10 Sensory Strategies for a Busy Household
Sensory Diets, nothing with word diet can ever be a good thing, right? I propose a new name, perhaps sensory schedule, sensory slots, sensory seconds. Catchier and sounds less depriving right?
The term sensory diets are often bandied about on Autism blogs and Facebook pages but realistically they are, in my experience, very hard to implement in the long-term. I once had a therapist suggest regular deep pressure massages morning and night. Wouldn’t we all love that? But in the real world the bedtime routine is a success for our family if the kids have gone to bed happy, feeling loved and having sweet dreams by 8pm (thanks Melatonin). Nowhere amongst the overflowing bath, the battle to find the seamless socks or the dripping wet nudie runs around the house is there time for a lovely, relaxing, essential oil infused massage, unless it’s a good day.
After countless sensory diets for both my kids the one thing that has actually stuck and is much more practical, are the sensory strategies that are built into our existing, every day, crazy family life routine. Ours are mostly based around heavy work activities as this engages a sense called proprioception. As well as oral motor sensory activities. Have a chat with an OT about ones specifically targeting your child’s sensory profile.
These are our top 10!
• Help bring in the groceries
• Help pack away groceries (items like cans work well)
• Pack away books
• Carry the washing basket to and from the clothesline
• Help carry the rubbish to the bin
• Drink thick drinks like smoothies through a straw, we love curly straws!
• Push a sibling or friend on a swing
• Kneading or stirring the kitchen (dough is a good one!)
• Include crunchy foods with each meal
• Blow up balloons (anytime is a good time for a impromptu party right?)
We have found these types of activities can calm our kids, provide sensory input into their arms and joints as well as help increase attention and awareness – win!
We have put together some videos that show some of these tips in action, as well as some fun play-based ones!
Check it out our YouTube channel for more: