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Every day each child intakes, processes and outputs all their sensory experiences. These include every sight, sound, taste, smell, tactile sensation, head and body movement their bodies encounter throughout the day. Sometimes a child doesn't process all their sensory experiences in a coordinated and integrated behavior. There are rarely any simple solutions.
The following areas are some of the most common challenges children with sensory issues display. Click through each challenge to view resource articles and home prescriptions we recommend to our families to assist with teaching the child how to become the boss of their own body.
Rhythm Sticks for Baby's Development
The Sensory Sticks are used to promote your baby’s neuro-development (motor skills, self-soothing behavior, sleep, eating, well-being, etc…) Using the Sensory Sticks gently as described below will provide a low-level vibration to your child’s skin receptors which sends signals to your child’s brain. This low-level vibration will enhance your child’s proprioception which is the body’s awareness of its position in space. This helps your child discover how all their body parts a
3 min read
Little Heavy Bag for Positive Sensory Input
The Little Heavy Bag is a great tool for our kids needing sensory input, and those needing to "hit" something.
1 min read
Tantrums and Meltdowns Part 1: Understanding the Difference Between a Temper Tantrum and a Sensory Meltdown
When we see a child crying, kicking, screaming, and hitting, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what is going on from the child's perspective. This chart can help explain what is going on behind the outward behavior and the differences between a sensory meltdown and a tantrum. This is Part 1 in our 3 part series, be sure to follow the links below of the page for more helpful information on how to respond to a meltdown in its midst, and strategies to prevent another m
1 min read
Tantrums and Meltdowns Part 2: Strategies for Handling Sensory Meltdowns
Here are tips for how to respond to a meltdown in the midst of it. For more information about the difference between tantrums and meltdowns, and some suggested strategies for how to prevent a meltdown from occurring, see the links below.
1 min read
Tantrums and Meltdowns Part 3: How to Prevent a Meltdown from Starting
The following are strategies we recommend for preventing sensory meltdowns from occurring. These are not as effective for tantrums, please refer to our previous article for more information on the difference between the two. This is the final part in our three-part series on Meltdowns and Tantrums. Please refer to the links below for parts one and two in the series.
1 min read
Role of Swings in the Home
How can daily access of swings help the child with SPD or ASD? My philosophy/charge is to use as many resources to make the greatest amount of change in the nervous system of every child. The swing/swings in the home is an ideal place to change the child’s nervous system. There are swings for calming (compression/lycra), there are swings for excitation (trapeze bar/donut swing, etc…) and once they are set up it is super convenient to just go to the basement, family room, gara
2 min read
The Real Reason Children Fidget
Here is a short video extolling the benefits of movement for children that have issues with attention and learning. This can aid any parents when advocating for your child in public or home school.
1 min read
Compression Sheet
For all of those kids who love to be squished, hugged tight and are problematic sleepers, they may benefit from a compression sheet. It is a stretchy, thin, tight sheet that allows your child to feel that deep pressure they might receive from a weighted blanket, without the warmth or need to remove it after a certain amount of time. This sheet helps your child receive the deep proprioceptive input they are craving. They are able to roll around, push against it, yet feel ‘snug
1 min read
Short Sensory Bag
The sensory bag exercises assist with touch desensitization, discrimination and body awareness. Ideal for the childe whose body is not able to process touch input without overreacting or being overstimulated. By completing this activity once a day for 30 days, this reaction will diminish. The child's nervous system will learn how to react to new touch input without causing dysregulation by more exposure. This activity targets your child’s: Sense of touch and body awareness Cr
1 min read
The Sensory Smart Classroom
Excerpt from the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Winter 2011 Newsletter by Christina Sparker, MOT, MOTR/L and Tiffany Sparks-Keeney, MOT, OTR/L Today's savvy teachers are aware of the importance of meeting students' sensory needs in the classroom and even know various strategies to address these needs. At the same time, these teachers can often have difficulty incorporating these strategies into their every day classroom routine. In actuality, it can be very easy to in
1 min read
Why Chewing Gum HELPS!
Gum is a wonderful proprioceptive tool - I like to refer to it as the trampoline for the mouth. I encourage parents and teachers to have their children chew gum while doing homework/written work and to use gum as a tool to help with transitions especially when leaving the house. Over the years, we have found chewing gum helps: Meet oral sensory needs (i.e. licking objects, fingers/hair in the mouth) Flow of written output Ease in transitions Speed up dressing time in the morn
2 min read
The Mini-Trampoline Victory
I recently had a huge "aha moment" with one of my favorite and most recommended therapy tools, the mini-trampoline. I have been using this in the past for high quality, intense, and easily accessible proprioceptive input. I have used it over the years to help kids potty train, cease chewing on their shirts, slow down crashing into everything, improve their ability to sit for meals, help with transitions, improve visual functions and lately improve their ability to sleep at
1 min read
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