Do you ever find yourself spinning your pencil, tapping your leg or twirling your hair while trying to do work? These are all ways we subconsciously provide our bodies with sensory input in order to be focused and productive.
Many children do not know how or when to provide their bodies with the appropriate input they need. This is where a Sensory Diet comes into play. What is this new diet everyone is talking about? A sensory diet is a personalized action plan that gives your child the unique sensory input his or her body needs at that very moment.
The diet can be easily incorporated into a child's daily routine. It is a variety of activities that your child is actively engaged in throughout the day. When participating in these tasks, it helps to regulate emotions and behaviors for optimal function and interactions. For a child who tends to be overstimulated and aroused, a sensory diet will help calm them down so they can be more focused and attentive.
For the child who tends to be understimulated, a sensory diet will help alert him or her and provide the energy and the ability to focus. The tricky part is that our bodies and our needs are constantly changing and evolving, even from day to day. So what does that mean as it relates to a sensory diet? It means if we make or follow a sensory diet, that also has to change and evolve simultaneously with your child. This is why it's so important to have an individualized sensory diet.
A good place to start is by making a list of activities that your child enjoys that simultaneously helps regulate his or her body. Some things to consider are:. There are endless possibilities for sensory diet activities. Simply find another activity that provides you with a desired outcome. It is highly recommended to work with an Occupational Therapist with experience and understanding of sensory processing issues. Here are some examples of sensory diet activities based on specific sensory needs and chronological age.
I would encourage you to explore ALL of the activities as chronological age and development often do not coincide. Again, remember that activities can be alerting or calming, based on the child, the day, the moment. In each category I list general guidelines for alerting vs calming, however remember again-every child is different. These are some things to consider when contemplating implementing a sensory diet.
If these things seem like your child, the likely answer is that he or she will benefit from a sensory diet. Xavier is 9 years old.
He has a diagnosis of Autism. He might benefit from deep proprioceptive input right away and every hours after that to keep him modulated throughout the day. Offer it or suggest it at least times before you abandon it. And, for some kids, I really to have them help picky what they think they need they often know! In these cases I really like to use sensory diet cards , which you can use in tandem with your template.
This is my set of sensory diet cards that have 60 of my favorite and most powerful sensory diet activities on them. While its really important to be open to offering activities again, you also want to look for what your child likes and what helps them!
Definitely try that again. When you use the template, think of it as a sensory diet worksheet that might be ever-changing and flexible! Here it is! You can see the visual of what it looks like below. Take all the steps, activity lists, and sensory diet examples that we talked about and use it in this sensory diet template for your child. To get the printable, click here , and we will send it to you right in an email so you have it download, save, or print.
We covered a lot today and I know sensory diets can be very be overwhelming. Remember to take it one step at a time and watch for which sensory diet activities your child responds to. Once you have several options you know they like, you can even offer choices to them when you know they need a sensory diet activity. Would you like to jump on the trampoline or ride the scooter board in the hallway?
What challenge is your child facing? What activities are you going to use to help them, as you create your own sensory diet? Tell me in the comments, and we can all learn from each other. How to Support Sensory and Discipline Fairly.
Sensory Processing and Picky Eating. Has chew bars eventually he eats them. He sleeps in an iron crib. Any suggestions? That is such a challenge. I would definitely continue to reach out to his doctor about it. That will help give him some of the oral input he seems to be seeking. Hi your site is extremely informative.
Thank you! Do you know how to tell if a behaviour is a stimming behaviour or if t is a sensory seeking behaviour? The behaviour is high pitch screaming whilst pressing on their throat. Many times stimming behaviors can also be sensory related.
A sensory diet will frequently help with these types of behaviors too. His attention span is very short. Thanks for reaching out! You might check out our free sensory workshop. It gives you some tools that might help calm and focus your student. You can save your seat HERE. You might also find our article on Autism and Sensory Processing helpful. I hope that helps! Im so happy to have found you. I have always said that they needed to find what was going on in his little head well now I can do that it took them until third grade and three schools before put him in an approved privite school.
Everything you where saying in my Leo from running around the house to jumping down the stairs. I mean he has even started chewing on his shirts. Thanks again.
Hey Margaret, so glad you found some great tips in the article! And as hard as it can be to have the kids home and doing the school work, we can take this time to see what is happening, like you are so great job! We do also have a free sensory workshop that you may find helpful with some great information in there as well! Hi, what about setting up a sensory diet for an adult? My 19 year old son has debilitating auditory defensiveness.
Hey Jenn, Great Question, the steps would still be the same. Best, Desiree. Hi Alisha, what you are writing about is very interesting and helpful!
My daughter who is 5 and a half has sensatory issues. She can be fine for a period and then, after being sick or holidays change in routine The meltdowns start again. It gets worse when she is tired or has not eaten enough. She has issues with her bowl movement. She has gluten intolerance and is often constipaded.
Her sensatory issues manifest when she has to put on bottoms, shoes and mittens. Now she only wants to wear one type of pantyhose and no underwear. Even if I try to explain that she can take them of in a minute. And how we can manage time? It can take hours to get out the door. Thank you again for your help. Kind regards, mom living in Scandinavia. Hey Laura, Thanks for reaching out! You seem to have a really great understanding on what is happening with your daughter so kudos to you!
We do also have a free sensory workshop that may help with some information for you! Hi I have a student that stims off of almost everything that is given to him to hold. The way he stims is by constant flicking the object and watching it intensely. What type of activity would help decrease this behavior. It gets in the way of him performing tasks in the classroom setting. Hey Lorraine, We understand this does happen.
If you want to learn more about sensory we do have a free workshop that goes into more detail. You can Save your seat here Best, Desiree. My daughter is beyond picky when it comes to choosing her clothing. We have tried everything from leggings to skirts with tights, to jeans. She says none of those items feel comfortable.
Every morning is a battle to get her to get dressed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hey Layla, We get it! It can be really hard. We have a post specifically for clothing and suggestions. I have a 10 year old son who gives me a hard time for homework, taking a bath, or any transitions that we do routinely every single day. He has a diagnosis of autism with self injurious behaviors. Or a combination of both?
All I know is that I have a written schedule for him of what we do everyday and that only helps A little not! I need some assistance!!!
Hey Sharon, So glad that you reached out, we get it, that it can be really hard to distinguish between these! We have a free workshop that will talk you through to understand sensory and some of these actions! I think it will help you to figure out what is happening with your son!
You can Save your seat here! It has been immensely helpful over the last couple years, even if all i did was absorb the info rather than act on the ideas. So glad i found you. Hi Ashley, thanks for taking time to send that! But I hear you, and doing just things is how you can start to take action.
I love your site. My daughter definitely has sensory issues probably half the list. I was wondering specifically about the licking one. Thank you so much!
She is probably seeking tactile input specifically on her tongue. My 7 year old son liked to find my hair either off of my clothes or in the carpet and suck on it, occasionally even eating it. He has said it calms him down. Dental floss? My cousin had a vitamin deficiency when she did this. She was 2 when she started and stopped when diagnosed at 3. Love this; very helpful! Oh good Marissa! The asterisks are usually an indication that your child is looking for more sensory input, that they are seeking sensations!
For the past 18 months or so, I have had trouble getting my son in the house after we have been out. Especially when we have been out in the car. As soon as we get to the front door, he literally explodes and will try to run off down the road. He is 4 and non verbal. I live up 4 flights of stairs!
When we get in he is in mega meltdown mode and the only thing to calm him down is a bottle of milk and his comfort blanket! If you have any suggestions that would be great! Yes Laura!
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