Your Kids OT
  • HOME
    • Telehealth OT
    • Wheel Decide
    • YKOT You-Tube Library
    • Direct Therapy Services
  • Blog
    • Articles >
      • Activities of Daily Living
      • Technology for OT
      • Bilateral Coordination
      • Cognition and Concepts
      • Executive Functioning
      • Fine Motor Skills
      • Gross Motor Skills
      • Handwriting and Writing
      • Homemade >
        • Arts and Craft
        • Kids in the Kitchen
        • Christmas
      • Play
      • Sensory Modulation Skills
      • Social Emotional Learning and Regulation
      • Visual Perceptual Skills
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact >
      • Contact
      • eNewsletter Subscription
  • HOME
    • Telehealth OT
    • Wheel Decide
    • YKOT You-Tube Library
    • Direct Therapy Services
  • Blog
    • Articles >
      • Activities of Daily Living
      • Technology for OT
      • Bilateral Coordination
      • Cognition and Concepts
      • Executive Functioning
      • Fine Motor Skills
      • Gross Motor Skills
      • Handwriting and Writing
      • Homemade >
        • Arts and Craft
        • Kids in the Kitchen
        • Christmas
      • Play
      • Sensory Modulation Skills
      • Social Emotional Learning and Regulation
      • Visual Perceptual Skills
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact >
      • Contact
      • eNewsletter Subscription

A Sensory Diet...nothing to do with food!

29/7/2014

 
A "sensory diet" is related to activities that a child performs through the day to help them to "modulate" their bodies - so not food related at all!   Think about some of the activities you do to relax - do you go for a jog? soak in a hot bath? go for a massage? drink a warm drink?

Understanding terminology around "sensory processing" can be confusing.  Start here if you are new to my website with some information about how we all process information with our senses.  

Broadly speaking some kids have difficulty coping with the sensory information they receive in their daily lives (visual, auditory, vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, taste, etc).  Some kids can be sensory seeking and others sensory avoiders of any of the body's senses (and even at the same time). 
Picture

​Proprioception: Heavy Work
Activities where the body has input to the muscles and joints.  This may involve lifting, pushing, pulling objects and a child's own body weight. {Read more here}.
A “sensory diet" aims to help a child level it all out and cope.  Different authors describe this in different ways.... "modulating" or "regulating" or "getting their engines ready", etc.  If you are concerned that your child may have a sensory processing disorder, contact an Occupational Therapist for an assessment.  The assessment typically involves an interview and questionnaire completed by parents and teachers as well as observation of your child.

The following are examples of activities that may be included in a "sensory diet" in a home environment where specialised equipment may not be available.  These activities are generally suitable for all children, however, professional advice should be obtained if you are uncertain (particularly with the vestibular system) about which activities or combination of activities to try.  Consideration should also be made regarding your child's age and cognitive abilities.  The activities have been categorised but also be aware that all the sensory systems are connected so one system may affect another. 

After trialing the activities with your child, make note of the affect of the activities. Does it calm your child, arouse them, over arouse them? Use this resource to help work out which activities work for your child. ——->Activities for me!

There are over 100 activities that I have put together here so if you are overwhelmed don't feel like you need to try them all today.

Two great resources now available so you can print out activity suggestions! This are practical resources for parents, teachers and therapists!   

Read more about the Sensory diet  activity reference sheet (similar to the activities listed here) and a more detailed Sensory Diet Activity Guidebook (includes explanations about each sensory system and activity suggestions)!


Picture
Picture


Activities for a sensory diet...

Proprioception: Whole body
  • Jumping on the trampoline
  • Leapfrog over another child
  • Jumping from one stepping stone to another
  • Jumping off the stairs onto the floor
  • Jumping from a bench onto the grass
  • Swinging on monkey bars
  • Swinging on overhead flying fox
  • Pulling wet clothes from the washing machine
  • Pulling dry clothes from the dryer
  • Tug-of-war pulling on a rope
  • Pulling against a towel (someone else holding on)
  • Hopscotch
  • Animal walking (crab, bear, snake, etc) forward or backward
  • Wheelbarrows on hands with someone else holding legs
  • Commando crawling
  • Stamping feet
  • Running (forward or backward)
  • Crawling on knees (forward or backward)
Picture
Picture
  • Wiping clean a whiteboard
  • Lifting school chairs onto the table
  • Wrapped up in a blanket or towel and be squeezed (standing or on the floor)
  • Squeezed between pillows or mattresses (standing or on the floor).
  • Using a weighted blanket or weighted vest
  • Massaged by someone else
  • Bear hug from someone else
  • Hiding under blankets on bed
  • Hiding in small spaces
  • Squashing under therapy ball
  • Carrying shopping bags
  • Carrying heavy books
  • Carrying a backpack with a phone book inside
  • Carrying beanbags on head 
  • Carrying sand or water in a bucket
  • Carry furniture around the house (size appropriate)
  • Throwing and catching therapy ball
  • Digging dirt or sand with a spade
  • Pull rubbish bins to.from the kerb
  • Pushing a therapy ball up and down a wall
  • Pushing furniture
  • Pushing against a wall
  • Chair push-ups (lift whole body up from a chair with arms straight)
  • Pushing wheelbarrow full of leaves (kid size for young kids)
  • Pushing a box full of toys
  • Pushing or pulling a stroller, wagon, shopping trolley
  • Pushing hands against a grown up who pushes back
  • On the floor, pushing feet against a grown up pushing their feet back (cycling motion)
  • On the floor, cycling own feet in the air
  • Push-ups on the floor
  • Climbing up a slide
  • Climbing over furniture or pillows
  • Climbing up a ladder (suitable for child)
  • Child-safe rock climbing or climbing on nets at the park
  • Stirring a pot of food 
  • Vacuum the floor
  • Wipe the table
  • Clean the windows
Picture
Proprioception: Hands and Fingers
  • Squeeze wet sponge
  • Squeeze soft toy
  • Squeeze theraputty or playdough
  • Squeeze bath toy
  • Squeeze a water pistol
  • Squeeze a water spray
  • Playing with a hand fidget toy
  • Pinch pegs {clothespins}
  • Pinch and pull theraputty
  • Pulling theraband
  • Playing "thumb wars"
Picture
  • Finger play nursery rhymes and songs
  • Finger puppets
  • Finger push ups on the table
  • Catch and throw a ball 
  • Play a bat and ball game (eg. table tennis)
  • Play an instrument (eg. piano)
  • Play hands stacks with someone (applying pressure as you stack)
  • Clapping games
  • Messy play with rice, cloud dough, Kinetic sand, playdough, sand, etc
  • Cooking with hands to knead dough, roll meatballs, etc
Picture

Proprioception: Oral
  • Chewing on chewing gum
  • Chewing  on commercial "chewy" products 
  • Eating crunchy food (apple, carrot sticks, corn on the cob, rice crackers, celery sticks, dry cereal, pretzels, ice, frozen ice block, etc)
  • Eating chewy food (steak, fruit roll ups, etc)
  • Poke out tongue
  • Puff up cheeks and squeeze out air
  • Push tongue into cheeks
  • Use a vibrating toothbrush
  • Blow bubbles in water, with a bubble wand, using a straw
  • Blow up a balloon
  • Blow into a straw to push a table tennis ball
Picture

Vestibular: Sense of movement and balance
Movement stimulates the receptors in the inner ear {including spinning, swinging and hanging upside down}. Head position is an important consideration during these activities.  

Vestibular: Linear (up/down, side/side movements)
  • Spring see-saw 
  • Ball hopper 
  • Bouncing on grown up's legs 
  • Bouncing on therapy ball 
  • Piggy back ride 
  • Lying over therapy ball on stomach
  • Swinging at the park sitting
  • Swinging at the park lying over the swing
  • Swinging on a rope or tyre swing
  • Rolling down a hill or lawn
  • Grown up holding child's body and swinging them forward and backward
  • Lying on a scooter board and moving
  • Swinging on a hammock
  • Rocking horse
  • Flying fox sitting or suspended hanging
  • Skipping with a rope
Picture
Scooter board activity.
Vestibular: Rotational (spinning around)
  • Grown up holding child's body whilst swinging legs around in a circular motion.
  • Sitting on a swivel chair and spinning around
  • Scooter board spinning on stomach rotating with hands to push
  • Twisting around on park swing and then untwisting
  • Merry-go-round park equipment
  • Spinning self in circles
  • Sitting on a spinning toy (eg. Sit 'n spin or Bilibo)
  • Spinning park equipment
Picture
Bilibo can be used to spin around.
Vestibular: Upside Down
  • Forward or backward somersaults 
  • Handstands supported by wall or unsupported
  • Cartwheels
  • Gymnastic classes using parallel bars
  • Wheelbarrows on hands

Tactile System: Sense of touch
The tactile system discriminates touch (what and where touch occurs on the body) and processes for danger (fight or flight response).  Tactile input can involve deep pressure of the skin, muscles and joints (see Proprioception activity suggestions).  It may also involve modification to the environment.

Tactile System 
  • Avoid touching or approaching your child from behind;
  • Make sure your child can see you before giving them an instruction;
  • Avoid clothing fabrics which appear irritating;
  • Encourage your child to brush their own body with a natural sponge during bath time;
  • Allow a child to go first or last in a line to minimise tactile contact with others;
  • When using physical prompts, instructions or guidance, use a firm touch;
  • Use markers to help designate personal space when sitting on the floor or allow the child to choose their position;
  • Provide a quiet corner for the child to retreat to when required;

Visual System: Vision 
The visual system can be overwhelmed by what is seen.  The most helpful way to assist the visual system is to modify the environment {eg. reduce clutter, present one item at a time, remove unnecessary information from a whiteboard, position the child at the front of the classroom, watch a snow globe, etc).

Auditory system: Hearing and listening
The auditory system is required to process what and how something is heard.  

Auditory System
  • Find soothing sounds for your child (eg. music, waves, white noise, etc)
  • Use headphones to listen to instructions and block out other noises
  • Find a sanctuary in a noisy environment if possible (eg. lift, library)
  • Listen to audio books
  • Play commercial listening games (eg. Cock-a-Doodle Moo)
  • Play listening games with sounds from the environment (eg. garbage truck, siren, bell, clapping)
  • Help your child to manage unpleasant sounds by anticipating them (eg. turning on the vacuum, counting before using hand dryer at shops or hair dryer)

Olfactory: Smell
The sense of smell can also affect emotions, behaviour, memory and thinking as the nose receptors are connected to both the limbic system as well as the cortex.  Finding the smells that calm, arouse and over arouse will help to plan how to avoid or incorporate these smells into your child's routine. Essential oils can be added to homemade playdough or cloud dough. Dried flowers can be made into sachets for clothes.  Washing powder can be chosen or avoided.

Taste
The taste sense in also strongly linked with the sense of smell and oral sensitivities (see also Proprioceptive Oral activities).  Taste is also linked with experience as many flavours may be accepted after repeated trials.  Involve children in meal preparation, gathering ingredients and presenting the food. 

Picture

Your Kids OT © 2025, All Rights Reserved
ABN: 84803478584

AHPRA OT REGISTRATION # OCC 0001765196
www.yourkidsot.com

KIMBERLY SCANLON link
29/7/2014 03:34:32 pm

Great list! Will be sharing on my facebook page. My sensory seekers also like - knee bobbing songs like, This is How the Lady Rides. Thanks!

Cindy @ Your Kids OT link
30/7/2014 01:28:11 am

Great Kimberley! I'm sure there are a list of songs we could include in knee bobbing, bouncing, finger play. Maybe a future post! Thanks for sharing and commenting.

Julie
21/8/2014 03:51:23 am

Thank you for the extensive (all in one place) list. This will be such a great reference and will help so much!!!! Great work!

Cindy @Your Kids OT link
21/8/2014 06:24:54 am

Thanks Julie. I have compiled the list into a handy reference sheet as well. http://www.yourkidsot.com/blog/sensory-diet-activity-reference-sheet

Frances Cherry
6/9/2014 12:24:40 am

wow thanks for compiling this

Cindy @ Your Kids OT link
6/9/2014 12:47:46 am

Thanks Frances.

Amber
29/9/2014 03:35:16 pm

Thank you for compiling such a great list! This is exactly what I needed!

Cindy @ Your Kids OT link
30/9/2014 05:53:23 am

Thanks Amber, I hope you find it helpful.

Stephanie Rau
30/4/2015 05:47:45 pm

Wonderful list-could you make it printable?

Cindy @ Your Kids OT link
1/5/2015 11:46:30 am

Thanks Stephanie. It is printable as a paid reference sheet. https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/p73/Sensory_Diet_Activity_Reference_Sheet.html

Angela stewardson
4/8/2015 10:29:43 am

We do a lot of the activities in school but there are few extra on the list that we can add

Cindy@ Your Kids OT link
4/8/2015 11:20:03 am

Wonderful Angela! Thanks for commenting.

Karen link
20/10/2015 02:38:18 pm


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

    Picture
    Picture
    SEARCH THIS SITE

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Acessibility Notes
    Alphabet
    Ask An OT
    Bilateral-coordination
    Bilateral-coordination
    Christmas
    Concepts And Cognition
    Easter
    Evidence Based Practice
    Fine Motor
    Freebie
    Functional Skills For Kids
    Giveaway
    Gross Motor
    Guest Blogger
    Handwriting And Writing
    Homemade
    Interoception
    Kids In The Kitchen
    Lego-challengee27c5a2753
    Meme
    Organisation
    Other
    Ot Profession
    OT Resources
    Pencil Grasp
    Play
    Printable
    Regulation
    Reviews
    Rewards And Motivation
    School
    Scissor Skills
    Self Help Skills
    Sensory
    Social Skills
    Visual-perception
    Visual-perception
    Website Spotlight
    Welcome
    World Ot Day
    YKOT Shop
    Your Kids Therapy Ideas

    Popular Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Visit Your Kids OT's profile on Pinterest.

Join the YKOT e-newsletter!

Subscribe to get our latest content by email and receive

the SHAPE ROADS PRINTABLE NOW!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and receive your free printable!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Join our Mailing List!

Subscribe to get our latest content by email and receive

the SHAPE ROADS PRINTABLE NOW as a thankyou!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and receive your free printable!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
Disclaimer: The information on this site is general in nature and should be used for educational  and entertainment purposes. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions.  This blog does not replace formal therapeutic professional advice given by a health professional or medical practitioner.  Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand. Content, advertising space or posts will be clearly identified if paid, affiliated or sponsored.  Affiliate links may  be found throughout this website in advertising. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. Your Kids OT undertakes to meet the requirements of the "Social Media Policy" as published by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  Further information about this policy can be found here.

Find me


Follow me

Visit Your Kids OT's profile on Pinterest.
Picture

About me

Author

Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

Picture
Copyright © 2025 Your Kid OT