Sensory Regulation Sensory regulation ideas and activities Hello

Sensory Regulation

Sensory regulation ideas and activities Hello – unfortunately I can only share this virtually. I hope we are able to talk in the future regarding the ideas in here. If you don’t need any background information please see ideas from pages 9 onwards. Best wishes – Claire Goodson, Maple teacher.

What is Sensory Regulation? • It is the process in which the brain takes in and interprets information about the body and its surroundings. • This information is then used to control and organise the body. • Sensory regulation refers to the way the nervous system receives sensory messages and turns them into responses.

Sensory Integration • Sensory Integration is an approach that involves controlling sensory stimulation. • Introducing a ‘sensory diet’ usually involves activities that provide Tactile (touch), Proprioceptive (body position sense) & Vestibular (body movement sense) as stimulation. • Incorporating a sensory diet into a childs timetable is an approach to treating children with poor sensory integrative function. • Sensory Integration can also be referred to as SID (Sensory Integration Dysfunction) Introduction to Sensory Integration by Claire Goodson 4

Why sensory regulation is important • It can improve a child’s sensory processing and increase confidence, self-esteem, social participation, self-regulation, and overall skill development. • Sensory regulation can help children simply be children, playing alongside friends, and fully enjoying their young lives, while learning to respond to their sensory environment. Introduction to Sensory regulation by Claire Goodson 5

Sensory cup analogy Argh! Over responsive) Low threshold – don’t need much input to fill their cup Bubbling behaviours Just right High threshold – need more input to fill their cup Unaware (under responsive) Introduction to Sensory regulation by Claire Goodson 6

Introduction to Sensory regulation by Claire Goodson 7

Southgate – moving forward 2020 - 2021 Introduction to Sensory regulation by Claire Goodson 8

Resistive input obtained through heavy work activities are generally organising and can improve attention, arousal level, body awareness and muscle tone, as well as decreasing defensiveness. • Whole body actions involving pushing, pulling, lifting, playing and moving • Oral actions such as chewing, sucking, and blowing • Use of hands for squeezing, pinching, or ‘fidgeting’

Gross Motor Activities using weight: • • • Carrying heavy objects /rucksack Wearing a weighted vest or hat Wearing wrist or ankle weights Using a weighted lap pad or blanket Swimming with or without swim weights

Gross Motor Activities pushing or pulling objects and activities • • Toy pram/ truck Tug of war rope. Thera-Band. Putty/ dough on a desk Vacuum cleaner. Using a wheelbarrow Mop/ sweep floor Wrestling Riding bikes/ scooters Pushing/ pulling self on a scooter board

Gross Motor Activities jumping and bouncing on/with items, such as: • • Trampoline An old mattress On a therapy ball Rocking toys Horseback riding Jumping bag races Lizard crawl (belly on floor, push self with elbows) Climbing/ hanging on things

Gross Motor ‘sandwich/ squishing’ activities • Make a child sandwich between floor pillows or cushions • Bear hugs • Firm towel dry after baths/ wrap up tightly • Roll a giant gym ball on top of them while they lay on floor

Big ball ideas • • Bounce – sitting or standing (extension – count bounces) Roll back and forth Person to roll whole body over the ball Lean on the ball (sandwich ball against wall)

Fine motor activities: • Chalk and chalkboard • Washing windows • Paint with water on side of house Resistive surfaces such as : • chalk on driveway • Colour pictures taped over sandpaper • Use sanding block to sand wood project • Brush the family dog Use weighted pens, pencils or utensils Cooking – stirring, pressing, kneading Sand water play. Rice, shaving cream etc and put toys in there to encourage exploration.

Outdoor painting activity This activity is great for proprioceptive feedback in the shoulder muscles/ joints

Use resistive toys or tools: • • • Spray bottles/ garden hose Play Doh factory presses and moulds Rolling pins Bingo dabbers Paper punches

Clapping games Improves proprioceptive feedback in muscles/ joints Can dampen down or enliven depending on the child

Stamping activities/ games Improves proprioceptive feedback in muscles and joints Will dampen down or enliven senses depending on the child

Play tents and tunnels • Crawl through them • Place different textured objects or carpet squares inside • Shake the tunnel up (earthquake) while children inside • Use play tents as a safe haven who are overwhelmed by sensory stimuli or as a sensory controlled environment for napping, resting or reading. (place soft pillows, blankets, relaxing music, stress balls, lava lamps etc. inside)

Using a scrub mitten Great to wake up the senses for a child who is not as active. Scrub UP the arm towards the joint where major stability is required.

Massagers, Vibrating Toys and Products: Vibration is an essential tool when doing sensory integration activities and regulation. They can be used in many ways to calm or stimulate. Vibration is a critical sensation which, for some, may take months or years to tolerate. • • Vibrating pillows and mattresses for calming Handheld fun animal massagers Massaging chairs and recliners Vibrating toothbrushes

Feathers • Great to wake up the senses for a child who is not as active. Move feather UP the arm towards the joint where major stability is required.

For feeding and washing – always dab! Dabbing a childs face during washing/ after eating improves their sensory perception of where there mouth is.

Apply thumb pressure on chin (use other hand to support the back of their head) This improves swallow and lip closure.

Oral Motor Activities: Chewy foods such as: • • • Dried fruit Liquorice Bagels Cheese Granola bars gum

Resistive sucking using items such as: • • • Through thin curly straws/ krazy straws Sports bottle with long straw Lollipops Popsicles Drink milkshake with a straw