Image: Borgen Magazine
Below is a large variety of resources, activities, tips and advice that support children with additional needs. However, most of these would also help all children, in one way or another. So everyone, please have a look through, you never know what you might find.
Take a look at all the resources and ideas on this schools website. They have organised them into the following categories-
- Cognition and Learning
- Communication and Understanding
- Sensory and Physical
- Social, emotional and well being
- EYFS SEND
- General
- SALT - Speech and Language suggestions and ideas
'Easy-to-Use Calming Strategies for Autism' A short 5 minute video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13DiS7cPgX0
Follow this link to see a thorough powerpoint from the Children’s Occupational Therapy Team in Guernsey.
https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=107388&p=0
There are suggestions to support children that can struggle in many areas e.g. brushing hair, noise, eating, bedtime and touching.
SENSORIMOTOR ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT ACTIVE CHILDREN
MANY CHILDREN ENJOY SENSORY EXPLORATION. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE HANDS-ON FUN WITH YOUR CHILD, SO EXPECT TO GET ACTIVE WITH THEM! CHOOSE ACTIVITIES THAT INTRODUCE MULTI-TASKING: GROSS MOTOR AND COGNITIVE OR SOCIAL CHALLENGES. INVOLVE SIBLINGS TO CHALLENGE PROBLEM SOLVING AND SOCIAL SKILLS TOO.
1) CRAWLING THROUGH A TUNNEL- CRAWLING OFFERS GREAT PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT THAT IS CALMING AND ORGANIZING FOR ACTIVE LITTLE BODIES. CHOOSE A REGULAR TUNNELOR A LYCRA TUNNEL FOR HIDE-AND-SEEK ACTIVITIES IN A MULTISENSORY WAY! ADD PIECES OF A SIMPLE PUZZLE AND CRAWL THROUGH TO PUT THEM IN THE BOARD ONE AT A TIME TO ADD SOME MOVEMENT TO SIMPLE GAMES.
2) ANIMAL WALKS- GRAB A SKIPPING ROPE AND TURN IT INTO A LIMBO ROPE TO IMITATE BASIC ANIMAL WALKS UNDER IT - BRING ON YOUR BEST “BEAR WALK” OR “SLITHERING SNAKE” - YOUR CHILD WILL BE DEVELOPING MOTOR SKILLS AND LEARNING HOW TO MOVE THEIR BODY IN NEW WAYS.IF THEY’RE PARTICULARLY ACTIVE, TRY SHAKING THE ROPE LOW TO THE GROUND AND SEE IF THEY CAN JUMP, STEP, OR WALK OVER IT WITHOUT TOUCHING THE “SNAKE!”
3) PLAYING WITH TEXTURES- “FINGER PAINTING” WITH SAND, RICE, ACTUAL FINGER PAINTS, BEANS, BIRDSEED, CLOUD DOUGH AND NOODLES, MAKE FOR HANDS-ON FUN TO DRAW SHAPES, EXPLORE TEXTURES, AND DEVELOP EARLY VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE GREAT FOR KIDS WHO LIKE TO TOUCH AND SEEK OUT TACTILE SENSORY INPUT. ADD A SMELL OR TASTE COMPONENT TO THE FINGER PAINTING TO OFFER ADDITIONAL SENSORY STIMULATION. YOU CAN ALSO TRY USING- SHAVING CREAM, WATER, ICE. ALSO BLOWING USING- VARIOUS WHISTLES AND NOISE MAKERS, BUBBLES OR PINWHEELS.
4) JUMPING- MANY CHILDREN TAKE A WHILE TO MASTER JUMPING WITH 2 FEET BY THEMSELVES, BUT TAKE HOLD OF THEIR HANDS AND PRACTICE ON A BOUNCY MATTRESS, SOFT COUCH, OR MINI TRAMPOLINE.PUT ON SOME MUSIC AND DO THE FREEZE DANCE - JUMPING STYLE! TRY AND JUMP FOR A WHOLE SONG - A NURSERY RHYME OR KIDS’ SONG WILL CHALLENGE THEIR ENDURANCE FOR LONGER LASTING INPUT.
5) BALLOON TAPPING- WHETHER THEY’RE HITTING A BALLOON WITH THEIR HANDS OR A STYROFOAM PADDLE, KIDS ARE CHALLENGING THEIR VESTIBULAR, BALANCE, AND VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS TO KEEP THE BALLOONS FROM HITTING THE GROUND. EVERY TIME THEY BEND DOWN TO PICK UP THE BALLOON OR LOOKS UP AT THE BALLOON IN THE AIR, YOUR CHILD IS CHANGING THEIR HEAD POSITION - WHICH MEANS AN EXTRA DOSE OF VESTIBULAR STIMULATION! TRY BATTING THE BALLOON WITH AN ADULT OR GIVE KIDS A PADDLE FOR AN EXTRA CHALLENGE OR TWO!
6) SCOOTER BOARD- IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A PLAYROOM, DEDICATED KID-ZONE, GARAGE SPACE OR BACK YARD, A SCOOTER IS A PLAY FAVORITE. KIDS CAN CREATE OBSTACLE COURSES, RACE SIBLINGS ON A CHALK-DRAWN TRACK, OR ZOOM LIKE A ROCKET SHIP!ON BELLIES, ON KNEES, OR EVEN ON THEIR BACKS, KIDS CAN MEET THEIR VESTIBULAR AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEEDS WHILE WORKING ON UPPER BODY AND CORE STRENGTH.
7) SENSORY SWING- IF YOU’VE GOT A DOORWAY, YOU CAN INSTALL THIS INDOOR SWING FOR THE KIDS WHO NEED A STRONGER DOSE OF VESTIBULAR INPUT ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS!
8) EXERCISE BALL- ONE OF THE VERSATILE FAVORITES (BUT REQUIRES ADULT SUPERVISION) IS AN EXERCISE BALL. BOUNCE THEM ON IT AND SING A SONG, ROLL THEM OVER IT ON THEIR BELLIES TO PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE, ROLL UPSIDE-DOWN TO PICK UP BLOCKS, SQUISH THEM UNDERNEATH TO MAKE A KID SANDWICH, OR PUSH IT THROUGH A TUNNEL! IF YOU HAVE A HIPPITY HOP, KIDS CAN JUMP THEMSELVES TOO! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS BUT REMEMBER THAT AN ADULT NEEDS TO SUPERVISE THIS ACTIVITY.
9) SKIPPING- USE YOUR SKIPPING ROPE FOR SOME JUMPING GAMES - CAN YOU JUMP SIDE TO SIDE? ZIG ZAG? BUNNY HOP ACROSS? UP AND BACK?FOR MORE JUMP ROPE GAMES, CHECK OUT THIS LIST FROM THE INSPIRED TREEHOUSE. IF YOUR CHILD ISN'T READY FOR A JUMP ROPE, TRY THE SAME GAMES WITH A HULA HOOP!
10) TRAMPOLINE- IF YOU HAVE A MINI TRAMPOLINE, THEY CAN USE IT TO JUMP AND CATCH/THROW, JUMP AND CRASH INTO SOFT PILLOWS OR BEAN BAG CHAIR, AND JUMP FOR SUSTAINED AMOUNTS OF TIME.JUMPING IS A GREAT WAY TO GET VESTIBULAR AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT WHILE ALSO BUILDING ENDURANCE. IF YOUR MINI TRAMPOLINE HAS A HANDLE, BE MINDFUL OF VERY ACTIVE JUMPERS AS THEY MAY EASILY FLIP THE TRAMPOLINE AS THEY GET BIGGER AND MORE COMPETENT.
11) PHYSICAL FEEDBACK- Scratching their back vigorously for a few minutes. Spinning (***a very intense sensory experience, best for kids to spin themselves even if they love spinning. Be very cautious of spinning a child, and only do so a few times in both directions. This is important because it will help balance out their system.)You could use- swing, swivel chair, while standing or sit and spin.
12) MASSAGE- KNEADING playdough or therapy putty. Handling fidget toys (a wide variety of options). Squeezing a stress ball can be very calming and reduce anxiety for kids. A great activity to include in a sensory diet. Koosh balls, stress balls, squishing and squeezing, hugs, squeezing into tight spots or behind furniture, wrapping up tightly in blanket, sleeping in stretchy sheets that are tucked in on sides, laying under a large yoga ball.
13) CALMING AND SOUND- Listening to rhythmic or soft music, wearing noise cancelling headphones, watching slow moving or soothing images, fish tank, lava lamp, slow changing lights, drinking something warm, sucking on a piece of hard candy or a lozenge, slow rocking, rocking chair or hammock.
14) VIBRATION- (is calming rather than alerting when used for longer periods of time) Handheld massagers, Vibrating cushions/pillows, electric toothbrushes and chewable toys.
https://yourkidstable.com/sensory-diet-activities/
SENSORY DIET CARDS
