Sensory Tools & Activities for Children with Autism
We all know the 5 senses, right? Sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing- but did you know that there are actually 8 sensory systems? The other 3 less talked about sensory systems are vestibular movement (sense of balance), proprioceptive (muscle & joint sensation), and interoceptive (internal organ sensation). These sensory systems are an important part of early childhood development. It’s how we learn to identify feelings and how we give meaning to those feelings!
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
But what happens when a person can’t interpret those sensory systems properly? That’s the case for many children with developmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder, and they often experience sensory processing challenges. These challenges can negatively impact their ability to navigate the world around them. It’s most commonly referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder, which is defined as a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. Some children may experience over-sensitivities to things like noises or textures, while others may be unresponsive to things like extreme temperatures or even pain. Similar to autism, Sensory Processing Disorder is a spectrum and varies from child to child.
How Can Sensory Tools Help?
That’s where sensory tools come in! When incorporated into daily activities thoughtfully, they can help provide the right kind of input to assist with body awareness, focus, and self-regulation. At InBloom Autism Services, we’re all about sharing knowledge and resources! That’s why our Occupational Therapists put together this list of useful tips and tools to help manage sensory needs for children with autism.
Expert Advice from Occupational Therapists with InBloom Autism Services: Jean Deprey, OTD, OTR/L, and Sara Andersen, MSOT, OTR/L
1. Animal Walks
Yes, you read that correctly… animal walks are both fun and beneficial! They incorporate heavy work that strengthens muscles while providing sensory input for the child. Plus, who doesn’t want to stomp around like an elephant?
- Transitions: These animal walks can ease transitions between activities, helping the child release some energy and regain body awareness so they are calm and focused on the next task.
- Body Awareness and Strengthening: Walking like different animals helps kids connect with their bodies while having fun. They can swing their arms like an elephant trunk or jump around like a kangaroo.
- Multi-Sensory: Try animal walks on a trampoline, off a crash pad, or incorporate them into imaginative play like stepping on “lily pads” to avoid “hot lava.”
2. Crash Pad
Does your child love jumping on the bed or couch? Consider getting a crash pad! It’s not only fun, it’s a multi-purpose tool for sensory input. You can make it interactive by turning the crash pad into a game of hide-and-seek or wrapping the child like a burrito for deep-pressure input. Here’s how it can help your child:
- Vestibular Input: Rolling back and forth on the crash pad helps increase strength, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. It can also help to wake up a sleepy child.
- Proprioceptive Input: Deep pressure activities like laying under a crash pad while working on a puzzle can have a calming effect for many children and is a way to self-soothe.
- Heavy Work: Pushing the pad gives the child a sense of accomplishment and can calm the body through proprioceptive input which helps activate their muscles and joints to improve coordination and responsiveness.
- Scheduled Play: Set clear start and stop points, such as five crashes before transitioning to another activity. This helps create predictability and structure for the child.
3. Inflatable Disks
Inflatable disks offer a variety of benefits! They can support motor development and sensory integration for children with autism and other developmental conditions:
- Body Awareness: Inflatables provide extra feedback through tactile input to the child’s muscles and joints, helping with balance and posture. It also offers additional feedback to increase body awareness during various activities.
- Toe-Walking Reduction: Standing on an inflatable challenges toe-walking, which is common in children with autism. The disk encourages the use of the full foot for stability.
- Core Strength: Activities like standing on an inflatable while playing catch help strengthen the core.
4. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are not just good for exercising, they’re also great and versatile tools for sensory engagement. Here are some benefits and ways to use them with your child:
- Body Awareness and Alertness: Using resistance bands under chairs for them to kick during seated activities increases proprioceptive input, keeping children focused and engaged.
- Creative Play and Strengthening: Wrap the bands around legs or arms during a bear crawl, or hop like a frog while holding onto the bands.
- Motor Planning: Form letters or shapes with the bands for extra coordination challenges.
5. Weighted Items
Remember when the world was introduced to weighted blankets and they were all the craze? Well, there’s a reason- they work! Weighted items, such as blankets, vests, or lap pads are excellent for calming overstimulation and helping with body awareness:
- Calming Effects: Proprioceptive input from weighted items helps calm the nervous system, especially after high-energy activities.
- Body Awareness: Weighted lap pads or vests can be used at a desk to improve focus or after an overwhelming activity to calm down.
- Preventative Use: Regular incorporation of weighted items can prevent meltdowns by helping children regulate their sensory input.
6. Swings
Swings are a favorite tool to stimulate the vestibular senses and can be tailored to be either calming or alerting. So whether you have a swing at home or visit the local park, here are some benefits of this popular activity:
- Balance and Coordination: Swinging can help improve balance and body awareness.
- Changing Energy Levels: Gentle, rhythmic swinging can calm children who are overstimulated, while faster, sporadic movement can energize those who need alerting.
- Play Opportunities: Incorporating games like throwing rings onto cones or kicking a ball while swinging adds an element of fun while providing sensory input.
7. Sensory Bins
Looking for an activity that your child can do while sitting or standing at a desk? We recommend sensory bins! They are fantastic for exploration, development, and socialization:
- Multi-Sensory Exploration: Kids can engage their sight, touch, smell, and even taste (if using edibles) in a controlled and calming way.
- Fine Motor Development: Activities like scooping, pouring, and using clothespins in sensory bins enhance fine motor skills and help them practice daily living skills. (using spoon, fork, cup, etc.)
- Social Skills: Playing with others through sensory bins encourages turn-taking, sharing, and imaginative play.
- Communication Skills: Talk about what you are doing. A lot of our children like to pour things so encourage them to say or use their AAC device to say “pour” before doing it.
8. Straws
We’re bringing back the fun straws! That’s right, straws provide an effective and playful way to encourage calming breathwork:
- Proprioceptive Input: Drinking thick liquids like yogurt through a straw gives deep feedback which means it increases resistance in the mouth, making it work harder. This helps keep their mouth engaged which in turn can help regulate the child.
- Breathing Techniques: Practicing breathing out through a straw can assist with regulating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing anxiety and promoting calm.
- Engaged Learning: Have fun with activities like blowing items off a table, blowing soap bubbles, or other activities that can help turn sensory regulation into a game.
When to be Cautious with Sensory Input
While sensory tools and activities can be beneficial, it’s important to monitor your child for signs of overstimulation. This can include nausea or increased risky behavior that may be unsafe for the child. Remember, activities that provide intense input to the muscles and joints can be particularly helpful to restore balance after vestibular input, or after tactile activities that challenge sensory defensiveness like touching something they don’t like the feeling of. So if your child is experiencing a new item or activity they are not completely comfortable with yet, you can help them refocus or self-soothe with a few minutes of animal walks or squeezes with the crash pad.
Key Takeaways for Parents
Sensory regulation is a key part of helping kids with autism feel comfortable in their environment. Tools like crash pads, swings, and weighted items, when used with care, can make a huge difference in a child’s ability to focus, self-regulate, and positively engage with the world around them! These are just a few recommendations from our Occupational Therapy experts at InBloom Autism Services, but remember- every child is unique, so incorporate different options into your child’s daily routines to see what helps them best with sensory management. To learn more about our ABA services for children with autism, visit our website or give us a call at 888-754-0398. You can count on InBloom’s team of experts to help guide your child and your family every step of the way!
InBloom Autism Services specializes in early intervention ABA Therapy. Our certified therapists undergo training to implement teaching programs specifically designed for children aged 5 and under with autism. Our Learning Centers also offer a safe and enjoyable environment for children to interact and practice social skills with their peers. Find a Learning Center near you!
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