compression vest
 
15. Use stretchy resistance bands

16. Use a sensory cuddle swing

17. Pudding play
 
18. Play an instrument and make music

19. Crawl through a sensory lycra tunnel

20. Use a yoga ball or peanut ball

21. Listen to an audiobook

22. Draw on a chalkboard and clean it 

23. Do a maze or dot to dot puzzle

24. Read a book

25. Tossing/catching weighted ball 

26. Do some deep breathing exercises

27. Rub some lotion on

28. Deep pressure massage

29 Wilbarger brushing technique

30. Wear sunglasses

31. Write in a journal

32. Color a picture in a coloring book

33. Draw a picture

34. Write a short story

35. Take an Epsom salt bath

36. Use essential oils

37. Suck on candies

38. Diffuse essential oils

39. Bounce a ball

40. Cuddle a pet

41. Stringing fine motor beads

42. Go to a quiet sensory space

43. Use a ball tent 

44. Count slowly forward and backwards

45. Have a bubble bath

46. Wrap up in a soft warm blanket

47. Wash hands with scented soap and warm water

48. Close your eyes

49. Meditate
 
50. Blow on a feather

51. Play with shadow puppets

52. Focus on what you see, smell, hear, taste and touch 

53. Do mindful activities

54. Play with Floam

55. Brush your hair

56. Playing with clay

57. Do heavy work activities

58. Use a sensory calm down bottle

59. Play in a dry beans sensory bin

60. Build with blocks or building toys

61. Crawl through boxes

62. Glow sticks in the bath

63. Rip up tissue paper

64. Make silly faces in the mirror

65. Blow pom poms around using a straw

66. Drink a milkshake or smoothie through a straw

67. Push against a wall

68. Use each hand drawing figure 8's
 
69. Look at a liquid sensory timer

70.  Lay in a bed with a compression sheet

71. Use bath time crayons and paints 

72. Play with jello





73. Sit on an Ergo Ergo seat

74. Play with silly putty

75. Squeeze a stress ball

76. Pop bubble wrap

77. Make and play with slime

78. Play with a water beads sensory bin
 
79. Create art with Wikki Stix

80. Squishing between couch pillows/cushions 

81. Look at pictures in an album or magazine

82. Blow on a pinwheel

83. Play with whip cream 

84. Lay on a bean bag chair

85. Play with play-doh

86. Use a weighted blanket or lap pad

87. Squeeze or hug a stuffie or toy

88. Wear an eye mask

89. Suck on ice

90. Take a shower

91. Blow bubbles in a cup of water

92. Joint compressions

93. Listen to nature sounds outside or a CD/App

94. Use a mini massager

95. Climb into a body sock

96. Play I spy 

97. Play a one player board game

98. Make a craft

99. Trace your hands with your finger

100. Blow Bubbles

101. Smell scratch and sniff stickers

102. Read with a flashlight

103. Hug someone

104. Sit in a sensory tent
 
105. Doodle on paper or whiteboard

106. Play n a sand box or sensory sand table
 
107. Relax on pillows

108. Do exercises
 
109. Go swimming

110. Play with Kinetic Sand

111. Sway back and forth on a sensory platform swing

112. Give yourself a hug

113. Play with water toys in a water table

 114. Use a scooter board
 
115. Sit on a sensory Wiggle Seat air cushion

 116. Use a vibration cushion
 
117. Balance on a balance board

118. Visual calming cards

119. Slowly roll small ball over skin

120. Paint a picture or use finger paints

121. Watching a snow globe

122. Playing with rice bins

123. Roll up in a blanket burrito
 
124. Lifting mini light weights

125. Toss bean bags

126.  Play in a cooked or dry pasta bin

127. Watch a sensory bubble tube 

128. Play with sensory bubbles 

129. Talk about feelings and emotions

130. Cat's cradle 

131. Use a sensory projection light 

132. Cuddle with a super soft blanket

133. Rocking in a rocking chair

134. Carrying a weighted backpack 

135. Eating a crunchy food snack (pretzels, carrots. granola)

136. Wear a weighted back pack 

137. Write a letter

138. Blow up a balloon
 
139. Use a fiberoptic sensory light 
 
140. Use a lava lamp 

142. Use a huggable massager 

143. Play on soft play soft toys 

144. Climb on playground climbing tower 

145. Spin on a spin toy 













DISCLAIMER: I am not an Occupational Therapist. I am an adult who has Sensory Processing Disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists give you. These are just ideas and information that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for suggestions and informational purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different needs. Please always consult with a professional.

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