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Sensory Needs

Sensory Needs

Your children may have different sensory needs. Think about adding sensory breaks throughout your day. Children can have a variety of different sensory needs; each child's sensory needs are unique to them.
Supporting children with sensory needs can involve various activities that parents can easily incorporate into their daily routines. Here are some ideas:

 

  • Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins filled with materials like rice, beans, sand, or water. Add different textures, scoops, and toys for tactile exploration.
  • DIY Sensory Play: Make sensory materials at home, like slime, playdough, or kinetic sand, allowing children to engage their senses through touch and manipulation.
  • Quiet Spaces: Designate a quiet, calming area at home with comfortable seating, soft lighting, and sensory tools like weighted blankets or fidget toys for relaxation.
  • Sensory-Friendly Arts and Crafts: Offer arts and crafts activities using various materials like textured paper, feathers, fabrics, or stickers to engage different senses.
  • Body Movement: Incorporate activities that involve movement, such as dancing, jumping on a trampoline, swinging, or yoga, to help regulate sensory input.
  • Nature Exploration: Take walks in nature, allowing children to experience different textures, smells, and sounds. Encourage touching leaves, smelling flowers, and observing wildlife.
  • Music and Sound Activities: Introduce musical instruments, singing, or playing calming sounds like rain or ocean waves to stimulate auditory senses.
  • Cooking and Baking: Involve children in simple cooking or baking activities, allowing them to explore different textures, smells, and tastes of ingredients.
  • Sensory-friendly Games: Play games that involve sensory input, like Simon Says, sensory scavenger hunts, or obstacle courses with varied textures and challenges.
  • Visual Stimulation: Use sensory toys like kaleidoscopes, light projectors, or bubble tubes to provide visual stimulation and relaxation.

Always consider your child's specific sensory preferences and sensitivities when engaging in these activities. Some children might be sensitive to certain textures, sounds, or movements, so it's essential to observe their reactions and adjust activities accordingly. Additionally, involving children in choosing activities can help empower them and create a more enjoyable experience.

  • ​Oak National Academy - The Oak National Academy has an area dedicated to children with addition needs - this has a section that includes sensory integration. 
  • Sensory Circuits - Iain Mills is a teacher from a specialist provision that has recorded different sensory circuit videos to share with families. 
  • Autism Beds are providing families in Bedfordshire with Sensory Play Kits. 
  • Empowering Little Minds - This is a great website that has lots of different ideas, particularly sensory play activities.
  • Sensory Spectacle - This Facebook group have some live session all linked to different areas of sensory needs.