25 Organising and Calming Sensory Activities For Children with Autism
About Sensory Therapy
If your child is experiencing sensory overload, organising and calming activities can help them relax and even have improved focus while they are learning something new.
Children with special needs like Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) may require this type of input to help regulate their senses.
Try these activities before highly demanding activities and always consult an OT for a child-specific sensory diet programme.
Organising Activities
What is an organising activity?
Within sensory therapy, organising activities are heavy work activities that involve pushing, pulling, or lifting heavy objects or items. Heavy work is one direct way to get that type of input through an organised activity by engaging muscles and joints to cause fatigue.
Organising activities to try
Wall pushes with hands and feet
Jumping on a trampoline
Popcorn jumps (jumping from a squat position and then landing back in a squat position)
Wheelbarrow walking
Crawling through tunnels
Obstacle course
Putting up/down chairs
Sitting on “move and sit” therapy ball during classroom activities
Passing the weighted balls
Scooter board on belly and bottom (wall push-offs) 10+ reps
Resistance Bands
Calming Activities
What are calming activities?
Calming activities are helpful for children that are very active and that do not settle easily. Calming activities will help you relax children that are overstimulated. The best times to use calming activities are as follows:
After, before, or during a highly stimulating social event
When your child is running around or very restless
Before bedtime
Before or after school/pre-school
Before or after any event that causes anxiety
Before or after a learning activity
Calming activities to try
Rocking slowly over a ball on their stomach
Turning off the lights in a room or creating a dark space in a tent
Swinging in a circular motion with the child facing an adult (do not spin this is a different type of sensory input)
Wrap the child up in a heavy blanket
Calming relaxation music (e.g. yoga or meditation music)
Deep pressure squeezes (start soft and ask the child’s permission)
Laying on the floor while an adult rolls a ball over top giving some deep pressure. (not over their head)
Use of body sock/lycra material to wrap the child in.
Light touch/hard touch (depending on the child) – have the child brush a feather over their arms, or squeeze their arms with their hands for deep pressure.
Brushing over arms, back, legs and head
Using two fingers on both sides of the spine to give form downward strokes 3-5 times. (do not put pressure on the spine)
Hand fidgets (such a play dough and Thera-putty)
Gentle massage on head, feet arms and back (you can use creams or oils to help reduce friction)
If you like this article and would like to know more about sensory therapy for your child visit our website to book an appointment today.
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