Proprioception Fun
Jump on a mini-trampoline, play hopscotch, vacuum, carry books from one room to another, help wash windows or a tabletop.
Grocery Cart
A great walk to incorporate heavy work into a daily task is to allow your child to push the cart when in the store. It not only helps them learn body awareness and environmental awareness, but it works wonders for the sensory system toO!
Animal Walks
These are fun ways to walk that incoporate the sensory system and helps with modulation and awareness:
Frog Jump: Come to a full squat position with the hands on the floor outside of the knees. Jump forward, landing in the same position.
Puppy Run: Run forward with both hands and both feet on the floor.
Mule Kick From a squatting position with the hands on the floor outside the knees, shift the body weight forward to the hands and kick both legs backward.
Rooster Walk Strut forward with the knees stiff and the hands at the side of the chest. Wiggle the elbows like flapping wings.
Bunny Hop From a squat position with the hands on the floor, place the weight on the hands and hop forward with the legs; move the hands forward and repeat.
Ostrich Walk Bend forward at the waist and grab the ankles. Keep the knees stiff and walk forward moving the head in and out.
Birds Stand on the toes and wave outstretched arms slowly up and down. As the "wings" flap faster, run faster.
Galloping Horses Gallop forward placing both hands in front as if holding the horse's reins.
Seal Walk. From a position flat on the flor, push the upper body off the floor with the arms. Proceed forward dragging the legs behind.
Bear Walk. Bend over at the waist and touch the floor with the hands. Keeping the legs and arms stiff and the head up, walk forward in a crosslateral fashion (left leg, right arm, and so forth).
Found on: http://www.keystoneblind.org
Frog Jump: Come to a full squat position with the hands on the floor outside of the knees. Jump forward, landing in the same position.
Puppy Run: Run forward with both hands and both feet on the floor.
Mule Kick From a squatting position with the hands on the floor outside the knees, shift the body weight forward to the hands and kick both legs backward.
Rooster Walk Strut forward with the knees stiff and the hands at the side of the chest. Wiggle the elbows like flapping wings.
Bunny Hop From a squat position with the hands on the floor, place the weight on the hands and hop forward with the legs; move the hands forward and repeat.
Ostrich Walk Bend forward at the waist and grab the ankles. Keep the knees stiff and walk forward moving the head in and out.
Birds Stand on the toes and wave outstretched arms slowly up and down. As the "wings" flap faster, run faster.
Galloping Horses Gallop forward placing both hands in front as if holding the horse's reins.
Seal Walk. From a position flat on the flor, push the upper body off the floor with the arms. Proceed forward dragging the legs behind.
Bear Walk. Bend over at the waist and touch the floor with the hands. Keeping the legs and arms stiff and the head up, walk forward in a crosslateral fashion (left leg, right arm, and so forth).
Found on: http://www.keystoneblind.org
Taco
Taco
Child is rolled in blankets and rolled around on the floor.
This provides deep pressure input.
* Activities should be monitored by an adult to ensure safety.
Child is rolled in blankets and rolled around on the floor.
This provides deep pressure input.
* Activities should be monitored by an adult to ensure safety.
Chair Push Ups
Chair Push Ups
While seated in the chair, the child lifts body up and down using arms to support themselves.
* All activities should be monitored by an adult for safety.
While seated in the chair, the child lifts body up and down using arms to support themselves.
* All activities should be monitored by an adult for safety.
Basic Sensory Definition
Depending on where you read, sensory integration, sensory modulation and sensory diets can become overwhelming and confusing. Basically, the body has sensory systems and those sensory systems can become off kilter resulting in disruptive or undesired behaviors. These behaviors may appear lethargic, over-stimulated, hyper, sleep, under-stimulated, etc.
When looking at the sensory system, there are several sensory systems that may need modulating (balancing). Here are basic definitions of them:
Proprioception
Proprioceptive input (sensations from joints, muscles and connective tissues that lead to body awareness) can be obtained by lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects as well as by engaging in activities that compress (push together) or distract (pull apart) the joints.
Vestibular
Vestibular input (the sense of movement, centered in the inner ear) can be obtained by spinning and swinging, and to a lesser extent, any type of movement. This systems is closely related to a child's body to tolerate gravity and its pull.
Tactile
Tactile input is the sense of touch and includes texture, temperature, pressure, pain, etc.
Auditory
Auditory input is what we hear.
Visual
Visual input is what we see.
Olfactory/Smell
What we smell...
Taste
Influenced by the sense of smell, this is what is taste.
Ultimately, when looking at child's needs, a parent or teacher should seek the expert advice of a trained OT for sensory evaluation and treatment. However, that can be much easier said than done. This blog will serve as a resource for activities that you as the parent or teacher can get started until you can find an OT.
When looking at the sensory system, there are several sensory systems that may need modulating (balancing). Here are basic definitions of them:
Proprioception
Proprioceptive input (sensations from joints, muscles and connective tissues that lead to body awareness) can be obtained by lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects as well as by engaging in activities that compress (push together) or distract (pull apart) the joints.
Vestibular
Vestibular input (the sense of movement, centered in the inner ear) can be obtained by spinning and swinging, and to a lesser extent, any type of movement. This systems is closely related to a child's body to tolerate gravity and its pull.
Tactile
Tactile input is the sense of touch and includes texture, temperature, pressure, pain, etc.
Auditory
Auditory input is what we hear.
Visual
Visual input is what we see.
Olfactory/Smell
What we smell...
Taste
Influenced by the sense of smell, this is what is taste.
Ultimately, when looking at child's needs, a parent or teacher should seek the expert advice of a trained OT for sensory evaluation and treatment. However, that can be much easier said than done. This blog will serve as a resource for activities that you as the parent or teacher can get started until you can find an OT.
Introduction
This is the first post in the blog designed to provide fun solutions to meet the sensory needs of your child or student.
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