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.
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
Sensory Sid Activity Cards
Created by an Occupational Therapy team, Sensory Sid Activities Cards are designed to improve sensory processing and regulation. Realizing that families need a simple way to help their child with sensory processing disorder we set out to create the solution.
In just 10 minutes, these cards will guide your child through a fun, well-rounded sensory diet. The activities use common household items—no fancy therapy equipment is needed! 44 large, sturdy, fully colored, and illustrated cards
Addresses four sensory categories: vestibular, tactile, active, and passive proprioception
Simple illustrations on the front
Directions and additional activity ideas, including ways to make the activity easier or harder on the back
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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