Sensory Play

🥳🥳Sensory and Toy ideas🥳🥳

Sensory information includes things you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, movement and body position. 7 Senses: -Sight (Vision) -Hearing (Auditory) -Smell (Olfactory) -Taste (Gustatory) -Touch (Tactile) -Vestibular (Movement): the movement and balance sense, which gives us information about where our head and body are in space -Oroprioception (Body Position): the body awareness sense, which tells us where our body parts are relative to each other. It also gives us information about how much force to use

❄️Sensory processing Many children with autism have difficulty processing everyday sensory information. A child's responses to sensory experiences may vary from one day to the next , and it is possible for someone to be both hyper and hyposensitive. For example, a child may severely dislike touching things with his or her hands, yet actively sensory seek with their feet.

Hypersensitive (extremely reactive to sensory stimulation) Children who are hypersensitive can have difficulty with food textures, clothing, loud noises, bright lights, the presence of too many people, unease in new environments and dislike of touch. These children are typically sensory avoiders.

Hyposensitive (extremely unreactive to sensory stimulation) Children who are hyposensitive are referred to as sensory seekers. Sensory seekers can crave sensory input in many areas such as touch, visual, auditory and physical sensations. They may have poor spacial awareness, poor balance, fidget constantly, and seek opportunities to push, pull, crash, spin, jump, swing and run. Sensory seekers can be misinterpreted as having ADHD.

🎨Sensory play Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates a child's senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight, hearing, etc. Sensory play encourages exploration and is necessary for many autistic children. Sensory play examples: -Sensory bins -Water play -Painting -Busy board -Slime or playdough

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🚲Sensory Equipment: -Sensory swing -Trampoline -Crash pad -Sensory brush -Weighted vest -Weighted blanket -Yoga ball -Music -Sensory bed -Tent

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🤯Sensory & meltdowns When a child feels overwhelmed and is unable to express why, a meltdown will likely occur. This meltdown can manifest in the form of crying, screaming, hitting, kicking, head banging, etc. The best way to combat a meltdown is to recognize triggers and adjust the situation before a meltdown occurs. Meltdowns are usually attributed to a sensory issue. Tips to calm a child down during a meltdown: -Reduce the amount of sensory in the room by turning off television is music and dimming lights. -Always remain calm, keep your speech quiet and slow -Ensure basic needs have been met, especially if your child is unable to communicate -Deep joint compressions or tight hugs -Change of scenery. Go to a quiet room or take a step outside for fresh air -Removal from overstimulating activities and situations -Give your child space if needed -Use distractions or redirect your child's attention -Reach out to your therapist for more individualized help since they know your child

🚽Sensory & potty training Many children with sensory issues have trouble learning how to potty train, this can be for a multitude of different reasons: -Feeding uncomfortable and not being able to release their muscles -Painful bowel movements -Likes the wet feeling in diaper -Dislikes wiping -Dislikes sensation of peeing/pooping while sitting on toilet -Likes to touch their feces -Doesn’t notice when their diaper is wet -Dislikes sound of toilet flushing -Dislikes sound of fan in the bathroom -Dislikes sound of automatic hand dryers in public bathrooms -Dislikes buzzing of lights -Lights are too bright -Distracted by possible bright colors, objects in the bathroom -Afraid of falling in -Difficulty sitting still because they want to be moving -Feeling unbalanced on toilet seat -Feeling overwhelmed or confused -Difficulty coordinating steps of wiping -Difficulty coordinating steps of pulling down pants, sitting on toilet, or lifting lid -Bothered by general smell of bathroom -Bothered by smell of poop or pee -Doesn’t notice the internal sensation that they need to use the bathroom -Constipation

🍽️Sensory & hunger In addition to children disliking certain textures or colors of food, it is possible for sensory issues to effect appetite in other ways. There is a lesser-known eighth sense, known as interoception. This sense helps a child understand what is going on inside of the body like hunger, thirst, feeling hot or cold, fatigue, or a full bladder. Children with autism may have difficulty making sense of this information. It is possible for a child to not understand what the feeling of hunger means, and in turn, not eat. It is suggested that interoception can be enhanced by practices such as: -Controlled or heavy breathing -Work activities involving large muscles -Yoga -Mindfulness -Activities that increase heart rate

⭐For more help navigating sensory issues, ask your therapist for a sensory profile. This is a way to measure a child's sensory processing abilities and to profile the effect of sensory processing on functional performance in their daily life. PLEASE DROP MORE IDEAS BELOW I LINKED A FEW POSTS THAT YOU CAN GET IDEAS ON WHAT TO BUY