Tools for regulation.
âThere is NOT one simple answer to help a person (adult or child) with regulation. A combination of sensory supports, breathing techniques, thinking strategies, mindfulness and interoception will enable your child to have a "toolbox" of different ways to calm down, manage problems and navigate anxieties. It is essential that any "tools" are NOT "thrown" at a child, NOT produced as a list to "fix" them or NOT used to help us as parents/caregivers to stop a meltdown. Over the years, occupational therapists have been known for using sensory supports to help with regulation. Sensory integration (SI) is the process by which people register, modulate, and discriminate sensations received through the sensory systems to produce purposeful, adaptive behaviors in response to the environment (Ayres, 1976/2005). Refer HERE to more information from the American OT association bout sensory integration. There has been some controversy about SI as there is not a lot of scientific evidence to back up strategies taught and used. However, there have been some recent studies and this is growing - refer HERE for an overview and HERE for more. Sensory "diets" are a program of activities that can be incorporated throughout a child's day to provide a "sensory lifestyle". Some activities that are sensory based may assist with regulation by providing the body with a calming affect or helping to decrease arousal. Some activities may be alerting and increase arousal. Some activities may assist children to discriminate sensory information. Working out what works for your child can be helpful with an occupational therapist. Here are some resources that may also guide your journey: * Sensory Diet Activity Guidebook * Sensory activities for me: Sensory Activity Checklist
Breathing is an important regulation tool. It is well documented that breathing helps the brain to calm down and relax. The brain can then signal the rest of the body to respond with a lower heart rate, less stress and reducing muscle tension.
Conscious breathing, linking the brain with deep breaths can help children to be mindful and deliberate with their breathing. You can try infinity breathing (see image above) where a child traces out an infinity image taking deep breaths in and out until they feel calm. Some children will like drawing a rainbow whilst working on breathing (see video below) or find this on Instagram HERE.
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. Read more HERE.
Here are some helpful mindfulness you-tube videos that you can work through with your children. Sometimes mindfulness activities are linked to interoception, connecting the mind to the body. This helps children to be more aware of their body's signals so that they can be linked with emotions and in turn can lead to action. Here are some helpful body scan mindfulness you-tube videos that you can work through with your children.
For some children, "thinking strategies" can help them with regulation. There are many programs which used a cognitive based approach to regulation. I have discussed this in a recent article "What is Self-Regulation? Regulation resources and programs" HERE.
Theory of Mind is described in psychology as the capacity that someone has to understand other people (their beliefs, desires, intentions, emotions) and that they may be different from their own. Many of the children we see for occupational therapy have difficulty with this and some will benefit from a cognitive approach to social thinking. Regulation and self-regulation is complex! As I add to the information on this area on this website, refer back to these previous articles for more information, tools and insights:
What have you included in your child's regulation tools? Have you got a combination of sensory supports, breathing techniques, mindfulness, interoception and thinking strategies? ![]()
Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning. Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT. Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog
Cindy is a member of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. âThe information on this site is general in nature. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. âââ Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ â
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Vuly has provided a Lift 2 Large Trampoline for the purposes of this giveaway. Your Kids OT has not received any remuneration for this article or giveaway. Vuly does not have an affiliate program. All opinions expressed in this article are that of Your Kids OT.
Trampolines have become a quintessential part of an Aussie backyard! Do you have one?
There are so many therapeutic benefits to trampolining. 1. Sensory benefits Trampolining provides proprioceptive and vestibular input and can help children to regulate their bodies. Proprioception is sometimes called "position sense" or "muscle sense" as information from receptors in our muscles and skin help to inform us of where are body parts are in space, how they relate to each other, how much and how quickly they are stretching, the speed and timing of movement as well as the mount of force exerted. Proprioception helps us to be aware of our bodies and directs our motor control and planning. The brain processes vestibular sensations received through the hair receptors in the inner ear and are stimulated by gravity. Vestibular input can be described as linear (up/down, forward/backward and side to side) as well as rotational (spinning around). These movements can be calming or stimulating. Trampolines are a great way for children to explore movement and their own bodies. A well regulated body means that a child's mind will be ready to learn! 2. Motor benefits A trampoline is a great way to work on balance, coordination, weight bearing, body awareness and bilateral coordination. Trampolining can also provide cardio-vascular and fitness benefits! 3. Social skills A trampoline is fun on your own but even more fun with friends and family. Children can practice turn taking and social skills; working out different ways to use the trampoline and be collaborative in play. 4. A boost of happiness! A child's mental health and happiness is so important and can affect every aspect of their lives. Trampolining enables children to feel weightlessness and bouncing can bring pure joy!
GIVEAWAY TIME!
I am partnering with Vuly Trampolines to bring an incredible giveaway to an Australian reader. Vuly is an Australian manufacturer and supplier of world-class trampolines and swing sets. Vuly are now a registered NDIS approved supplier of trampolines. GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED. WINNER: DANIELA MCCANN
Terms and Conditions
**1. The prize includes a Vuly Lift 2 Large Trampoline and delivery within Australia. Vuly will provide all costs associated with shipping the product to one address in an Australian territory. 2. Open to Australian residents only. 3. Entries close on October 27th, 2018 at 12am. 4. Winner will be announced at on Your Kids OT Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot/ after October 27th 2018. 5. Winner will be notified via email provided with entry. 6. Prize winner must inform Your Kids OT of their mailing address within 48 hours of being notified as the winning entry. 7. This is a game of skill, not a random draw. Your answer must be original or creative. The winner will be chosen from the original comments. 8. Your Kids OT and Vuly will not be held accountable for any injury sustained as a result of misuse or damage to the product.**
I'm looking forward to reading all your great entries!
Who wants a trampoline??? (.... perfect for Christmas which is not too far away!) Remember to share this giveaway with your friends and family!
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Subscribe to the Your Kids OT Newsletter!Receive your FREE PRINTABLE as a thank you! This form collects information we will use to send you our newsletter with our latest posts, products and special offers. Already subscribed? Don’t worry you won’t be added twice! Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription to receive the FREE "OT HOMEWORK GRID" Printable! Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. We live in a world full of sensory information and 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 seek sensory information and others will avoid it. This can change for a child depending on their environment or time of day. Navigating what is best for your child can be really difficult. If you have concerns with your child's ability to process sensory information, then seek professional advice from an occupational therapist. A sensory lifestyle is a look at how to meet the sensory needs of your child through their every day life so that they can reach their potential. We all want our children to be the best versions of themselves, to learn and grow. We want them to be happy and we want them to be safe. We don't want our child's sensory needs to interfere with their ability to "do life well". A "sensory diet" is a planned and scheduled activity program designed to meet a child's individual sensory needs (Wilbarger, and Wilbarger, 1991). It is related to activities that a child performs through their day to help them to "modulate" their bodies. The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook by Colleen Beck (from the OT Toolbox) is a new strategy guide for sensory processing needs. This book provides valuable insight into the sensory system and the whole child. It details how sensory diets can be incorporated into a child's lifestyle to meet the sensory needs of each individual child. The tips and tools in the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook uses child-led interests and daily life interactions so that kids WANT to participate in sensory diet activities their bodies need... because it is part of play! To celebrate the release of the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook, there are bonus items that address needs like self-regulation and self-reflection, school screening tools, sensory diet cards, sensory planning calendars, play-based sensory activities and so much more! These bonus items are sent with the purchase of the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook! The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is available as a digital e-book for $16 US or you can also order a soft cover printed book for $26US! This introductory price with bonus items are available until April 16th 2018! Don't forget to download these amazing freebie offers that were created to also support your child's sensory needs! 1. The Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. The printable packet includes 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards and 6 sensory challenge cards. Get your copy of the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards HERE. 2. The Classroom Sensory Strategy Toolkit contains these amazing resources:
3. The Attention and Sensory Connection Workbook is a one-stop spot for information on the basics of how attention is related to sensory processing. It provides tips to boost attention through the senses so that kids can learn, focus and pay attention when they need to. The workbook covers information about how impaired sensory processing relates to attention issues in a variety of ways and provides movement and sensory-motor activities that can help boost attention. There are specific activity ideas and tactics to address attentiveness. You'll also find workbook pages that can be used to identify underlying sensory-related areas that impact attention and tools for addressing those needs. Get your copy of the Attention and Sensory Connection Workbook HERE. SPECIAL BONUS FOR YOUR KIDS OT READERS! I only endorse products that I recommend without hesitation! Colleen Beck is a respected occupational therapist whom I have had the privileged to collaborate with in the past. Read more about Colleen and the OT Toolbox HERE and read an article she wrote for Your Kids OT HERE. The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a unique resource that will help you navigate "sensory diets". Whether you are an occupational therapist, parent or teacher; this resource is user-friendly and very practical! Take the opportunity to purchase this book at the introductory price and receive the bonus items (because they are also awesome)! The free resources listed above are truly brilliant (and could very easily been paid products) and you should grab them now! For YOUR KIDS OT readers; thank you for your ongoing support! When you purchase the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook during the promotional week, email me at [email protected] with a copy of your receipt and I will give you a 50% BONUS discount to the Your Kids OT shop! (note: you will need proof of purchase that you used one of my links for this bonus discount) What are you favourite resources supporting your child's sensory needs? These new resources are sure to make this list once you get your copy! ![]() Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia. She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning. Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT. Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog The information on this site is general in nature. 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. You may also like: Reference:
Wilbarger, P. & wilbarger, J. (1991) Sensory Defensiveness in Children Aged 2-12:An Intervention Guide for Parents and Other Caretakers. Stillwater:PDP Press. Today on the blog, I would like to introduce Laurie Gombash! Laurie is a physical therapist who loves to teach the alphabet through movement and a range of multi-sensory activities. To capture an array of learning variability gives children an opportunity to learn in ways they understand through their senses. Laurie is sharing her latest book, ABC's of Active Learning© with us today! What an exciting resource that would be valuable for anyone working with young children! Thanks for this opportunity to guest blog and tell everyone about my new book, ABC’s of Active Learning©. It's the same 26 letters with a multi-sensory twist that provides a lively and engaging teaching and learning experience! As parents, caregivers, practitioners, or teachers, we realize the importance of early literacy development, but how do we continue to find creative ways to present critical learning skills? More importantly, how do we capture the motivation of our learners who come to us with different strengths and areas in need of continued development? The ABC’s of Active Learning© targets the whole brain through movement activities, organized games, multi-step crafts, as well as multi-sensory pre-writing activities that can be used and graded for learners of all abilities. With the rise of technology dominating so much of the young child's time, this tool takes learning back to the basics, providing organizing movement activities that help to establish a child who is ready to be an active participant in his or her learning! For example, for the letter M, Our Marching Band by Lloyd Moss is the suggested read.
To challenge children’s phonological awareness, encourage them to say the words that start with the “M” sound. Learning outcomes from Marshmallow lob include eye-hand coordination, phonological awareness, and gross motor skill enhancement. All activities are designed to be fun and motivating, while simultaneously providing rich multi-sensory input, improving motor development and learning. This book can stand alone or be a supplement to The ABC’s of Movement® activity cards. To purchase these products or to find out further information refer to www.ABCsofMovement.com.
Ever have an arm wrestle? or pulled in a "tug of war"? or have you tried indoor rock climbing?
These activities all require a significant amount of upper body, hand and finger strength. We might not all win arm wrestles ... but we all require adequate strength in our arms, hands and fingers to perform daily activities. Children need adequate hand and finger strength to carry out their daily "jobs" such as writing, using scissors, doing up buttons and using a knife and fork. When muscles in the hands are strong, children can hold tools for longer and use them more efficiently. If a child has weak hand muscles they may tire quickly (giving up) or swap hands (to give the other hand a turn). In using scissors, they may have difficulty opening and closing their hand adequately to cut the page or drive their scissors forward. In using a knife and fork, children with weak hand muscles may not be able to apply adequate pressure to stabilize or cut the food properly. In handwriting, children with weak hand muscles may have difficulty applying pressure to their pencils or they may not be able to write as much as others. Some children may have poor hand and finger strength due to low muscle tone, developmental delay or a neurological condition. There are sometimes no known cause for a child's hand weakness, however medical advice should be sought if you are concerned. Activities which help with the development of strength involve some weight bearing or resistance. They involve pushing or pulling and may also be considered "heavy work" when looking at a sensory diet. Read more about sensory diets here. You could try the following activities to encourage the development of strength! Upper Body Strength and Stability(hands, arms and shoulders).
Hand and Finger (Pinch) Grip Strength
For even more suggestions for building hand strength read more pincer grip ideas here! Read about heavy work for little fingers HERE!
These hand strengthening activities are a great way to get hands ready for handwriting, scissor skills and more!
Does your child struggle with the strength needed to carry out daily "jobs"? Are they constantly "swapping hands"? What is your favourite way to help develop hand strength?
Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this article to promote products that I recommend. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. 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.
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Do you fidget?
Do you chew your pencil, tap on a table, tap your foot, move in your seat, twirl your hair? Fidgeting is a movement that you may not even be aware of until someone points it out to you. People (both children and adults) may fidget whilst they are concentrating on a conversation, listening to a teacher or watching TV (just some examples). Some children with sensory seeking behavior need ways to intentionally fidget so that they can obtain the proprioceptive input to help their bodies regulate and calm down. Have you seen balloon fidget toys before? I have been wanting to make these for a long time and have finally made them! They are so awesome to squish and squeeze! There are lots of recipes on the internet, but I found two really simple (and dare I say fool-proof) ones that I have "tweaked" for you to try! Water Beads Balloon Fidget What you will need: 1. Balloon 2. Water beads (fully grown) 3. Funnel What to do: 1. Give your balloon a stretch and blow into it (just to stretch it). 2. Deflate your balloon and attach to the end of the funnel. 3. Push the water beads into the funnel and into the balloon. You may need to move them down the neck of the balloon with your fingers. 4. Fill your balloon to the desired size then tie a knot to secure them. 5. Squeeze! Your kids will love scooping water beads to put into the funnel, then pushing the water beads into the funnel with their fingers. The perfect finger isolation activity! Note: Inspiration for these balloon fidgets came from Karina Garcia's You Tube channel. She uses transparent balloons which are so cool!
Baking Soda and Conditioner Balloon Fidget
What you will need: 1. Baking Soda (aka. bicarbonate soda) 2. Hair conditioner 3. Balloon 4. Plastic fork or spoon 5. Funnel 6. Bowl 7. Elastic Band 8. Netting from fruit or vegetables 9. Matches or lighter What to do: 1. Pour your baking soda (I used 300 g to make 2) into a bowl. 2. Slowly add a little hair conditioner to the baking soda and mix together with the spoon. Continue to add the hair conditioner and mix until you get a sloppy thick icing consistency (see video for consistency). 3. Give your balloon a stretch and blow into it (just to stretch it). 4. Deflate your balloon and attach to the end of the funnel. 5. Push the baking soda mixture into the funnel and down into the balloon. You may need a plastic fork or spoon to help push it down. 6. Fill your balloon to the desired size then tie a knot to secure them. 7. Cut some fruit/vegetable netting to the desired size. Singe the ends of the net with a lighted match just to stop any fraying. 8. Secure the netting over the balloon with a rubber band. 9. Squeeze and play! Your kids will love helping you mix the baking soda and hair conditioner together. You could play with this as "cloud dough" until you are ready to fill the balloons. Make sure you get a reasonably wet consistency for to put into the balloons (it will still work if you don't but you might not get the bubbles popping out of the net). Once ready to play, your kids (and any adults around) will love squeezing these over and over again! Note: Inspiration for these balloon fidgets came fromAira Tan's You Tube Video. Have a look at my video to retrace the steps and see how squishy they are!
Use of these balloon fidget toys should always be supervised especially over time with the wear and tear of the balloon. The length of time each balloon will last, will depend on the quality of the balloon and how often it is played with. You could try adding a second balloon over the first to provide some longevity. These balloon fidgets are not suitable for children who are mouthing toys and objects. They are also not suitable for children under 12 months of age.
These balloon fidgets provide sensory input for a child who needs to fidget. They also make great ways to warm up your child's hands ready for writing or cutting. They are perfect little stress balls and they are also heaps of FUN! I love these balloon fidgets! I hope you do too! Have you made a balloon fidget yet? Let me know if you try one of these! Don't forget to share this article with your friends and family if you think they will like these balloon fidgets too! Thanks,
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It is all about you!
The biggest compliment for me is when one of my readers (that's right, you) send me a message to say that you have read one of my articles and are putting my ideas into practice! Recently, Phillippa Morassi Registered Counsellor contacted me to tell me that she had created a little activity from my "Sea Life Sensory Solutions" Printable". (If you don't know what this is, please read the full article here! It has been the most popular FREE printable from my site in 2016!). Phillipa made the printable into a colouring activity for a 4 year old whom she was seeing for play therapy. The idea was to colour it in, cut it out and write instructions on the back as a "prompt" for remembering what to do to help her calm down! What a brilliant idea! Here is a photo of what Phillippa did. A big thank you to Phillipa for contacting me! I loved this idea so much and I thought you might like it too! I have created some simple colouring pages for you to use along side the original "Sea Life Sensory Solutions". Download the free colouring pagesHERE! Have you put any of my blog ideas into practice? I would love to hear from you!
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WHAT ARE BRAIN BREAKS?
A brain break is a short 2-3 minute break from formal instructional teaching in the classroom. It may incorporate body movements such as dance, stretching, strength and coordination. The purpose is to get the attention of the class as a whole and activate their bodies ready for learning. Brain breaks may be used to help alert kids; wake them up from sluggish behaviour or lack of concentration. Brain breaks may also be used to calm kids down when necessary; relax them from over-excitement. WHAT IS THE "THINKING" BEHIND BRAIN BREAKS? The term "brain breaks" is derived from "brain-based" education. You may have heard of terms such as "using both sides of the brain" or "engaging the brain" in learning. Jensen (2008) talks about brain based teaching as ESP - the active ENGAGEMENT (E) of purposeful STRATEGIES (S) based on PRINCIPLES (P) derived from neuroscience. He challenges teachers to consider how brains learn best. The "Whole Brain Teaching Method" is also becoming increasingly popular in classrooms as teachers promote learning through visual, auditory, kineasthetic and cooperative learning techniques Fishel (2011). Occupational therapists have used sensory integration principles in assisting children in the classroom who have difficulty paying attention and concentrating. We recommend movement breaks or "vestibular activities" to help organise the nervous system. Depending on the activities vestibular sensation can help the nervous system to stay organized and balanced; alerting with quick head movements or calming with slow head movements (Yack, Aquilla and Sutton, 2015) . We also look at a child's proprioceptive system; the unconconscious awareness of body position located in muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Activities that require muscles to stretch and work hard can provide proprioceptive sensations that can also help the brain to regulate arousal states (Yack, Aquilla and Sutton, 2015). Brain breaks are strategies that combine these neuroscientific principles, engaging children in the classroom so that they are ready to learn! Brain breaks are suitable for average developing children in a mainstream classroom as well as for children with special needs. They are also suitable for kids of all ages (and even adult learners)! BRAIN BREAKS - What teachers "think"! In speaking with different teachers, they love having a variety of brain breaks and movement break suggestions in their repertoire. Kids love them in the classroom. A teacher (thanks Chauntal!) I spoke to in researching this article said "Sometimes I find they need to get rid of energy so we dance or do kinaesthetic learning games such as star jumps while we spell or clapping games while we count in patterns. If we are concentrating on a writing task we might do strength core exercise such as planks, chair dips or yoga poses. When we need to calm down we do brain gym - like rolling shoulders in different directions or different coordination games".
BRAIN BREAKS FOR THE CLASSROOM!
LOW TECH
WITH TECHNOLOGY Teachers who have access to smartboards, love using these boards to help incorporate movement into the classroom. There are many options available on You Tube.
Do you use brain breaks to help kids to concentrate in the classroom? What are your favourite brain breaks? ![]()
This post is part of “Functional Skills for Kids: 12 month series by Paediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists”. You can read all of the childhood functions HERE. Read all Your Kids OT’s monthly posts HERE.
Find more information about “School Day Functions”, stop by to see what other Occupational and Physical Therapists participating in the “Functional Skills for Kids series” have written:
Fine Motor Skills Needed at School and Classroom Activities | Sugar Aunts
How Do Gross Motor Skills Affect Academics? | Your Therapy Source 65 Helpful Strategies for Students with Sensory Challenges | Mama OT Brain Breaks to Help Concentration in the Classroom | Your Kids OT Things You can do at Home to Help Your Child in School | Therapy Fun Zone Tips for Following Directions in the Classroom and Home | Growing Hands-On Kids Positioning In The Classroom |Miss Jaime OT 10 Transition Strategies for Kids: Preventing Tantrums | The Inspired Treehouse The Case for More Play in the School Setting | Kids Play Space
References:
I recently wrote about "Motion Sickness: A sensory Issue!" looking at sensory considerations and triggers when travelling in a car. This article is a follow-up to this article providing SENSORY solutions for the car!
I mentioned in the original article that I had "attended" a webinar series by the world renown, Professor Winne Dunn on "Sensory Processing and the Impact on Everyday Life". In this series, Professor Dunn made a comment that even though we may identify a "sensory problem", the solution may involve "non-sensory" approaches such as a cognitive/behavioral approach to manage new information. As OTs, I think that we do this already as we look at the context of the "problem" and use a variety of strategies to help develop skills, make environmental changes or adapt an activity. Therefore considering the context of travelling in a car, a few precautions should be taken before choosing sensory solutions. PRECAUTIONS!
NON-SENSORY SOLUTIONS!
SENSORY SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE MOTION SICKNESS Note: Not all of these suggestions will be possible or appropriate for every child. Please consider your child and family's particular requirements. VISION:
ORAL:
AUDITORY:
PROPRIOCEPTION:
VESTIBULAR:
SMELL:
What are your favourite sensory solutions for car trips?
Disclosure: The information on this site is general in nature. 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. Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion, and deemed worthy of such endorsement. This post contains affiliate links.
Rainbow "coloured" rice is a great addition to a "sensory bin"! There are heaps of tutorials on-line to teach you how to colour rice. I used a really simple method ... I added a cup of rice to a plastic container and a few drops of food colouring. I shook the container until all the rice was covered with food colouring, then lay the rice out on baking paper to dry. Our rice took less than 24 hours to dry (drying time will depend on the weather and the amount of food colouring used). You may notice we have a few lentils in our rice mix (already mixed in when we used the rice in a sensory bin). I didn't bother with vinegar or alcohol and did not have a problem with the colour transferring onto our hands. I found that my cheap supermarket food colouring worked better than may gel colours as this was more "blobby".
Combining our coloured rice with some small items, we made a beautiful "I spy" bottle! I took a photo of our treasures and laminated a print out before Mr 6 enjoyed pouring the rice into a funnel and hiding the treasures. Once filled, I sealed the lid and attached the laminated page with a dry-erase marker. Super-easy craft! Watch our fun video to see how we made the I spy bottle - You Tube Link!
We made this "I spy" bottle to use as a travel toy. It is a fun way to work on visual memory and visual discrimination skills. I'm looking forward to trying it out with my OT kids this term.
For younger children, you may choose a clear plastic bottle rather than glass. For older kids you could choose very small similar items to place in your bottle ... you can make this really difficult! When we have finished with this bottle, I can pour the contents out into a sensory bin for further play! It will make a great treasure hunt to explore with busy fingers as well. Have you made an "I spy" bottle? What is your favourite thing to hide?
Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia. She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning. Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.
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AuthorHi, 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. SEARCH THIS SITE
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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.
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AuthorHi, 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. |
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