Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support
Sensory Processing Disorder Sensory Diet Activities
Children with sensory differences ... painting the world beautiful.
Sensory Processing Disorder Sensory Diet Activities
Jeanette Loftus
We receive sensory input through our senses. Most think we only have five senses but we have eight. Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, interoception, proprioception and vestibular are the eight human senses.
A sensory diet is a schedule that is planned daily of sensory activities that are just for your child's sensory needs. Just like a regular diet, a sensory diet is created to meet the sensory needs of each individual child.
A sensory diet includes a variety of different sensory activities that stimulate the senses and help children regulate their responses to the sensory input in their environments.
There are many different types of sensory activities that can be included in your child's routine each day that stimulate their eight senses.
Sensory bins are small bins filled with rice, beans, sand, or water that children can play in using their hands for a sensory tactile activity. This activity provides tactile input and can help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Swinging in a sensory therapy swing is an excellent activity for providing vestibular input. It can help children regulate their balance, body awareness, and coordination.
Messy play activities like finger painting, playing with slime, or making mud pies can provide a range of sensory input and can be fun for children. This type of play can also help with sensory integration and regulation.
Heavy work sensory activities are pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects, which provide proprioceptive input. They can help children regulate their energy levels and improve their focus and attention.
Sensory walks involves taking a walk and incorporating different sensory experiences along the way. Children can feel different textures or listen to different sounds. This activity can help with sensory exploration and regulation.
There are so many benefits of sensory activities. They can help children regulate their emotions, improve their focus and strengthen motor skills. Sensory activities can also help children develop a better understanding of their own bodies and their responses to the sensory input they receive from their environments.
Sensory diet activities are different for everyone depending on their sensory needs because everyone has different sensory needs. Some children may require more frequent activities, while others may only need them a few times a week. It is very important to work with your child's occupational therapist to determine the appropriate amount and types of sensory activities for each child.
Sensory diet activities are important for children because they can help them cope with everyday sensory challenges. Children with sensory processing disorder may struggle with different daily sensory activities such as eating or getting dressed. A planned sensory diet can help children regulate their sensory responses and make these activities easier for them.
Sensory input is so important for a child's development. When sensory activities are included into a child's daily sensory diet it can provide children with the sensory input that they need to help them regulate their responses and improve their functioning.
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