Does your child need sensory processing help?
If you have a child with ADHD or a child somewhere on the autism spectrum? It can be frustrating to know what to do for them. But if you have identified the sensory area that needs developed (touch, visual, auditory, proprioceptive, vestibular), you can then focus on your attention that area. Here are some tips on improving your child’s sensory function.
You can help by providing activities with sensory input throughout each day:
Treasure hunt: Fill a dishpan with rice or beans. Gather 20 like items, (20 crayons, 20 pennies, etc.) and place each in its own ziplock bag to be ready at all times. Create a counting board with 20 spaces and invite your child to dig deep, which provides a calming tactile sensation. Tell him to find the 20 crayons and place each one on his counting board. When he reaches the last square he will know he has found them all.
• Water play: Fill a dishpan with water, measuring cups, and spoons for your child to fill and dump. Offer straws for blowing.
• Blow bubbles: Keep a small bottle of bubbles in your bag at all times.
• Drum time: Pound palms and drum fingers on the nearest table.
• Plop time: Gather pillows into a pile, then run and plop into the pile. Walk away, then run and plop again.
• Zoo time: Gallop like a horse, hop like a frog or bunny, or walk on all fours like a puppy.
• Pounding: Use a mini trampoline or run up and down the stairs several times.
