sensory

Best Sensory Toys

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If you are looking for the very best sensory toys to challenge sensory exploration, tactile play, or to offer sensory input to calm or alert a child, then you are in the right place. This gift guide of toys for sensory play cover many aspects of sensory processing in fun and engaging ways. Whether you need to add a few components to a sensory diet through play, or you are looking for a gift idea that develops specific skill areas, these occupational therapy toys, sensory toys, fidget toys, and movement toys cover all the bases.

When it comes to sensory toys, many of the ideas in our gross motor toy suggestions will hit on movement and heavy work input, so be sure to check that gift list out as well. Today is all about the sensory motor play.  Many of these toy recommendations would make great additions to a sensory room equipment collection or a sensory gym!

First, let’s talk Sensory Tools and Toys!

Amazon affiliate links are included in this blog post. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sensory toys and sensory tools for kids

The Best Sensory Toys

We had so much fun putting together our recent Gift Guide Toys to Improve Pencil Grasp, that we decided to put together this gift guide for Toys to Inspire Sensory Play.  If you follow our blog posts, you know that we LOVE messy, sensory, textural play.  


There are so many benefits to sensory play for young children.  They can explore textures, colors, scents while manipulating with their hands, expanding language skills, developing self-confidence, and so much more.  And while they are playing, they are exploring, exploring, investigating, and creating!  


This gift guide provides ideas to incorporate sensory play into daily play.  We wanted to provide a list of gift ideas so that sensory play can be done easily once you have all of the needed items.  What better time to stock the activity bin/closet/box than during the holidays?  


Maybe a relative is asking for gift ideas and there is something you would LOVE your kids to play with for sensory experiences.  Direct them to this gift guide for ideas to encourage sensory play!

Sensory Tools

First let’s cover a bit about how these toys are sensory tools. When it comes to kids, play is their primary occupation. It’s their main job. Through play, kids learn about the world around them, they practice and develop skills, and they interact with others.

Play is also a prime way to incorporate movement and sensory experiences, allowing kids to regulate their nervous system, calm down, focus, attend to tasks, and remember important experiences.

Sensory tools are means of facilitating sensory input. Whether that input is calming, alerting, or something else, it’s through experiences or sensory tools that a child gains sensory input. Sensory tools can offer movement, tactile input, visual input, or input through the olfactory system, gustatory system, auditory system and interoceptive system.

Check out this resource on sensory processing for more information on all of the senses and how they integrate to enable functional participation in day to day tasks.

The specifically selected toys and tools below incorporate sensory input in one way or another.

Amazon affiliate links are included below.

Sensory Toys and sensory tools ideas for kids

Light Tables as a Sensory TOOL

Have you ever used a light table in therapy? It’s a fun sensory experience for kids to challenge fine motor skills, as well as cognitive skills, and even posture or balance, all with the sensory input of a light table and manipulatives.

Light Panel in Sensory Play:
This Portable Light Panel (affiliate link) is great for visual sensory exploration.  Tracing and tactile manipulation can enhance math, handwriting, spatial relationships, and more through sensory play.

You could add a few Light Table Pattern Blocks (affiliate link) or even magnetic Imaginarium Letters & Numbers (affiliate link) like we did in our DIY Sensory Light Box (affiliate link) post.  Explore the shapes and textures of leaves, petals, and so much more with a light table!

Messy Sensory Toys

Our kids LOVE to get messy!  Not all kids do, however, and may need gradual experiences to build up their tolerance to sensory touch and manipulate different textures.  Some of our favorite messy play materials are:

Kinetic Sand (affiliate link) (such a cool texture…but be warned, Moon Dough is VERY messy!)

Educational Insights Playfoam (affiliate link) (such a neat textural experience!)

Aqua Sand Playground (affiliate link) is another super messy but very cool play experience.  The wet sand dries immediately, how fun!

Glow in The Dark Slime (affiliate link) is slimy, messy, and glow in the dark.  Add a few Marbles and you’ve got a super sensory texture. The slime and the marbles would make fun stocking stuffers!

Scented Sensory Toys

Scented Play is a fun way to engage and alert the senses through sensory toys.

Remember these Mr. Sketch Scented Markers (affiliate link) from grade school?  I can still remember that blueberry scent!  What a great way to explore the sense of smell while playing and creating art.  Have the kids draw with the markers and then spray the art work with a water bottle to see the colors run.  This would be a great sensory and process art project for kids of all ages!

This Scented Balls Set (affiliate link) sounds so neat!  We’ve never played with these before, but they each come in a different scent and would make an awesome stocking stuffer!

Sensory Bin Toys

There are so many ways to use a sensory bin in sensory play. You can offer texture challenges that meet the needs of the child AND incorporate learning opportunities.

Color Changing Tablets for Sensory Play:
The sense of sight is such an immediate one!  A sensory experience can be set up for the kids and as soon as they see a bright green bin of water with scoops or foam pieces, they are excited for play! 

These Color My Bath Color Changing Bath Tablets (affiliate link) are great for setting the stage for multi-sensory play.  We’ve used them in our Swamp Water Bin Sensory Play activity.  Watching the colors fizz and mix is such a fun experience!

Throw these tablets into the bath tub along with a few unexpected items like Paint Brushes, fun eye droppers like these Learning Resources Twisty Droppers (affiliate link), or a Funnel Set (affiliate link) and you’ve got a great sensory play environment!

Manipulatives In Sensory Play:
Sensory play is such a fun way to play and learn any topic.  Exploring textures with sensory input can really instill learning. So what can you put in the sensory bin, or water bin, or in the shaving cream on a tray?  The possibilities are endless!

Try a jungle theme and add Jungle Animal Counters (affiliate link).  Maybe your child LOVES dinosaurs and would go crazy to play with Mini Dinosaurs (affiliate link)
in a tub of birdseed.  Any theme or subject can be added to sensory play. 

Sensory Bins in Sensory Play:
There is nothing more fun than this sensory play item!  Water Beads (affiliate link)are typically used as a vase filler because once soaked in water, they expand and become a super sensory, fun, fine motor medium. 

We’ve used them in sensory bins of all kinds.  This set from Bundle Monster is great deal and comes in so many fun colors.  (Note: always be sure to supervise children when playing with water beads!)

Water Tables In Sensory Play:
Water tables are great for sensory play.  Despite it’s name, water tables are not JUST for water!  There are so many possibilities for messy play with a water table.  Goop, moon dough, birdseed,  shaving cream…the possibilities for sensory and textural play are endless! A water table is not just for outdoor play during the summer months.  We love bringing our sand and water table indoors during the cooler months and playing with bigger items like seashells, animal figures in play dough, mixing flour and a bit of water. 

We love this Step2 Water Table (affiliate link) for its large basin, the added water wheel (How fun to pour sand and watch it fall!). So many senses can be addressed with water table play.  We explored the textures of fall with a Fall Themed Water Table.  Since we’ve added our water table to our play, we’ve had so much sensory play fun!

Sensory Tools in a sensory bin

There are many materials that can be added to a bin or low tray and used as a sensory tool. Some of these can be very inexpensive, making them great tools for sensory exploration. Incorporate these materials into multisensory learning, too.

More Ideas for sensory play:

  • shaving cream
  • food coloring
  • scoops
  • birdseed
  • field corn
  • split peas
  • dry beans
  • colored rice
  • colored sand
  • cotton balls
  • tinsel

Sensory Fidget Toys

Fidget toys are a fun (and popular) way to address attention needs through small scale sensory input. Each of these fidget toys promote fine motor development by encouraging finger isolation, bilateral coordination, precision, and eye-hand coordination.

Amazon affiliate links are included below.

Great stocking stuffers for sensory play:

Sensory Balls (affiliate link)

Textured Sensory Fidget Toy– (affiliate link) Great for bilateral coordination and fine moor skills.

Wooden Puzzle Fidget(affiliate link)

Pull and Stretch Bounce Ball (affiliate link)

Sensory Toys for Calming Input

The ideas below make great gift ideas because they add heavy work input, or calming movement input, through the proprioceptive system and vestibular sensory system. These sensory tools can be a great addition to the home.

These are Amazon affiliate links.

Alerting Sensory Toys

These toy ideas van be alerting activities that “wake up” the sensory system. For others, through, they can calm the system, because the child gains a sensory work out when using them. Be sure to contact an occupational therapist for a sensory evaluation and suggestions for the needs of each individual.

This list is Amazon affiliate links.

So, if you are looking for a few ideas to add some sensory fun to your gift giving this holiday…or have family and friends asking for gift ideas…maybe one of these sensory play toys will be just right for your little one!  This list is by no means exclusive.  There are limitless ways to encourage sensory exploration into play.  We just wanted to provide a few ideas.  Happy playing!

More Movement sensory toy ideas

The lists of toy suggestions in the following blog posts are geared toward specific developmental areas. But, when it comes to movement, there are many sensory components intrinsically incorporated into the play. Check out these specific toy ideas:

  1. Fine Motor Toys
  2. Gross Motor Toys
  3. Pencil Grasp Toys
  4. Toys for Reluctant Writers
  5. Toys for Spatial Awareness
  6. Toys for Visual Tracking
  7. Toys for Sensory Play
  8. Bilateral Coordination Toys 
  9. Games for Executive Functioning Skills 
  10. Toys and Tools to Improve Visual Perception 
  11. Toys to Help with Scissors Skills 
  12. Toys for Attention and Focus 

Printable List of Toys for SENSORY NEEDS

When it comes to sensory needs, we are all different! Targeting different needs with toys that meet various needs is encouraging and motivating.

Want a printable copy of our therapist-recommended toys to support sensory processing?

As therapy professionals, we LOVE to recommend therapy toys that build skills! This toy list is done for you so you don’t need to recreate the wheel.

Your therapy caseload will love these SENSORY toy recommendations. (There’s space on this handout for you to write in your own toy suggestions, to meet the client’s individual needs, too!)

Enter your email address into the form below. The OT Toolbox Member’s Club Members can access this handout inside the dashboard, under Educational Handouts. Just be sure to log into your account, first!

Sensory Toy Giveaway

Our favorite giveaway series is back! You can win a portable light panel sensory bin (Value $70) AND set of 140 light table accessories (Value $39) for sensory play activities. Fill the sensory bin tray with small objects like translucent pattern blocks, Magnatiles, or bingo markers to work on fine motor and visual motor skills. This sensory tray is really ice because it has edges and you can also fill it with water or other sensory bin materials. Use the translucent letters and tangram pieces along with the letters and numbers to work on a variety of skill areas like handwriting and visual perceptual skills.

To enter this giveaway, enter your email address into the form below.

We’ll also send you a list of fine motor toy suggestions.

Giveaway terms: One winner will be randomly selected to win both a portable light table and light table accessores. Winner is limited to continental US. Giveaway ends 12-13-23. Winners will be notified via email.

Sensory Toy Giveaway

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    Built with Kit

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    How to Create a Sensory Diet

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    steps to create a sensory diet

    Here you’ll discover how to create a sensory diet through information on sensory diets as well as a powerful resource to set up and establish an effective sensory diet lifestyle that works for kids. We’ve shared a lot of information about creating a sensory diet. There is a valid reason. Besides the growing need for sensory support for kids with sensory processing disorder or sensory challenges, there is a real need for parents and teachers to understand exactly what a sensory diet is and how it can help address sensory needs.  

    steps to create a sensory diet

    We’ll get into the steps to create a sensory diet below. Let’s first talk about how and why we need to make sensory diets.

    The tips below are strategies for creating a sensory diet that can be effective and helpful in enabling a successful sensory lifestyle. Understanding how does a sensory diet help is many times, the first step in addressing sensory related needs!

    Sensory diets can change the self regulation level that one is at, whether that be overstimulated and overwhelmed by the environment and internal state, or needing to become more alert. Sensory diet strategies can support these needs in any environment.

    How to Create a Sensory Diet

    Whether you are wondering exactly what a sensory diet entails or why a sensory diet can be effective in addressing underlying sensory needs, knowing how to create a sensory diet using the tools a child needs is essential. 

    Below, you’ll find answers to questions about how to create a sensory diet and what exactly a sensory diet is. If you are wondering how does a sensory diet work, then read on! 

    You can make a sensory diet in any space. Read our blog posts about creating a sensory diet on a budget and calm down corners for more information on creating a sensory diet in a specific space in the school environment.

     

    Wondering how to create a sensory diet? Use these steps to create a sensory diet for children with sensory needs that result in meltdowns, attention challenges, struggles with regulation, and other sensory processing related difficulties. Perfect for the occupational therapist who works with kids with sensory needs.

    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a resource for creating sensory diets and turning them into a lifestyle of sensory success through meaningful and motivating sensory enrichment.

    What is a sensory diet? 

    First, it can be helpful to explain exactly what a sensory diet is. A sensory diet is a specific set of sensory activities designed to meet specific needs of the individual. Creation of a sensory diet requires assessment and trial followed by analysis and continued monitoring of strategies and their effectiveness. 

    An occupational therapist named Patricia Wilbarger came up with the term sensory diet to describe the brain’s need for more sensory-motor input from the various sensory systems. Just like our body requires a nutritional diet of healthy foods, the sensory diet is designed to support a person’s sensory needs.

    One thing that is important to remember is that without adequate and appropriate sensory input, or sensory input that isn’t registered correctly, we can have sensory deprivation or we can feel out of sorts. It’s hard to be alert and attentive when this happens! That means that learning, participating in social situations, and functioning in everyday tasks can be difficult.

    Studies support the use of active participation in multi-sensory activities for at least 90 minutes per week to improve occupational performance and autism symptoms and behaviors (Fazlioglu & Baran, 2008; Thompson, 2011; Woo & Leon, 2013; Wuang, Wang, Huang, & Su 2010).

    Children who have a toolbox of sensory activities available to them for daily use may benefit from prescribed sensory activities. A sensory-based strategy guide can help.

    Sensory diets are a commonly known strategy for addressing sensory needs. The term “sensory diet” was coined by Patricia Wilbarger in 1984 to explain how certain sensory experiences can improve occupational performance and help to remediate disruption of the sensory processing systems. A sensory diet is a means to adjust sensory input in relation to an individual’s needs.

    Remember that each and every person has their own specific needs. Some of us like a heavy blanket laying on us when we sleep. Others prefer a light and airy sheet as a bed covering. This sensory preference is just one example in one part of the day, and one specific daily occupation that describes different sensory preferences. Another way to put it is to call these preferences a sensory need. We each have different needs when it comes to the tactile, motor, tastes, smells, etc. that allow us to function.

    Similarly, a sensory diet designed to support regulation and sensory processing will be different for every individual. It can be considered a formula that allows each individual to process input and function during their day.

    Sensory diets can include various sensory strategies and supports that help the individual to regulate. Some additional movements, or activities can include:

    A sensory diet is a meaningful set of strategies for developing sensory programs that are practical, carefully scheduled, and controlled in order to affect functioning. Sensory diet activities provide appropriate sensory input based on the needs of an individual.

    Just as a healthy diet consists of a variety of foods, a sensory diet is a balanced set of sensory information that allows an individual to function. A person cannot survive on broccoli alone. Similarly, a child cannot function with only one type of sensory activities.

    Wondering how to create a sensory diet? Use these steps to create a sensory diet for children with sensory needs that result in meltdowns, attention challenges, struggles with regulation, and other sensory processing related difficulties. Perfect for the occupational therapist who works with kids with sensory needs.

    Why Create a sensory diet?


    There are many reasons why a sensory diet should be used to support specific needs. This resource covers the goals of a sensory diet.

    Sensory diets are effective for addressing many sensory-related behaviors. Just a few reasons for using a sensory diet may include:

    • Emotional overreaction
    • Meltdowns
    • Aggression
    • Hyper-attention
    • Difficulty with transitions
    • Inattention
    • Sleep issues
    • Impulsivity
    • Sensory-seeking behaviors
    • Sensory-resisting behaviors
    • Resistance to textures/food/clothing
    • Poor social Interactions

    This blog post on sensory processing includes a sensory processing disorder checklist that covers many reasons and reactions that can be impacted by sensory needs.

    Wondering how to create a sensory diet? Use these steps to create a sensory diet for children with sensory needs that result in meltdowns, attention challenges, struggles with regulation, and other sensory processing related difficulties. Perfect for the occupational therapist who works with kids with sensory needs.

    Make a Sensory Diet Template

    This next section of this article covers a sensory diet template, which is a helpful tool for creating sensory diets. However, remember that we discussed above how everyone’s needs are different and that each sensory diet will be unique to the individual.

    A sensory diet template is helpful in strategizing and getting started with sensory diet creation. But it should be used as just that, a tool!

    Every one of us will have a unique sensory diet formula depending on preferences, processing, needs, and environment.
    One important piece of the sensory diet puzzle is the successful implementation of strategies. This is the part of actually using sensory activities, brain break, movement activities, calm down corners, sensory tools, etc.

    We’ll go into how this looks in more detail below, but it’s important to remember that the sensory diet template plays a big role. Actually scheduling strategies and implementing them into day to day tasks is part of the sensory lifestyle.

    There is more to a sensory diet than applying sensory input or encouraging a child to participate in sensory play activities. Knowing how and why a sensory diet should be created is essential to success, safety, and carryover of sensory strategies.

    As individuals, we tend to choose activities and experiences that are pleasurable. We enjoy snuggling up under a thick blanket at the end of the day. We tend to shy away from unpleasant sensations such as a static shock that happens every time we use that certain blanket.

    Likewise, some of us are thrill seekers and enjoy experiences like jumping from airplanes or bungee jumping. Others like to stay firmly on the ground and play it safe when it comes to leisure activities.

    Similarly, our clients or children who struggle with sensory processing can present with different preferences, as discussed in The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook.

    Steps to Create a Sensory Diet

    The biggest thing I can say when making a sensory diet for a client or individual is to observe, observe, observe! Occupational therapy practitioners are very skilled at this observation piece. And the observation will make all the difference in whether a sensory diet actually serves its purpose or not.

    When we make a sensory diet, especially for the pediatric population, we need to observe what works for that individual, what doesn’t work, and what kind of supports support or compromise functioning. Then there is the environment, the others involved in a functional task, and many other considerations. All of this requires observation.


    The key to successful integration of a sensory diet is ensuring the clinical strategizing and application are fit into the specific needs of the individual. However, combining the needs of an individual with interests and preference along with application of specific steps ensures successful creation of a sensory diet.

    There are specific steps to creating a sensory diet. Let’s go through the process:

    1. Analyze/Identify
    2. Strategize
    3. Sensory Diet Template/ Apply Sensory Strategies
    4. Monitor

    Step 1: Analyze/Identify- The first level in creation of a sensory diet requires identification of sensory related behaviors, attention issues related to impaired sensory input, challenges with focus or emotional regulation as a result of sensory needs, or meltdowns that impair functioning.

    This level of sensory diet creation requires assessment and identification of each challenging issue. Sensory behaviors should be identified and charted. This includes jotting down when specific behaviors occur, the setting where meltdowns occur, and antecedent to the behavior.

    Make detailed notes that describe the action, the environment, the disabilities, and the impact on function, safety, learning, social participation, etc. When taking the time to analyze sensory impact on function, it’s important to look for issues that may be impacting the individual’s functional performance.

    Make notes on things such as:

    • Actions/behaviors- how is the individual responding in situations?
    • Environment- where is the situation occurring
    • Timing- when does the behavior occurring? What happens just before the behavior or actions?
    • Co-existing considerations- what else is occurring during the behavior or action?

    Sensory related issues can be charted in a methodological manner or they can simply be written down on a scrap paper. The point is to identify the issues through analyzation and to record them.

    Identifying sensory needs when beginning the sensory diet process is much like keeping track of a food diary or sleep diary. In these situations, you’ll also want to mark down every detail including how one is feeling emotionally, physically, and other considerations. Just like these types of diaries help to identify what is really going on in a food diet, a sensory diary can help to support and identify needs for creating a sensory diet.

    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook contains printable data collection forms that can be used to analyze and identify sensory-related actions, behaviors, and resulting issues.

    After dysfunctional behaviors are identified, the reason behind the behaviors should be described.

    Step 2: Strategize/Reasoning- The next level in creating a sensory diet involves identifying the “why” behind the behaviors. Think about why the individual may be responding, or reacting to sensory input or environmental input in the way that they are. Can you come up with rationale that describes actions?

    Ask yourself questions to strategize on the “why” behind sensory-related behaviors:

    • Is it an unmet sensory need that causes a child to bolt down the hallway?
    • Is the reason the child chews on all of their clothes because they need more proprioceptive input?
    • Did the child not get enough sleep?
    • Is the routine off?
    • Was a transition done without warning or preparation?
    • Was the individual at a level of stress?

    Use this information to come up with predictions and opportunities to support the individual with specific accommodations or modifications to the environment.

    In The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook, you will find printable sensory-based behavior screening tools that can be used to identify the underlying sensory needs leading to a behavior or action.

    Additionally, resources in the book allow for strategizing to address existing sensory challenges for an individual. The best part is that the pages can be printed off and used over and over again for a single individual or for many individuals. 

    Step 3: Create a Sensory Diet Template and Apply/Trial Various Sensory Strategies- In this stage of sensory diet development, strategies need to be trialed for effectiveness within the lifestyle of the child and family. Sensory strategies need to be incorporated as indicated across a variety of settings, based on various sensory needs as they change throughout the day.

    Scheduling sensory diet strategies is an important step. If a box of sensory supplies is offered, but no schedule put into place, the sensory diet immediately is set up for failure.

    Each strategy should be assessed for effectiveness. A simple checklist can be completed in the classroom or at home. When a sensory strategy is determined to work, that activity can be added to the child’s sensory diet.

    If a particular sensory activity is determined to be ineffective, return to level one.

    Remember that this part of the sensory diet creation process is very fluid! There will be trials, adjustments, periods of re-trialing, and monitoring. It can seem like this stage goes on and on! The thing to remember is to persist and don’t give up!

    As adults who work with or raise children, we know the fluidity of childhood. Needs, strengths, interests, environment, and other areas can change as a child develops and grows. In the same manner, a sensory diet needs fluidity. Applying various strategies at different levels of growth in a child is a must. It must be said that a sensory diet for adults is just as powerful for the teen or adult with sensory needs.

    Readers of The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook will find the Sensory Diet Schedule in the Addendum of the book to be a useful tool in creating a checklist for sensory diet activities. This is another series of printable pages that can be utilized over and over again as needed.

    Step 4: Monitor- At this stage in development of a sensory diet, strategies should be monitored for effectiveness. Strategies should be monitored on a frequent basis with regard to effectiveness. As part of the monitoring process, a subjective assessment can be completed by adults who oversee the child’s sensory diet strategies.

    Additionally, carryover of sensory strategies must be monitored. A list of prescribed activities that are not completed because they require exhaustive effort are not an effective strategy within the life of a family.

    Carryover of sensory strategies is extremely important in both the home and in the classroom. If activities are not able to be carried out, then a different sensory strategy should be incorporated into the child’s sensory diet.

    When using The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook to create and monitor sensory diets, users will find the Daily Sensory Diet Sheet and the Sensory Diet Schedule to be effective tools for carryover and monitoring strategies.

    Use the Sensory Diet Effectiveness Tool, found in the Addendum of this book, to monitor sensory diet results and strategies. This form should be completed after a sensory diet has been in effect for two weeks. 


    If creating a sensory diet and turning it into a sensory lifestyle sounds like a strategy that is needed in your home, classroom, or clinic, then The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a tool that you may need to get there! Check out more on The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook HERE. 

    Wondering how to create a sensory diet? Use these steps to create a sensory diet for children with sensory needs that result in meltdowns, attention challenges, struggles with regulation, and other sensory processing related difficulties. Perfect for the occupational therapist who works with kids with sensory needs.


    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a strategy guide for sensory processing needs. With valuable insight into the sensory system and the whole child, the book details how sensory diets can be incorporated into a lifestyle of sensory success. 

    The tools in this book provide intervention strategies to support and challenge the sensory systems through meaningful and authentic sensory diet tactics based on the environment, interests, and sensory needs of each individual child.   

    Wondering how to create a sensory diet? Use these steps to create a sensory diet for children with sensory needs that result in meltdowns, attention challenges, struggles with regulation, and other sensory processing related difficulties. Perfect for the occupational therapist who works with kids with sensory needs.


    So often, we hear that sensory recommendations are not carried over into the home or classroom. The tips and tools in The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook uses child-led interests and daily life interactions so kids WANT to participate in sensory diet activities their bodies need…because it’s part of play!

    Get The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook here.

    Using a sensory diet in various environments

    A sensory diet is an important strategy and tool to support learning needs in the classroom environment. Here is a resource on creating sensory diets for the classroom.

    Occupational therapists can be a great resource for sensory diets that flow from the home to the school environment.

    In fact, using a set of sensory diet cards as a resource where the student pulls various sensory supports to use at specific times or during transitions in the classroom can be very helpful.

    The best type of sensory diet utilizes sensory aspects of everyday functional tasks within the activity as it occurs. This is covered specifically in the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook. But consider this: if one is outside or in the home and needs to address regulation needs, using activities and everyday objects is ideal. These backyard sensory diet strategies is one way to incorporate the outdoors into sensory needs.

    Related, a sensory diet can include recess activities as a tool to support emotional or sensory regulation needs. This resource on recess sensory diets covers this concept in more detail. Running on a blacktop surface at recess, playing with hula hoops, balls, or building blocks at a key part of the day is scheduled into the students’ schedules every day they are at school. When you think about it, each student has a sensory diet of their own in the way of recess!

    At home, recess isn’t an option, but heading outside is! The outdoor sensory diet strategies can really impact self-regulation, emotional needs, attention, and sensory processing needs.

    Another environmental consideration is the playground. A park or playground area offers sensory diet equipment and tools that can be used on a scheduled basis. Consider adding a trip to the playground to the schedule on specific days of the week. Maybe a visit to the playground is in order for Friday afternoons after the student’s spelling test and the end of the school week. Or, a playground visit can occur every Sunday afternoon as a way to wrap up the weekend. Perhaps a walk to a local park can occur each evening after dinner. It’s all about what the individual needs and what works for the family’s lifestyle.

    Another location for sensory diets can be the woods or a wooded outdoor area. This is a great way to incorporate nature into sensory needs, and should be scheduled according to availability, time available, and family lifestyle.

    Another related resource on this site is the concept of sensory diets at the beach. When we travel, there can be a lot of different or novel sensory experiences. When hot weather, wind, and scratchy sand impact sensory needs at the beach, these are all important considerations.

    Another support for travel is the sensory diet on the go! This easy to create sensory support is individualized and includes the materials and strategies that support the individual’s needs. Read how to create a travel sensory diet toolbox.

    Understanding Sensory Dysregulation

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    picture of a stress meter with arrow pointing to red. Words read "stress and dysregulation. Therapy tools, information, resources".

    A term you may have heard when it comes to sensory processing is sensory dysregulation. What does this mean? Are there clues for dysregulation? We all have differing sensory needs, and dysregulation can look like different things for everyone. Have you ever wondered about specific sensory strategies for regulation to support a dysregulated sensory system? We’ll cover all of this in this post.

    Sensory dysregulation

    Sensory Dysregulation

    Remember your last temper tantrum? Do you remember what it felt like to be suddenly so sad, mad, and completely out of control? Most of us probably had our last true temper tantrum more recently than we care to admit.

    A majority of those emotional outbursts were probably exacerbated due to a number of reasons; lack of sleep, poor diet, undesirable environment, discomfort, or pain. Deciphering the difference between a tantrum and sensory meltdown is a must.

    One ongoing debate in the pediatric therapy world is discussing what behaviors are due to sensory-related reactions, and what behaviors are due to something else. How many toddlers (or teenagers!) temper tantrums may actually be related to their sensory experience? If it really is sensory-based, then what are the solutions?

    The OT Toolbox is here to do our best to answer your sensory-related questions. A great first step in determining whether unwanted behaviors are based on sensory experiences, is to learn about what sensory dysregulation is. To get started, here is an article about sensory processing red flags.

    Playing a huge role is understanding self regulation and the ability to select and implement self regulation strategies based on sensory needs.

    what is sensory dysregulation

    WHAT IS SENSORY DYSREGULATION?

    Sensory dysregulation refers to a mind or body state which occurs when the body is out of balance due to experiences in the sensory environment. Think about how sounds, textures, exercise, movement, smells, light, and other input can affect your mood. Sensory dysregulation is the result of either too much or too little stimulation for best functioning or self-regulation.

    For example, overstimulation anxiety can be a result of too much sensory stimulation that results in overwhelming worries or anxiety. This is just one way that the overload of sensory input can impact us.

    Read more about mood and affect and how these terms are connected to sensory dysregulation.

    It’s more than sensory touch and the input we receive through our skin. It’s the inability to regulate sensory input from ALL the sensory systems.

    A key component outcome of sensory dysregulation is self-regulation. There are many ways to define self-regulation, but generally, it is one’s ability to remain at an acceptable level of emotion, energy, behavior, and attention – given the demands of their environment.

     In order to achieve self-regulation, one must also have good sensory regulation. 

    Sensory dysregulation is something that anyone can experience, and most people probably have experienced a level of sensory dysregulation to some degree.

    Everyone has sensory preferences, like how loud they listen to music, or if they enjoy lots of hugs. If your preference is to have less, your systems would become out of balance with the music too loud or people getting too touchy.

    Each of us has our own limits given any situation – but once you are in tune with your body’s needs, you know when it has become too much. When the system is unbalanced, maladaptive behaviors (tantrums) occur, if no coping strategies are implemented. We covered this individualized preferences and nuances of neurodiversity in greater detail in our post on Sensory Diets for Adults.

    People with sensory processing disorder, which is an issue on a larger scale that affects a much smaller portion of the population, feel dysregulated more often and have far less ability to self-regulate. While sensory processing disorders can exist in isolation, they may be most prevalent in those with Autism or ADHD. 

    One example of dysregulation is the individual with sensory needs dealing with a fire drill. There are a lot of sensory inputs all at once, and navigating that stressor is distressing!

    Check out our resources at the end of this article for great coping tools! 

    WHAT DOES DYSREGULATION LOOK LIKE?

    Sensory dysregulation, much like emotional dysregulation, feels uncontrollable. Something is “wrong” and a person may not know what is causing them to feel “off”, or how to solve the problem. Sensory dysregulation may look and feel similar to emotional or behavioral dysregulation, that can cause temper tantrums.

    The main difference is that sensory experiences are the root cause of the behavioral responses – not social disagreements or the like. It is complicated to tease out whether the issue is behavior or sensory. Look first at the triggers.

    A simpler way to understand of sensory dysregulation, is by breaking it down into two categories: over-responsiveness or under-responsiveness to the environmental stimuli. 

    • Over-responsiveness may look like: sensory avoidant behaviors such as excessive covering of the ears, hiding, avoiding touch, or extreme picky eating. The body may be responding too much to the incoming information. One reaction is to avoided it to, remain at baseline. 
    • Under-responsiveness may look like: sensory seeking behaviors such as excessive or repetitive body movements, touching everything, making sounds, or licking/chewing on non-food items. Pushing other students while waiting in line. The body may be responding too little to typical input, to the point that the seeker looks for more of it to remain at baseline. 

    It is important to begin to recognize sensory over-and-under responsiveness and the role it plays in sensory regulation. Understanding what kind of behaviors a child has, will allow you to choose the right remedy. 

    • Over-responsive → Sensory Avoider → Need for less
    • Solution – calming activities, breathing exercises, variety of activities to slowly increase comfort level 
    • Under-responsive → Sensory Seeker → Need for more 
    • Solution: heavy work, brain breaks, fidget tools, variety of sensory experiences

    Resources from the OT Toolbox for Deep Breathing, Self-Regulation activities, Emotional Learning and Regulation, and the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook are a perfect starting point. 

    SENSORY DYSREGULATION IS NOT: 

    Sensory dysregulation is NOT the same as behavioral or emotional dysregulation, which may look like:

    Not sensory dysregulation:

    • Crying at the store after they were told “no”
    • Pushing their brother after he took their toy
    • Eating all foods but never what the family is eating 
    • Dumping/throwing toys after being told it’s time to clean up 
    • Covering their ears during a fire alarm
    • Screaming after a sibling teased them

    You may be thinking, wait a minute…some of those actions are sensory-based behaviors! 

    You are correct! However, just because something is related to the sensory experience, does not always mean that sensory dysregulation is occurring. 

    As an example; the sound of a fire alarm is loud auditory input, however, covering your ears during a loud sound is a normal response. If there is more of a reaction than that, for instance, if a child is inconsolable or unable to move on after the fire alarm, that may be considered sensory dysregulation.  

    Sensory Dysregulation Symptoms

    When symptoms of sensory dysregulation is in question, you should be asking:

    • What does the environment look like? Feel like? 
    • What is the child communicating with their actions? 
    • When and where does this behavior typically occur? In what similar situations does it not occur? 

    Some behaviors, like pushing, can be tricky to determine if it is sensory or behavior; Look at the trigger. The proprioceptive system can be dysregulated. Is the child pushing for sensory reasons? 

    • Bumping into things during play, crashing often, seemingly unaware of their body? Then they may have some sensory dysregulation going on that is increasing their need for input.  Pushing people who get too close, hugging too hard, or bumping into people, may also be signs of sensory dysregulation.
    • If a child pushes a friend after they did something mean, that is just poor social skills. 

    WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DYSREGULATION

    Usually we notice the symptoms of dysregulation first. It manifests in behavioral reactions, health consequences, stress, and cognitive difficulty. 

    • You are constantly on edge – you feel nervous, stressed out, overwhelmed, and have the sense that you can not keep up
    • Frequently irritable, snappy, and disagreeable. You might overreact, feel tense, get frustrated easily, and have mood swings like going from happy to sad quickly
    • Chronic pain and illness – aches and pains that do not go away, easily getting colds and other illnesses, see several specialists without relief
    • Highly sensitive to stimuli. You might identify as a highly sensitive person. Things that people may not even notice bother you.  Smells, the sound of people snapping gum, fabrics, clutter, or being in crowds may feel overwhelming. You might be anxious, depressed, or stressed by the amount of information coming in. 
    • Sleep problems and daytime fatigue – your nervous system has a hard time relaxing to go to sleep, or is hypervigilant during the night. You wake with your gas tank half full, so by mid morning you are fatigued. It may be difficult for you to regulate your temperature and heart rate during the night, leading to additional fatigue.
    • Chronic attention and concentration problems – because your system is on high alert, signaling danger, it might be hard to concentrate and pay attention to important information. You may find it difficult to tune out non important stimuli. 
    • Cravings and extreme appetite changes
    • Immune and hormonal symptoms
    • Gut and skin conditions like rosacea and IBS.  These can be aggravated by stress and dysregulation
    • You are highly sensitive to other people’s emotional states – you might be considered an empath. This may seem like a great trait, except it is draining. You take on the emotions of those around you and are constantly trying to help people.  No matter how much you do, it never seems enough.

    You do not have to have all of these symptoms to be considered dysregulated.  Even if you have a couple of these symptoms, it can feel overwhelming and draining. 

    HOW CAN YOU support Sensory Dysregulation?

    If a child’s sensory system is dysregulated, there is good news: there are many ways to help! There is a catch though – there is no “one size fits all”. Trial and error is the name of the game with sensory interventions.

    Once you and your child find out what works for them and their changing environments, they will have a deeper understanding of themselves, and display improved behaviors in no time! 

    Check out these resources for sensory integration, calming exercises, self-regulation activities, and more! Also be sure to read our blog post on Ayres Sensory Integration for information on the theory behind this process, and how it all works together. It’s fascinating!

    Tactile Sensory Input:

    Heavy Work/ Propceptive Sensory Input:

    Vestibular Sensory Input:

    Combined Sensory Input:

    Deep Breathing Activities:

    Mindfulness:

    If you have tried everything, and are feeling a bit lost, you are not alone! Sensory dysregulation is tricky. It should be considered alongside many other aspects of why a child reacts a certain way. In addition to behavior, emotions, and self-regulation; history, habits, trauma, and mental status can have a powerful influence on actions, too. 

    Keep trying – some things may feel like a roadblocks but there are specific action strategies you can use!

    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook
    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook

    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook walks you through sensory processing information, each step of creating a meaningful and motivating sensory diet, that is guided by the individual’s personal interests and preferences.

    The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is not just about creating a sensory diet to meet sensory processing needs. This handbook is your key to creating an active and thriving lifestyle based on a deep understanding of sensory processing.

    dysregulated nervous system

    After reading all of the above about dysregulation, and what a dysregulated nervous system looks like, let’s take a step back.  In order to understand the symptoms and signs of dysregulation, we need to understand the basics of the nervous system. That’s a really important piece of the puzzle to help parents that we are supporting as the pediatric occupational therapy provider on a child’s team.

    The dysregulated nervous system impacts practically everything that we do and what we see in the form of behaviors, sensory needs, emotions…it’s at the base of it all.

    But when we hear from our clients’ families or the parent, the school counselor, the teacher of a child with issues impacting day to day life and learning, the nervous system isn’t’ the first thing to come to mind.

    NERVOUS SYSTEM BASICS

    The nervous system is made up of two parts; the central and peripheral systems. Together these systems regulate our consciousness, movement, response to the environment, and bodily functions such as digestion, heart rate, and breathing. 

    • The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. It interprets incoming signals, formulates responses, and plays a big role in memory and cognition. 
    • The peripheral nervous system extends out from the central nervous system out to the limbs. It communicates with the CNS to respond to information coming from the environment and inside our bodies. 
    • Under the peripheral nervous system is the autonomic nervous system. This can be thought of as the “automatic” nervous system. This system works without conscious thought, controlling the heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and fight or flight response. 
    picture of a stress meter with arrow pointing to red. Words read "stress and dysregulation. Therapy tools, information, resources".

    The stress we feel impacts social emotional skills, behaviors, functioning, learning, and more.

    Understanding the stress response

    The fight or flight response is important to our survival. It alerts us to dangerous situations to protect us from harm.  This is a great system, until it over-responds.

    A chronically over-reacted fight or flight response leads to dysregulation. There are times when our nervous system, including the fight or flight response, becomes dysregulated.

    This can be caused by stress, genetic predisposition, or trauma. When the system is dysregulated, it can cause more stress, burnout, anxiety, and various types of chronic pain and illness.

    Dysregulation and Trauma

    Understanding the impact on a dysregulated nervous system trauma has is important because we as pediatric occupational therapy providers see a huge variety of trauma responses in our therapy clients. There can be so many levels to this but one thing is for certain: there will be some level of a dysregulated nervous system when trauma exists.

    Read our blog post on trauma informed occupational therapy for information and resources on how to support clients with a history of trauma.

    CAUSES OF DYSREGULATION

    One thing that comes up from parents or educators who see the results of regulation troubles is the “why”. We need to explain, as occupational therapy providers, the causes of dysregulation so that the child’s team can better understand why they are seeing the resulting behaviors, social emotional challenges, learning struggles and functional task issues.

    An over-response of the fight or flight system is often the cause of dysregulation. Where  does this come from?

    • Chronic stress – when the nervous system suffers from chronic stress, it remains in a state of high alert. Over time, this state of high alert can lead to hypervigilance and overwhelm.
    • Trauma can lead to dysregulation. This might come from witnessing traumatic events, abuse, accidents, or surgeries.
    • Adverse childhood experiences – negative childhood experiences such as emotional or physical abuse, neglect, living with caregivers who abuse substances, or have mental health issues.
    • Genetic factors – certain gene variations make people prone to anxiety and stress.
    • Lifestyle factors – poor diet, lack of exercise, and inadequate sleep can contribute to nervous system dysregulation. Stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and certain medications can lead to dysregulation
    • Underlying health conditions – fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and some autoimmune disorders can lead to dysregulation of the nervous system. Deficiencies in certain vitamins such as magnesium, B, and omega fatty acids can also lead to dysregulation.
    • Environmental factors – heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, mold, noise pollution.

    When you think about the people in your life, especially the young ones, can you see some of these factors in their life?  Children chronically have lack of exercise, poor diet, not enough sleep, exposure to chemicals, additives in their food, and often some sort of trauma.

    With this type of lifestyle becoming the norm, it is no wonder so many littles are dysregulated.

    EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL DYSREGULATION CHANGES

    We often notice behavior before other symptoms of dysregulation. This is a classic sign in regulation disorders such as ADHD, ADD, Autism, and bipolar disorder.  The behaviors are caused by dysregulation, that usually has an underlying factor. You might feel overly intense emotions, impulsive behavior, lack of emotional awareness, trouble making decisions, inability to manage behavior, and avoiding difficult decisions.

    People with emotional/behavioral changes struggle to make and keep friends, difficulty with compliance, can be defiant, and have difficulty completing tasks. 

    TREATMENT FOR DYSREGULATION

    If your dysregulation is part of a larger disorder such as ADD, medication can help with the symptoms. 

    • Therapy – both talk, play, and occupational therapy to help with regulation and identifying triggers. Dialectical behavioral therapy helps you with mindfulness, identifying your emotions, and separating emotions from facts.
    • Be consistent and organized – kids thrive on routine. Give your child/partner a heads up if you plan on changing the plans
    • Adjust accordingly – sometimes you need to make accommodations and adaptations to be successful
    • Reward positive behavior
    • Journal – writing down feelings and thoughts can help you process them. Also looking back at journal entries can give you clarity
    • Heavy work helps organize the central nervous system. Chores, exercise, physical activity or taking a walk can help
    • Reverse or reduce some of the triggering factors such as sensory overload, overeating, environmental toxins, processed foods, toxic people, drugs, caffeine, technology, and stress
    • Add things that are missing such as critical vitamins, healthy food, exercise, communication, and fresh air
    • Take care of yourself physically. Seek medical attention for chronic or undiagnosed illnesses.  Some illnesses like IBS can go away once stressors are reduced

    Sometimes just thinking about all the things wrong in this world can make you feel stressed. Trying to fix everything and everyone is overwhelming.  Focus on one thing or one person at a time. Take care of one part of your lifestyle, rather than making radical changes all of a sudden.

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Oral Motor Exercises

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    Image of mouth with occupational therapy items for oral motor skills- chew necklace, straws, mirror. Text reads "oral motor exercises for occupational therapy".

    There are many reasons to incorporate oral motor exercises into your therapy plan. Here, we are covering the reasoning behind several oral motor exercises and strategies to work on mobility and functioning in the mouth, tongue, lips, and jaw.

    Image of mouth with occupational therapy items for oral motor skills- chew necklace, straws, mirror. Text reads "oral motor exercises for occupational therapy".

    Eating is a functional skill we all do. When there are oral motor issues, occupational therapists will address this area.

    Why Oral motor Exercises?

    When we talk about oral motor exercises, it’s important to know why we are considering specific exercises. When it comes to oral motor exercises, we are striving to improve the functioning of the mouth, jaw, lips, cheeks, and tongue so that the child can demonstrate coordination needed for sound production and articulation. Other issues can arise in manipulation (chewing, movement of foods and liquids, tolerance of various textures, and swallowing food and liquids).

    When it comes to feeding issues, there can be a question of whether the feeding problems are a result of sensory processing challenges and/or oral motor considerations. Check out this resource for more information on pediatric feeding and oral motor issues or sensory issues that impact feeding abilities.

    Kids who struggle with feeding may be impacted by oral awareness and oral discrimination. These skills enable us to both be aware of the motions of the muscles and joints of the mouth to enable positioning for oral sound creation as well as movements to control and mobilize the chewing and manipulation of foods and drinks of various textures.

    Oral discrimination is essential for safety, efficiency, and function when eating.  When oral discrimination is a challenge, children can have resulting food aversions, be unaware of food in their mouth, or not be able to tolerate certain types of foods because of food texture issues, tastes, or temperatures.  They may have difficulty with managing various textures and end up with messy eating during meals. Oral discrimination also effects skills like speech and tooth brushing.

    Start here by reading more about the development of oral motor skills. Typical development of oral motor skills is an important consideration when it comes to self-feeding and movements of the mouth, tongue, and lips in tolerating new foods or textures in feeding.

    Specific reasons for incorporating oral motor exercises into a therapy program may include issues with the following movements:

    The oral motor exercises listed below can offer additional opportunities for strength and coordination of oral motor skills, as well as heavy work proprioception through the mouth as calming input to organize the body.

    These oral motor exercises are kid-friendly and improve coordination, strength, and mobility of the mouth to facilitate feeding, oral discrimination, or sensory needs.

    Let’s take a look at some of the oral motor exercises that we might use with kids…

    Oral Motor Exercises

    These activities are not the only ones that can be done to address oral discrimination issues.  Additionally, it’s important to know that therapists understand that oral discrimination is just one piece of the feeding puzzle.  Considerations such as tone, sensory processing, and oral-sensory exploration as well as many other components make up feeding.

    Tips for Oral Motor Exercises

    1. These specific oral motor exercises can be selected based on the specific needs of the child. Each exercise many not work for all individuals. And, the exercises should be modified as needed to grade up or down (make them easier or harder) based on the needs of the individual.
    2. For each exercise listed below, add a repetition to complete the task. Add in a specific number of repetitions.
    3. Add the number of days these exercises should be completed each week.
    4. Incorporate function whenever possible. Working on feeding? Add real foods of interest. Use utensils or cups when possible. Incorporate the occupation of play to make the exercises motivating and fun.
    5. Consult with a pediatric occupational therapist!

    Oral Motor Exercise Ideas

    Remember that not all of these exercises are needed for every child’s specific needs. Pick and choose the exercises that meet the needs of the child you are working with.

    • Bring their hands and fingers to his or her mouth and lips.
    • Play tongue Simon Says with a mirror. We have many oral motor Simon Says commands that can be printed off to target specific motor skills with the lips, jaw, cheeks, and tongue.
    • Play the “hokey pokey” with your tongue and cheeks.
    • Try messy play with food.
    • Encourage tolerance of a spoon or other feeding utensil in different parts of the mouth.
    • Open and close your mouth.
    • Move your tongue from side to side.
    • Press your lips together and then smack your lips apart.
    • Explore different types of utensil textures (plastic, metal, plastic covered, etc.)
    • Hold and play with a toothbrush, bringing the brush to their mouth and face.
    • Encourage mirror play, identifying parts of the mouth.
    • Add rhythmical, whole- body play with therapy balls, uneven surfaces such as trampolines or crash pads to improve proprioceptive input. (Great for core strengthening and stability needed for feeding, teeth brushing, etc.)
    • Explore mouth play with teething toys and tools.
    • Explore use of teething toys and tools in different positioning (prone, supine, side lying, etc.)
    • Use rhythmical music along with tapping the cheeks or lips.
    • Offer frozen fruit on a tongue depressor. Try this recipe for frozen fruit skewers.
    • Chew a straw.
    • Pucker your lips in a pretend kiss.
    • Blow a party noise maker.
    • Blow a kazoo.
    • Use a straw to pick up squares of paper and drop them into a bowl.
    • Make fish lips.
    • Apply Chapstick (scented or unscented) and press your lips together as you move your lips from side to side.
    • Puff up your cheeks.
    • Smack your lips.
    • Whisper the sounds the letters of the alphabet make from A-Z. Notice how your mouth moves. Or, spell out your name or other words by whispering the sounds the letters make.
    • Blow bubbles
    • Blow through a straw to move a cotton ball or small craft pom pom along a line. Can you move it through a maze?
    • Freeze water to a popsicle stick and lick or suck until the ice melts.
    • Try making these Shirley Temple popsicles. They are a tasty oral motor exercise tool.
    • Pour water into an ice cube tray. Add popsicle sticks to create a cube pop. Lick and suck until the ice melts.
    • Scoop peanut butter onto a spoon. Lick it off with the tip of your tongue.
    • Point your tongue to the end of your nose. Hold it there as long as you can.
    • Point your tongue to your chin. Hold it there as long as you can.
    • Push your tongue into your right cheek. Hold it there and then press the end of your tongue into your left cheek.
    • Count your teeth using your tongue. Touch each tooth with the tip of your tongue.
    • Chew gum. Can you blow a bubble?
    • Deep breathing mouth exercises. Use these printable deep breathing cards.

    Themed Oral Motor Exercises

    You may want to check out these themed oral motor exercises for development of motor skills in various points throughout the year. These themed exercise can be added to weekly therapy themes to increase motivation and carry through. Here are several themed oral motor exercises for kids:

    Deep breathing exercise cards for oral motor skills and proprioceptive input through the mouth and lips

    Want printable oral motor exercises? Grab the Deep Breathing Exercise Cards. The pack of deep breathing cards includes oral motor exercises for heavy proprioceptive input through the mouth, tongue, and lips, and oral motor activities using different themes, totaling 113 different exercises.

    The Oral Motor Exercises can be done anytime, using just the mouth. These strategies offer exceptional proprioceptive input through the lips, tongue, and cheeks, making a calming heavy work activity that can be used in sensory diets to help children achieve a calm and ready state of regulation.

    Click here to get your copy of the Deep Breathing Exercise Cards.

    ORAL MOTOR EXERCISES in Occupational Therapy

    Today, like many other days, I evaluated the cutest little boy.  When I asked the mother her main concern, she replied that he does not eat anything.  While he definitely had other difficulties, the core of her worries was eating.  Why?  In the hierarchy of needs, basic ones like food and sleep build the foundation of higher learning. Not only this, these are the worry triggers every parent feels on a daily basis! 

    Feeding and eating are an important part of our lives. Not only for survival, but there is a social component relating to food. Think of all the major celebrations each year; birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter.  What is one of the things families gather for?  A meal. Meal times come around at least three times a day.

    Imagine the stress on the child and their caregivers each and every meal involving a problem feeder.  When I say “problem feeder” I am not talking about your average picky eater who does not like vegetables.  I am speaking of the children like the one I evaluated today.  The only foods he will eat by mouth are corn chips and Doritos. He will drink water and juice from a bottle. This is it.  He now has a g-tube for supplemental feedings to take some of the stress off of nutrition for the moment. 

    There are a lot of components involved in eating.  Did you know there are 27 steps between having the food in the room with you, and eating a regular meal?  This is a ton of stages to navigate each and every new food that is added, especially to a picky eater or problem feeder. Add to this the oral motor difficulties that may be interfering with good eating skills. 

    Try and imagine what it can feel like to have sensory or oral motor difficulties. 

    Oral Motor Challenges That we work on in OT Sessions

    As pediatric occupational therapists, we focus on function, right? This means we assess the areas of daily living skills that are a challenge. Then we can work on those areas by addressing the underlying skills and development. So, when it comes to oral motor challenges, these are some of the things we hear parents relay to us in the OT evals.

    With oral motor struggles your child might experience the food:

    • sliding down their throat before they are ready to swallow
    • getting stuck in their mouth and they can not move it to the back
    • falling apart in their mouth, with bits of food in different spaces rather than creating a bolus. 
    • Causing their mouth to be so tired after just a few chews
    • Taking forever to chew and swallow
    • Falling out of their mouth in the front or sides
    • Getting all over their lips and not being able to clean it

    After a few trials of this, either your child accepts that they are a messy eater, or they become selective about what passes through their lips. 

    Tongue Exercises

    My step-son has significant fatigue when eating. The first few bites go down quite easily.  After a few bites, he slows down significantly.  I see him chewing and chewing the same bite for several minutes. I counted his chews once and he was chomping up to 50 times for one bite!  This means meal times last forever, or he gives up before getting adequate intake. 

    In this situation, it might be appropriate to use some tongue exercises. This can help with clearing food from the cheeks or the mouth in order to swallow food. Of course, you’ll want to have a full evaluation completed to make sure this is the most appropriate step.

    Tongue exercises to try:

    Tongue Push-Ups- Press their tongue against the roof of their mouth as if trying to push it upwards. Hold for a few seconds and release. This helps with awareness of how their tongue moves in their mouth.

    Tongue Lateralization– Have them move their tongue from side to side, touching the corners of their mouth. This helps with moving food from the cheek pockets.

    Tongue Circles: Have them move their tongue in a circular motion inside their mouth, touching the roof, sides, and bottom of the mouth. This helps with clearing food as it’s being chewed and helps with clearing the teeth when eating.

    You can work on these tongue exercises while trying different foods. Offer different consistencies like chewy licorice or bagels.

    Another chewing exercise to try is using gum to work on the chewing ability while managing saliva and holding the gum in the mouth (not allowing it to fall out when chewing). This is a fun exercise because kids may not get a chance to chew gum that often.

    Oral Motor Exercises for Gagging

    Now imagine having sensory issues in and around your mouth. If you have low awareness in your mouth, you may not notice the food in there.  You may tend to stuff your mouth in order to feel the food in there.

    This can lead to gagging and choking, a major safety concern. If you have high sensitivity or awareness in your mouth, the smallest bite can feel like a mouthful. You take teeny tiny bites, making meal time last forever. 

    When it comes to gagging, the first step would be to monitor and address the food consistency. Because we don’t want to see any risk of aspiration, you want to address this first when there is gagging happening.

    Try these things:

    Food consistency– Make sure you’re using the best consistency and start with soft foods. Do they gag with easy-to-manage textures, like purees or mashed foods? Gradually introduce more challenging textures as tolerance improves.

    Encourage small bites- Offer smaller bites of food to reduce the chance of triggering the gag reflex. Small, manageable portions are less likely to overwhelm the individual.

    Temperature– Sometimes gagging has to do with the food temperature because of sensory considerations. Try different food temperatures. Some individuals might tolerate warm or cold foods better, which can reduce gagging.

    Other ways your mouth can be sensitive can be texture, temperature, and taste. This does not take into account the smell of food either. There have been children I work with who know how hot they like their food, down to the second in the microwave.  Two seconds too much, and it gets rejected. If this does not sound that bad, imagine this same child liked her food to stay at the same temperature.  Once the food cooled down, she needed it reheated a few more seconds, otherwise she would not continue.  This is exhausting!  

    If food feels, tastes, or smells noxious, how many times are you going to keep trying?  If you feel as if you are choking each time you eat certain foods, how often are you going to eat them? Every meal time feels like an attack. Eventually the brain stops responding to calls for hunger.

    Luckily there are treatments for both oral motor and sensory processing difficulties regarding eating. The first step is to take a step back. I can almost guarantee there has been some stress felt by either you or your child around meal times. Breathe and take a second to realize your child is not likely starving.  They are likely getting something by mouth (or tube).  It may not be adequate calories or nutrition, but that will come. 

    Start with the expectation that your child will join you at meal times.  They may not eat, but just sit and see/smell the food.  This is a big step.  If your child truly has oral motor or problem feeding issues, you will benefit from  help by a trained therapist.  Not all occupational and speech therapists deal with feeding disorders.  The wrong training CAN make things worse.  

    Below are some tricks and techniques to begin working on easing some of the stress around mealtimes and eating.

    • have a supportive approach.
    • Have a routine in place. Establish a predictable mealtime routine with regular times and familiar settings.
    • Praise even small efforts.
    • Introduce new foods slowly.
    • Involve the child in meal preparation, such as washing vegetables, stirring ingredients. Here are ideas for getting kids involved in cooking tasks.
    • Use small portions so the child isn’t overwhelmed or stressed out by what’s on their plate.
    • Give the child choices about what they eat.
    • Before meals, engage the child in oral motor exercises, such as blowing bubbles or chewing on a chewy tube, or use our oral motor exercise cards.

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Pumpkin Sensory Activities

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    Pumpkin sensory activities

    During the Fall months, pumpkin-everything is all we see, hear about, and smell…so why not incorporate pumpkin sensory activities into therapy planning and play-based learning? These sensory-based pumpkin activities support development of motor skills and incorporate sensory processing in various ways, but there’s more to it: Using pumpkin sensory play is a fun way to integrate the environment during the Fall months using a therapy tool many may not have thought about: the pumpkin!

    Be sure to check out our latest sensory idea- a Pumpkin pie sensory bin! It’s so much fun for this time of year.

    Pumpkin sensory activities for sensory processing and Fall therapy strategies

    Pumpkin Sensory Activities

    Fall…It’s a time of crunchy leaves, pumpkin-scented everything, shorter days, and a chill in the air. There are many senses associated with the season! Maybe that’s why it’s the perfect time of year to incorporate sensory experiences into daily activities and a formal or informal Sensory Diet designed to meet the needs of an individual.

    Try adding the sensory based activities listed in this booklet right into your Fall bucket list this year. I’ve included many activities that are easy to incorporate into your day and family free time. Many families struggle to fine free time with work, school, sports, and weekend activities. Adding in much-needed sensory activities to a full day’s schedule can be difficult.

    These fall activities are an easy way to challenge sensory skills, provide input needed for organization and regulation of the sensory systems. Using typical Fall daily activities can establish levels of sensory needs in ordinary ways.

    When it comes to sensory seeking behavior and feedback, what helps one child might help others, though maybe in different ways. Use the ideas below to address the sensory systems while building on and developing functional skills, fine and gross motor development, coordination, balance, attention, and independence.

    There are a few reasons why the average pumpkin is a great sensory tool:

    1. A pumpkin is a sensory tool anyone can use- Whether it be the home, the therapy clinic, or schools, one thing is for sure: You are likely to see a pumpkin in all of these places as a decoration during the Fall months.

    2. Pumpkins offer many sensory options- Think about how heavy a pumpkin is. Picking up a pumpkin is just the beginning of the sensory input. Then there is the messy sensory experience with pumpkin guts. Pumpkin recipes offer another sensory experience. Pumpkin crafts, science experiences, and carving all offer different sensory options.

    Let’s break down the various pumpkin sensory activities by sensory system.

    Pumpkin Heavy Work

    Heavy work offers calming proprioceptive input. This can be achieved by heavy work input through the body…picking up heavy pumpkins is one way to support this area. Another way is through deep breathing as it offers heavy work awareness through the mouth, lips, and chest.

    Pumpkin Proprioception Sensory Activities

    1.  Move Pumpkins- Pumpkins are everywhere.  Use pumpkins to address proprioceptive needs by having kids pick up and move pumpkins from place to place.  Kids can pick their own pumpkin at a farm, carry their pumpkin to provide upper body proprioception input, strengthening, and addressing balance and coordination needs.  

    Heavy work is organizing and moving pumpkins can address sensory needs simply by picking up and carrying pumpkins.

    Try these heavy work activities:

    • Place pumpkins in a line
    • Move pumpkins around the room or yard
    • Place pumpkins in bucket, bag, or wagon

    2. Pumpkin parade- Decorate pumpkins with stickers or paints and then carry them to deliver to friends or neighbors.

    3. Pumpkin Rocks- Collect rocks of all sizes and weights.  Use them to create pumpkin rocks by painting them orange and then painting on jack-o-lantern faces.  Painting rocks is a very tactile sensory experience, using both hands together in a coordinated manner.  

    What makes this activity perfect for heavy work and addressing proprioception needs is playing with the painted pumpkin rocks after they are dry. Stack them, sort them, build with them, create small world sets, and decorate the front stoop with them.

    4.  Pumpkin Wagon Pull- Load a wagon full of leaves, sticks, corn husks, pumpkins, and even your pumpkin rocks to build a heavy work wagon pull activity.

    Kids can pull the wagon over the lawn for heavy work through the whole body.  Pull the wagon on flat sidewalks or driveways for less heavy work.  Go on a family walk with your collections or set up an impromptu Halloween parade with kids in the neighborhood.

    5. Pumpkin Deep Breathing Activities- One of our first deep breathing exercises we shared here on the site is our pumpkin deep breathing exercise. It’s a printable page that shows kids how to trace the lines of a pumpkin while breathing deeply. This is a great self-regulation strategy for coping needs.

    Tactile Pumpkin Sensory Play

    Pumpkins offer a great opportunity for the sense of touch. From messy pumpkin guts to the smooth pumpkin surface, there are many options for tactile sensory play.

    1.  Pumpkin Seed Scoop- Carving a pumpkin is an excellent sensory experience.  When it comes to scooping out the pumpkin guts, kids can challenge their tactile sense by touching and moving the seeds.  

    For kids who are not able to tolerate this task, try using latex free gloves.  Kids can also try pulling off the pumpkin’s seeds from the innards using tweezers.

    Once the seeds are removed, allow kids to rinse the seeds in a colander and strain them into containers.  

    Use scoops and spoons of different sizes to address visual motor integration skills as they move and manipulate the wet seeds. Pinching individual seeds is an excellent fine motor task.

    2. Pumpkin Sensory Bin- One of our favorite fall sensory bins is a pumpkin egg carton sensory bin. Address sensory needs by creating a sensory bin with a pumpkin theme.  Use egg cartons to create pumpkins and place them in a sensory bin filled with field corn or rice.  

    3.  Fall Texture Feel- Gather various textures from nature to create a multi- textural sensory experience.  Use leaves, sticks, acorns, small pumpkins and gourds, or dry corn husks for kids to explore various textures.

    4. Paint pumpkins– Painting pumpkins can be done to meet the needs and abilities of any individual and it’s a great Fall activity. Set up young children at the water table like we did to paint rubber ducks using water colors. Or, paint pumpkins and add details like feathers, sequins, beads, and gems.

    Pumpkin sensory bins

    Pumpkin sensory bins offer so many sensory experiences. Make them a messy sensory play or dry tactile sensory input, and you can address fine motor, visual motor, tactile, tool use, and much more.

    Add a dry or wet sensory bin base, a container, scoops, pumpkin materials, and items to explore.

    • This Halloween Sensory Bin is one option for scooping and pouring with a pumpkin theme. 
    • A Halloween Sensory Table can be set up on a play table like a train table. Use the items you have in the home to support tactile sensory exploration.
    • This Pumpkin Sensory Bin uses dry corn and pumpkins made from egg cartons for sensory play.

    Pumpkin Visual Sensory Play

    1. Color Assessment- Use a magnifying glass to explore the colors of leaves, tree trunks, and nature finds while out on a nature hunt. Kids can look for each color of the rainbow in a scavenger hunt type of activity.  This fall activity builds visual scanning needed for reading and writing.

    2.  Pumpkin Seed Colors- Use dry seeds from a pumpkin to create colorful seeds using liquid food coloring or liquid water colors.  While these seeds won’t be edible, they are great for creative play!  Use the seeds to sort, manipulate, and create in Fall themed learning and play or artwork.

    3. Pumpkin Sensory Bag- A sensory bag is a great way to incorporate sensory experiences and fine motor play. Simply fill a plastic bag with gel or soapy water. Then add materials like pumpkin seeds, sequins, food coloring, etc.

    Kids can move the material around with their fingers to find hidden objects in a seek and find sensory bag or even write letters like we did with this window sensory bag.

    Scented Pumpkin Sensory Activities

    1.  Pumpkin Puree Touch and Smell- Grab a can of pumpkin puree from your grocery store and use it to challenge the sense of smell.  Ask kids to dip a craft stick into the pumpkin and smell the craft stick. You can use several craft sticks that are scented and unscented.  

    Kids can pull one craft stick at a time from a jar and determine if it is a pumpkin stick or not. Do this activity blindfolded so that kids don’t see the stained craft stick.

    2.  Pumpkin Spice Painting- Use pumpkin spice seasoning to create a scented sensory paint.  Mix the seasoning with flour and water to create a finger paint mixture.  

    Color can be added with liquid water colors or food coloring. Once your child has created a painting, pop it into the microwave for a few seconds to create a puffy paint creation.

    Pumpkin Taste Sensory Activities

    Pumpkin Cooking with Kids- Use pumpkin puree to create all kinds of taste experiences with cooking with kids activities.  Add pumpkin to brownies, granola, or oatmeal for a taste experience while discovering new flavors.

    How many ways can you think of to incorporate pumpkins into sensory play?  Just cutting into a pumpkin to carve a jack-o-lantern is such a sensory experience in itself. 

    Why Use Pumpkin Sensory Activities?

    The cool thing about using a pumpkin theme in sensory play is that a single activity supports many areas of development. This is why occupational therapy practitioners set up a sensory bin in therapy sessions.

    Let’s take a look at why we might use a pumpkin sensory bins and sensory play activities in occupational therapy sessions…

    1. Fine Motor Skills: Handling and manipulating small objects like pumpkin mini erasers or tongs to pick up craft pom poms to put into mini plastic pumpkins in a sensory bin helps develop hand strength, coordination, and dexterity.
    2. Tactile Sensory Exploration: Sensory play, especially messy sensory play, like playing with pumpkin seeds, allows children to explore different textures, which helps them process and respond to sensory information from their environment.
    3. Cognitive Development: A pumpkin sensory play activity like the ones we shared above help kids engage in problem-solving, experimentation, and exploration, which is a great way to support executive functioning skills in play.
    4. Language Development: Sensory activities, especially during the Fall months, provide opportunities for children to describe their experiences, ask questions, and learn new vocabulary related to textures, actions, and objects.
    5. Calm and Focus: We love to use a sensory bin or a sensory bottle as a self regulation tool. Sensory play can be soothing and help children regulate their emotions, making it an effective tool for calming down and improving focus.
    6. Social Skills Development: When shared with others, sensory play encourages cooperative play, turn-taking, and communication, which are essential social skills.
    7. Supports Emotional Regulation: Sensory activities help children manage stress and anxiety by providing a calming and engaging outlet for their emotions.

    Pumpkin Sensory Motor Activities

    In our Pumpkin fine motor kit, you’ll find pumpkin theme activities to improve not only fine motor strength and dexterity, but sensory motor play activities. These include pumpkin play dough mats, interactive pumpkin mazes, pumpkin visual processing activities, lacing cards, I Spy pages, and so much more.

    Grab a copy of the Pumpkin Fine Motor Kit to jump start sensory play this Fall!

    Pumpkin activity kit
    Pumpkin Fine Motor Kit

    Grab the Pumpkin Fine Motor Kit for more coloring, cutting, and eye-hand coordination activities with a Pumpkin theme! It includes:

    • 7 digital products that can be used any time of year- has a “pumpkins” theme
    • 5 pumpkin scissor skills cutting strips
    • Pumpkin scissor skills shapes- use in sensory bins, math, sorting, pattern activities
    • 2 pumpkin visual perception mazes with writing activity
    • Pumpkin “I Spy” sheet – color in the outline shapes to build pencil control and fine motor strength
    • Pumpkin Lacing cards – print, color, and hole punch to build bilateral coordination skills
    • 2 Pumpkin theme handwriting pages – single and double rule bold lined paper for handwriting practice

    Work on underlying fine motor and visual motor integration skills so you can help students excel in handwriting, learning, and motor skill development.

    You can grab this Pumpkin Fine Motor kit for just $6!

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise for Halloween Mindfulness

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    Pumpkin deep breathing exercise

    This Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise is the very first visual breathing tool that we created here on the website. We now have many more deep breathing exercises designed to support self-regulation, mindfulness, and brain break needs. We’ve recently updated this Halloween mindfulness activity to include more information on WHY this pumpkin deep breathing strategy works. We’ve also updated the printable to include a pumpkin breathing poster and a pumpkin mindfulness coloring page! This printable deep breathing exercise is a great Halloween Mindfulness mindfulness activity.

    This pumpkin deep breathing exercise would be a fun addition to the sensory benefits of our pumpkin sensory bin activity.

    You can get both below or access them in our Member’s Club.

    Pumpkin Deep breathing exercise

    Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise

    This Halloween activity is one that I came up with while thinking about our recent Halloween Occupational Therapy activities post. So often, we see kids who struggle with coping strategies and require tools to improve self regulation.

    This can occur at school or at home. What if we could combine a child’s interest in all things Halloween with a deep breathing exercise that can be used as a coping strategy, or a calm down activity?

    That’s where this pumpkin deep breathing exercise comes in.

    This deep breathing exercise uses a pumpkin for a coping strategy for kids that is a calm down strategy this Halloween.

    Halloween Mindfulness Activity

    We’ve created many breathing exercises to calm down kids (and adults) here on the website, and this pumpkin themed mindfulness strategy is just one of the tools in the toolbox.

    So often, parents and teachers ask for strategies to use as a coping mechanism. When kids have coping tools in their toolbox for addressing sensory needs, worries, and getting to that “just right” state of regulation, a self-reflective state can occur.

    Addressing specific needs like sensory overload, worries or anxiety, fears, or nervousness can be as simple as having a set of sensory coping strategies on hand. One way to do this is using mindfulness and positive coping skills like this deep breathing exercises.

    Using deep breathing exercises to support mindfulness and coping skills works for several reasons:

    • When kids are taught about how their body feels and reacts in certain situations, they can self-reflect on past responses.
    • They can better understand who they are and how their body reacts to stressful or sensory situations.
    • By better understanding their states of regulation, they can be mindful of things that may set them off, but better yet, know how to respond.
    • Having a coping strategy on hand can set them up for success in learning or social situations.

    Practicing mindfulness activities and coping strategies can be powerful for kids!

    Mindfulness is the ability and awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations as our body responds or reacts in thought, feeling, and sensations. Mindfulness is being present in the moment in any given situation with full awareness of inward and outward sensations. Practicing mindful awareness through deep breathing exercises is one way to notice how our body is reacting in a given moment and provides a tool to reset. Coping skills for kids may include deep breathing as just one strategy.

    Here are some mindfulness videos on YouTube to help kids better understand what coping strategies and mindfulness in action looks and feels like.

    Deep breathing acts as a coping tactic and a calming activity. It’s an easy coping strategy for kids because taking deep breaths with mindful breathing can be done anywhere and without any equipment.

    Taking controlled breaths with deep breathing can give kids a sense of control that helps them rest and address self-regulation or emotional regulation when they are upset, worried, or feel a need to calm down.

    Halloween Breathing Exercise

    So now that we’ve covered deep breathing and why it’s a helpful coping strategy for kids, let’s talk about a fun Halloween themed coping strategy that kids will love to try.

    The deep breathing printable activity uses a simple picture of a pumpkin, but you can use a real pumpkin, too.

    Use a real pumpkin for more sensory benefits.

    The small decorative gourds or pie pumpkins are perfect for this activity, because kids can hold the small pumpkin in their hands and feel the weight of the pumpkin as they complete the breathing strategy.

    1. Hold a small pumpkin in the palm of your hand.
    2. Use your pointer finger of your other hand to slowly trace up a ridge and breathe in.
    3. Then trace down another ridge and breathe out.
    4. Continue tracing the ridges of the pumpkin while deeply breathing in and out.

    Take the breathing exercise a step further by trace the lines up toward the stem while taking a deep breath in. Hold the breath for a few seconds and then trace a line down another section of the pumpkin while slowly breathing out. Hold that breath for a few seconds. Repeat this process as you slowly trace up and down the sections of the pumpkin.

    What’s happening with this pumpkin breathing exercise?

    Several sensory systems are at work here when using a real pumpkin in this Halloween mindfulness strategy:

    Heavy Work- The weight of the pumpkin on the arches of the palm of the hand= PROPRIOCEPTIVE sensory system.

    Calming Tactile Cues- Engaging the tactile sensory system to trace the ridges of a smooth surface. Think about how some individuals like rubbing specific textures like a silky blanket or the calming strips of a fidget tool. Running a finger along the groove of a smooth pumpkin surface engages that calming tactile input.

    Belly Breathing- Deep breaths combined with a visual focus offers proprioceptive input through the lungs and diaphragm. Engage belly breathing by taking in fully breaths to fully engage the lungs. Then hold the breath for a second or two before releasing the breath. When belly breathing is engaged, the lungs continue to expand for a moment and add further pressure throughout the ribcage and internal organs. This breath control evokes the interoceptive system.

    Bilateral Coordination- When holding the pumpkin and tracing with a finger on the other hand, both sides of the body are at work in a coordinated manner, otherwise known as bilateral coordination. Holding the pumpkin with one hand and tracing with the other hand engages bilateral use of both sides of the body.

    Whether you are using a pumpkin picture or real pumpkin, show kids how to use deep breathing as a coping tool by taking calming breaths while they trace the lines of the pumpkin.

    Pumpkin deep breathing poster and coloring page
    Pumpkin deep breathing poster and coloring page

    Halloween Deep Breathing Poster

    In this newest update to our calming breathing exercise, we created both a pumpkin deep breathing poster and a coloring page.

    1. The poster can be printed out and hung in a classroom, therapy clinic or home.

    2. Use the deep breathing exercise as a brain break during the month of October.

    3. It’s a great tool for using during Halloween parties as a therapist- approved activity that supports underlying needs, too.

    4. Many times, children can become overstimulated during classroom Halloween parties, and the days leading up to Halloween. Use the pumpkin deep breathing visual as a tool for the whole classroom to organize their sensory systems and focus on the learning that still needs to happen.

    5. This printable page is full color and makes a great addition to a calm down corner this time of year.

    6. You can even add the pumpkin breathing poster to our Fall Sensory Stations, and include this in a hallway or therapy clinic this time of year.

    7. One final way to use this pumpkin mindfulness exercise is during the actual trick or treating. Kids with sensory or self-regulation needs can become overstimulated during trick or treating on Halloween. There is a lot of sensory stimulation out there! From lights, to fog machines, children running in the streets, and lots of strangers in the neighborhood, trick-or-treating is an overloading environment for many kids and adults! Print off a copy of this pumpkin deep breathing tool and use it calm down, engage focused breathing strategies, and cope as needed!

    Pumpkin Breathing Coloring Page

    In the new download below, you’ll also find a page that is a pumpkin breathing coloring page. We know there are many benefits of coloring and one is the calming ability that coloring has.

    Adding heavy work by coloring in pages can be a great way to calm the sensory system through heavy work in the hands.

    Print off the coloring page and use it in several ways this time of year:

    • Color in at occupational therapy sessions
    • Use as a whole class activity
    • Kids can color in the breathing exercise page and use them as individual brain break tools
    • Hang the coloring page on a bulletin board for Halloween that explains sensory self-regulation strategies
    • Include in a Halloween party
    Use a pumpkin as a deep breathing exercise for a coping strategy for kids.

    This printable Halloween mindfulness activity supports coping needs.

    Free Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise

    Want to get this free Pumpkin breathing exercise in both a color Poster format AND a coloring page? You’ve got it! Just enter your email address into the form below to access both printable pages.

    This resource is also inside our Member’s Club. Members can log into their accounts and download the file directly without the need to enter an email address. The printable pages are located on our Pumpkin Therapy Theme page and our Mindfulness Toolbox.

    Not a member of the Member’s Club yet? JOIN US HERE.

    Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise

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      Pumpkin activity kit
      Pumpkin Fine Motor Kit

      Grab the Pumpkin Fine Motor Kit for more coloring, cutting, and eye-hand coordination activities with a Pumpkin theme! It includes:

      • 7 digital products that can be used any time of year- has a “pumpkins” theme
      • 5 pumpkin scissor skills cutting strips
      • Pumpkin scissor skills shapes- use in sensory bins, math, sorting, pattern activities
      • 2 pumpkin visual perception mazes with writing activity
      • Pumpkin “I Spy” sheet – color in the outline shapes to build pencil control and fine motor strength
      • Pumpkin Lacing cards – print, color, and hole punch to build bilateral coordination skills
      • 2 Pumpkin theme handwriting pages – single and double rule bold lined paper for handwriting practice

      Work on underlying fine motor and visual motor integration skills so you can help students excel in handwriting, learning, and motor skill development.

      You can grab this Pumpkin Fine Motor kit for just $6!

      Halloween Mindfulness Activities

      Use this printable pumpkin deep breathing exercise as a Halloween mindfulness activity. Other printable Halloween mindfulness activities include:

      Halloween Hand Breathing Technique

      We also have a new deep breathing exercise for the Fall or Halloween season. If using a printable to achieve Halloween coping skills isn’t ideal (sometimes you don’t have the printable version with you…or for some kids it might be hard for them to picture a pumpkin as they are coping with some self-regulation needs…), then having another tool in your toolbox is a must.

      We’ve come up with a Halloween Hand Breathing Technique to fit the bill!

      All you need is your hands and fingers to using this hand tracing breathing strategy.

      We talk a bit about using the Hand Breathing Technique for a self-reset to address coping skills, mindset, offset worries or anxiety, and as a deep breathing strategy.

      Check out our video over on YouTube, or you can see it below. If you can’t view the video due to blockers on your computer or device, check out our Pumpkin Hand Breathing Technique over on YouTube.

      To complete the Halloween Hand breathing technique, you can use the same pumpkin deep breathing strategy, but trace a pumpkin on the palm of your hand. We also included a pumpkin tracing task to create a motor plan for the pumpkin shape that is incorporated with deep breaths in and out.

      FAQ about Using a Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise with Kids

      Why is deep breathing important for kids?
      Deep breathing helps children manage stress, calm their minds, and improve focus. It also teaches them a valuable tool for self-regulation and emotional control. The pumpkin deep breathing exercise provides a great visual prompt for breathing strategies.

      How do you use deep breathing exercises during the day with kids?
      The best way is to make it part of a routine! Add this to a sensory diet or just incorporate at different parts of the day, like before walking out the door in the morning.

      How often should kids do deep breathing exercises?
      Kids can practice deep breathing exercises daily or as needed when they feel anxious, stressed, or need help calming down. Short sessions of 3-5 minutes are usually sufficient.

      What’s a simple deep breathing exercise to start with?
      I like using the pumpkin breathing strategy because it’s fun! You can add something called “Belly Breathing”, too. Have your child place their hands on their belly, breathe in deeply through the nose to fill their belly like a balloon, and then exhale slowly through the mouth.

      How can I make deep breathing fun for kids?
      Use visual aids like the pumpkin in the picture to trace while breathing. Adding a coloring page like the one in our pumpkin deep breathing exercise printable is fun, too.

      What should I do if my child is resistant to deep breathing exercises?
      Keep the practice light and fun. Use props like a real pumpkin that they can trace as they breathe. It’s important to be patient and not force the practice, allowing the child to engage at their own pace.

      How can I incorporate deep breathing into our daily routine?
      A: You can incorporate deep breathing during transitions, such as before homework, after school, or as part of the bedtime routine. Making it a regular part of the day helps it become a natural and effective coping tool.

      Have fun!

      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

      Crayon Play Dough Harold and the Purple Crayon Activity

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      Harold and the Purple Crayon play dough, child cutting purple play dough with a cookie cutter and purple play dough creations

      Many years ago (Aug 26, 2014 to be exact!) we made this Harold and the Purple Crayon Play Dough activity because it was one of our FAVORITE books. My kids loved that book and the fact that there is now a movie…we are going to see this movie even though my kids are now teenagers! I loved this play dough activity because first, we made the homemade play dough recipe ourselves (it’s a version of our original crayon play dough recipe) and then, my kids worked those fine motor skills and visual motor skills to build creations, just like in the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon! Check it out…

      Harold and the purple crayon activity. Child pressing a cookie cutter into purple play dough and play dough creations using homemade purple play dough.

      We used homemade purple play dough and then worked those fine motor skills to make creations! Play dough exercises improve hand strength and finger dexterity. The soft and squishy dough provides a tactile sensory challenge with proprioceptive sensory feedback. The bonus is the strengthening of the arches of the hands and precision of grasp. These are just some of the benefits of play dough!

      Harold and the Purple Crayon Play Dough

      Working with play dough builds fine motor skills. You can really target pinch strength and grip strength by rolling play dough snakes, and that’s what this play dough activity is all about. In the book, the crayon is used to create wild creations…we did the same thing with playdough!

      This installment of the Preschool Book Club was one of our favorite activities, by far.  We made a batch of our play dough recipe, but added a twist.  We wanted to incorporate not only the purple color of Harold and the Purple Crayon, but the crayon, too!  This Crayon Play Dough uses real crayons in the play dough recipe and makes a silky smooth dough…perfect for creating, playing, manipulating, and more!

       

       
      Recipe for DIY play dough using crayons
       
       

      Crayon Play Dough Recipe

      Harold and the Purple Crayon activity with purple play dough
       
      This post contains affiliate links.  

      Harold and the Purple Crayon Activity

       
      The book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson is such a FUN book.  It’s great for preschoolers, but grabs the attention of toddlers and school-aged kids, too.  When we read this book, all of my kids were frozen as they took in the bold pictures and the imagination of Harold. 
       
      We had a blast re-creating parts of the book with play dough lines.  Of course, we needed purple, CRAYON play dough to go along with the book!

       

       
       
      We love making our own play dough.  To make crayon play dough, you’ll need just a few adjustments.
       
       
      1. First, chop up 2 and a half crayons.  I’m not sure that these exact amounts matter.  There are so many different brands of crayons with different wax make-ups.  We used a few different types mixed together and the results were a silky smooth play dough.
       
      2. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cup salt, 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar)
       
      3. Next, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. 
       
      4. Add the chopped crayons. 
       
      5. Stir until the crayons are completely melted.  Slowly stir in 2 cups of water while stirring.  Certain types of crayons will either make a clumpy purply goopy looking liquid.  Other types will make a smooth liquid once the water is added.  Either way is fine.  Just keep stirring. 
       
      6. Slowly, stir in the dry ingredients.  The dough will pull together in a ball over the heat. 
       
      7. Once the dough pulls together, dump it out onto a cutting board or counter.  Let the dough cool until you can tolerate kneading. 
       
      8. Knead the dough for a few minutes until smooth.  (Note~ The waxy texture of this dough will create a spa-like experience while kneading.  This mama mixed up a few more batches of crayon dough and loved the mini-spa of kneading!)
       
      Purple crayon play dough
       
      Once cooled, you are ready to play.
       
      Child playing with DIY play dough made from purple crayons
       
      Crayon play dough is so smooth and silky to play with!  The color was very bold and bright.  Just like the purple crayon in the book!
       
       
      We read Harold and the Purple Crayon a bunch of times before returning to the library.  Before it went back, we used our purple crayon play dough to make purple lines and “draw” them into shapes and pictures, just like Harold did in the book.
       
      Create an activity for the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon



      Harold’s house “drawn” with our purple play dough.

       
       
      Little Guy made a boat, a Harold, and a snowman.
       
       
      Use crayons to make your own play dough!
       
       
      This was such a fun way to explore a great book.
       
       

      More Harold and the Purple Crayon Activities

       
      Looking for more activities for the book, Harold and the Purple Crayon?  Stop by and see what the other Preschool Book Club bloggers have done:
       
       
      Homegrown Friends: Giant Purple Crayon Mural
      Buggy and Buddy: Yarn Art
      Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails: Lavender Crayon Soaps
      Mama. Papa. Bubba. blog: Dry Erase Activity
       
       
      Be sure to make your own play dough with crayons and use all of the broken crayon pieces to make a rainbow of crayon play dough colors!
       
       
      hands-on activities to explore social emotional development through children's books.

      Love exploring books with hands-on play?  

      Grab our NEW book, Exploring Books Through Play: 50 Activities based on Books About Friendship, Acceptance, and Empathy, that explores friendship, acceptance, and empathy through popular (and amazing) children’s books!  It’s 50 hands-on activities that use math, fine motor skills, movement, art, crafts, and creativity to support social emotional development.
       
       
       

      Prone Extension Activities

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      Prone extension… this is a topic that comes up often when talking about occupational therapy activities! So often, we see kiddos who struggle with sensory modulation, core strength and core stability, body awareness, endurance, sensory processing needs. Prone extension activities can help strengthen and address other areas like those mentioned, and more.

      Below, you’ll find various prone extension activities that can be incorporated into occupational therapy treatment sessions and included in home programs.

      Child in a prone extension position in a therapy tube

      We also love to use these movement ideas in targeting gross motor coordination skills in occupational therapy obstacle courses.

      Prone Extension Activities for Kids

      Use the following prone extension activity ideas in games, play, and activities to improve skills like body awareness while providing proprioceptive and vestibular input. Many times, prone extension activities can be incorporated into learning activities too, or used to compliment other therapy goals such as visual memory or other visual perceptual needs.

      What is prone extension?

      Prone extension is the position that you probably know as “superman pose”. When a child lies on their stomach and raises their arms and legs off the floor, they are assuming prone extension. This means that the body is in a prone position on the floor and the arms and legs are in extension.

      The superman pose is positioning in an anti-gravity movement that promotes and requires an both the sensory systems and motor skills to work in an integrated manner. A prone extension position can occur in other locations beyond the floor. For example, a therapy ball, mat, swing, etc. can all be valuable tools in promoting and eliciting this movement pattern.

      When assuming a sustained prone extension position, there is fluent and effective use of both the inner AND outer core musculature.

      Observation of this position as well as other motor patterns are typically looked at during an occupational therapy evaluation in order to assess strength, sensory and motor systems, body awareness, motor planning, bilateral coordination, as well as other areas.

      Prone extension activities are a great way to encourage vestibular input as well as other areas mentioned above. Additionally, a prone extension activity can be an easy way to add proprioceptive input to a child seeking heavy work pressure.

      To encourage longer periods of prone extension positioning, try adding additional activities such as games, puzzles, or reaching activities while in the prone position to encourage the hands and arms to reach forward for longer periods of time.

      Examples of Prone Extension

      Amazon affiliate links are included below.

      Adding prone positioning into play can be easy. Try some of the ideas listed below:

      1. Use a scooter board. Ask the child to hold onto a rope with “strong arms” as they are pulled down a hallway. To further extend this activity, ask the child to pull themselves along a length of space while lying in prone on the scooter board. Add additional resistance by using the scooter board on a carpeted surface.

      2. While lying on a therapy ball or bolster, as the child to place bean bags or other objects into a bucket that is placed on a raised surface such as a scooter board. Move the scooter and bucket to various positions to encourage additional reach and extension. Once a bean bag makes it into a bucket, go in for a high five! What an encouraging way to promote that prone extension!

      3. While lying on a mat or other surface, ask the child to toss rings onto a target area. This could be a hula hoop positioned on the floor or another type of target.

      4. Using a chair or ottoman (couch cushions on the floor work well, too), show the child how to lay on their belly on the cushions. This provides an uneven surface. Some children will want to keep their toes on the floor to steady themselves. Others may want to lift their legs and feet for additional vestibular input. Ask the child to reach out and pop bubbles.

      5. For the child that appreciates vestibular input, ask them to lay their belly on an office stool type of chair. Using their hands, they can push away from a wall to make the chair move backwards. Other children may like this activity on a scooter board.

      6. Ask kids to lie on their stomachs as they use straws to blow cotton balls or craft pom poms into a target. This is an exercise in oral motor skills and deep breathing, too. Deep breaths in can promote the stability needed to sustain a prone extended position. However, breathing out in a lengthy, slow breath to move those cotton balls provides a chance to really engage those inner and outer core muscles.

      7. Kids can hit targets (both high and low) using a pool noodle while in a prone position. Reaching forward with those hands to hit targeted areas promotes eye-hand coordination, while really engaging that core!

      8. Add a home program with fun exercises that promote posturing, movement challenges, and activities.

       The options are endless when it comes to adding vestibular and proprioceptive input through prone extension positioning and activities. Think outside of the box to come up with fun and unique ideas that provide heavy work input while addressing all of the other areas kids so often need!

      What are your favorite prone extension activities for kids?


       
      Prone extension activities are great for adding vestibular input and proprioceptive sensory input through heavy work. There are so many other benefits of activities using prone extension in occupational therapy and in promoting development in kids!
       
       
       
      Try these prone extension activities to help kids develop bilateral coordination, strength, motor planning, and other skills while getting sensory input in the form of vestibular and proprioception.
       

      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

      Outdoor Sensory Path Ideas

      by

      Now that the weather has started to get warmer, you might be looking for some outside activities. I know a lot of people have 101 reasons not to go outside (too hot, too cold, pollen, etc.) but being outdoors provides such great sensory input. Without adding any activities, the outdoors provides natural input; there is sunshine, wind, birds, flowers, dirt, water, and more. For those looking for more than environmental sensory input, in this post you will find some great sensory path ideas.

      This is a Summer occupational therapy activity you can use for many goal areas.

      outdoor sensory path ideas

      There are so many ways to gain the benefits of sensory motor skill work using an outdoor sensory pathway!

      What is a Sensory Path?

      Before diving right into outdoor sensory path ideas, we need to take a step back to define a sensory path.  A sensory path is a defined path, or walkway that directs users to complete a variety of sensory-motor tasks. The activities that make up a sensory path are typically gross motor tasks that incorporate proprioceptive input, vestibular input, and visual input, in order to meet sensory needs. These sensory systems are powerful regulating tools to organize and this is why motor movements in a sensory path engage these systems. It’s a great tool for supporting gross motor coordination.

      Using an outdoor sensory path is a motor skills task. Read more about kinesthetic learning as a tool for skill development.

      A sensory path is typically a literal pathway on the ground; it may be painted onto a sidewalk or schoolyard. It may be stickers or images stuck to a floor or hallway in a school. Or, it might even be a chalk path on a sidewalk or driveway.

      Many of you are familiar with the  the (Amazon affiliate link) sensory pathways displayed on walls and floors of the school building. These are available commercially, or sensory paths can be made with paint and stickers.  The fun does not have to end there!  This Sensory Obstacle Path book is a great resource for getting started.

      Other ideas include using our printable version of sensory stations. These PDFs, when hung on a hallway or as part of an obstacle course, become an interactive sensory pathway. The ones you’ll find on The OT Toolbox include:

      Outdoor Sensory Path Ideas

      Many children (and their caregivers) do not know where to begin when playing outside.  Unfortunately, people have become so accustomed to technology, they have forgotten how to play.  Creating a sensory path gives defined boundaries to an activity.  Children really do thrive on structure and repetition. 

      With these outdoor sensory path ideas, you can create great occupational therapy obstacle courses with defined limits.  Set up the path, then determine how many times it needs to be completed in succession.  I love the idea of having students use counters or objects to define how many rotations they have done. I use puzzle pieces, coins, clothespins, or any other small item that can be slipped into a pocket.

      A lot of the following games use sidewalk chalk, but feel free to use rope/tape/paint/string or cones and buckets to define your space. We have other ideas in our indoor obstacle course post.

      Hopscotch

      This is a classic game. I hope it continues to be passed along from generation to generation. All you need is a piece of chalk, a couple of counters, and a little space. It’s easy to set up as a sensory path:

      1. Draw out your grid. 
      2. Learners can hop on one foot, jump with feet together, jump left and right or feet apart, squat to retrieve objects and turn around.

      Hopping and jumping are great proprioceptive activities that help to organize the sensory system.  Feel free to make your hop scotch permanent with paint, although changing the obstacle courses frequently adds to their appeal.

      Outdoor sensory path ideas – The Sensory road

      How about using that same chalk and creating a road to travel? Dust off the Big wheels or scooter boards, draw a path/road with chalk, and add some obstacles. If you use a scooter board, you can incorporate some prone extension activities.

      Have kids pick up objects along the way and deposit them in another container. Put cones or buckets in the road to navigate. Attach a wagon filled with weights to increase the workout.  You can use chalk, tape, rope, chain, or whatever you have handy. 

      You can even create a temporary space or paint the road on your space for long lasting fun. When my kids were young, we used a roll of masking tape to create a road in our unfinished basement. They would move their ride on toys around the basement along the masking tape road.

      Activity obstacle course

      • Another outdoor sensory path idea is an obstacle course. Think; relay races from field day or P.E class.  Use a large spoon to carry rocks or pinecones from one end to another.  This can be the entirety of the game, or spice it up with more obstacles.  Carry the pinecone, jump over the sticks, go around the bushes, crawl under another obstacle. Add calisthenics such as sit ups, pushups, jumping jacks, or side hops to the sensory path.
      • Amazon (affiliate link) has a nice Obstacle Course in a Box if you are looking for a prepackaged idea.  Here is a kit of simple staple supplies such as rings, bean bags, and cones.
      • Animal Walk Sensory Path- Another idea I love is using an animal walk theme, where the child can move through a sensory path with different animal walks. It prompts you to think about adding items for jumping, hopping, throwing, kicking, crab walks, crawling and more.
      • What do you have around the house you could turn into an obstacle course?  Once, we made a string maze with rope/string for learners to climb their way through. This is a great activity for supporting motor planning skills.
      • Use these pool noodle ideas to create a course of rings and hoops. They show ideas for the pool, snow, and more.

      Outdoor sensory walk

      • Check out these garden sensory paths that tie nature and sensory input into a delightful garden feature. These sensory paths feature the tactile sense. Take those shoes off and get your feet in the earth.  Create a path with different textures: grass, pebbles, stepping stones, concrete, pea gravel, sand, mud, wood planks, shells, sticks and more. There are some nature sensory paths that people have built into their landscape, as well as temporary ones build into carboard boxes or trays.
      • Temporary outdoor sensory walk – You can create an outdoor sensory path that can be removed when the play is done. Get different plastic tubs, fill them with different textures, and create a fun tactile path.  Ideas might include: rocks, water, pebbles, grass clippings, sand, birdseed, leaves, sticks, and more.
      • Benefits of Nature Play – This post highlights outdoor sensory path ideas using nature play.  Use what is already available to enlighten the senses and create some great outdoor play.
      DIY ninja warrior course ideas- wooden pallets, slack line, climbing structures, playground equipment, stepping stones

      Another idea for a sensory walk is a ninja warrior course.

      Ninja Warrior courses

      With the rise in popularity of American Ninja Warrior, kids and adults are really getting into fitness through obstacle course training. Have you ever thought about making your own DIY ninja warrior course?

      Build your own course or purchase ready-made pieces you might have around the house. Some ideas include:

      • wooden pallets
      • Wooden boards like a 2×4 in different lengths
      • Slanted wood balanced on rocks or bricks
      • Climbing walls

      You can also purchase Ninja Warrior materials and create a backyard ninja course:

      Chalk walk ideas

      I love using a chalk walk as a sensory path because it requires just chalk and an outdoor space. You can target so many skills with a single chalk walk!

      Chalk Walk

      We mentioned a few ideas to create a chalk walk (hopscotch, making a road, or an outdoor chalk line path), but what are some specific ways to incorporate different movements using just chalk? Here our our ideas to support proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual input?

      Where to make a Chalk Walk?

      Another nice thing about a chalk walk as a therapy tool is that all you need is a box of sidewalk chalk. We’ve made chalk walks at different places:

      • Sidewalk
      • Driveway (Read about our driveway sensory diet for more inspiration!)
      • Park or playground
      • Empty parking lot
      • Cul-da-sac in a neighborhood
      • Playground basketball court

      You can incorporate different sensory motor tasks that are inspired by sensory integration therapy, using just the chalk and a large writing space. Some ideas include:

      Hopscotch: Create a hopscotch grid with different shapes or numbers to promote balance and coordination.

      Balance Beam: Draw a straight or wavy line for kids to walk on, encouraging balance and body awareness. Here are more balance beam ideas to add to your list.

      Obstacle Course: Design a chalk obstacle course with different challenges like hopping, spinning, and tiptoeing.

      Alphabet Path: Write the alphabet in a path for children to follow, promoting letter recognition and movement.
      Number Line Jump: Draw a number line and have kids jump to specific numbers, integrating math skills with physical activity.

      Shape Jumping: Draw various shapes and have kids jump from shape to shape, enhancing spatial awareness and motor planning.

      Simon Says Path: Create a path with different actions written in each section, like “spin,” “hop,” or “crawl.”

      Color Hunt: Draw different colored circles or shapes and ask children to run to specific colors, integrating color recognition and Animal Walks: Draw animal footprints and have kids imitate the movements of different animals as they follow the path.

      Emotional Faces: Draw faces with different emotions and ask children to move to the face that represents how they feel, integrating Sensory Tracing: Draw large letters or shapes for children to trace with their fingers, enhancing tactile feedback and fine motor skills.

      Breathing Circle: Draw a large circle and practice deep breathing exercises while walking around the circle.

      Dynamic Paths: Create paths with different textures by adding elements like sand or water to the chalk, stimulating tactile senses.

      Chalk Mazes: Draw mazes for children to navigate, enhancing problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.

      Jumping Dots: Place dots in varying distances for kids to jump between, promoting proprioception and muscle strength.

      Shadow Tracing: Use chalk to trace shadows at different times of the day, combining sensory input with outdoor exploration.

      Body Part Path: Draw a path with labels for different body parts (e.g., “touch with left hand,” “step with right foot”), promoting body awareness.

      Spiral Walk: Draw a large spiral for kids to walk or run around, providing vestibular input and promoting balance.

      Toss at a Target: Draw circles with letters inside. Throw a pebble into a circle and then write that letter with chalk. Here is a letter writing activity with chalk.

      Inclusive Chalk Walk

      The nice thing about creating a chalk walk for kids is that you can individualize it to meet the needs of the kids you are working with. So, for some kiddos that require more inclusive ideas, you can definitely create a chalk walk that supports their needs. You could also incorporate self regulation strategies like deep breathing breaks in the task, or make it smaller or bigger. It really depends on the kids you are supporting!

      Grade the Chalk Walk Down– Grading down a chalk walk to make it more inclusive for lower-level kids involves simplifying tasks. This is something we do naturally as occupational therapy providers, right? We can offer the support level needed AND ensure that the activities are achievable and engaging, because that’s what helps the child achieve their goals! This is what we call the “just right challenge“.

      Here are some strategies that support occupational therapy goals of gross motor coordination, fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, and executive functioning skills:

      • Wider paths: Draw wider lines or paths to make it easier for children to walk on without losing balance.
      • Simpler shapes: Use basic shapes like circles and squares instead of more complex patterns.
      • Shorter distances: Reduce the length of the path or the distance between tasks to avoid overwhelming the child.
      • Fewer steps: Limit the number of steps in a sequence to keep tasks manageable and less confusing.
      • Visual aids: Add visual cues or markers, such as arrows or footprints, to guide children along the path.
      • Lower jumps: Create lower hopscotch squares or stepping pads to reduce the height children need to jump.
      • Verbal prompts: Use clear, simple verbal instructions to guide children through each activity.
      • Physical support: Provide hand-holding or use a handrail for balance and support as children navigate the path.
      • Use of props: Incorporate props like balance beams or stepping stones with tactile feedback to aid movement.
      • Repetitive patterns: Use repetitive patterns that children can easily recognize and follow.
      • Reduced speed: Encourage children to move at their own pace, focusing on slow and deliberate movements.
      • Inclusive themes: Integrate themes or characters that the children are familiar with to make the activities more engaging.
      • Stationary tasks: Include more stationary tasks like tracing shapes or drawing within a specified area.
      • Sensory breaks: Incorporate sensory breaks with simple tasks like sitting and deep breathing or stretching.
      • Pairing up: Pair children with a buddy for guidance and encouragement.
      • Positive reinforcement: Provide immediate positive feedback and encouragement to build confidence.
      • Adapted challenges: Offer different levels of challenges for each task so children can choose according to their abilities.
      • Consistent routines: Use a consistent order for tasks to help children anticipate and feel more comfortable with the activities.
      • Use of color: Utilize bright, contrasting colors to make the paths and shapes more visually distinct and easier to follow.
      • Minimize distractions: Ensure the environment is calm and free of excessive distractions to help children focus on the activities.

      Then, to grade the activity up, or add more challenging tasks to the chalk walk, use one or more of the items above and make it more challenging for the chalk walk user. This is how we can support individual needs and work on developing those goals!

      Sensory Chalk Walk

      In addition to the motor skills that a chalk walk supports, you can also add in sensory integration strategies that offer specific tasks for vestibular input, proprioceptive input, visual input, and even tactile input. For more information on this, check out our resource on Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy.

      For example, we used a wet chalk activity to add a messy sensory play experience. This was a fun way to work on visual motor skills while addressing sensory defensiveness. You could also make liquid driveway chalk paint to add sensory writing tasks to the fun.

      • Spirals for spinning around a central point
      • Maze for finding the way out
      • Wavy lines for tiptoeing
      • Hopping pads for both feet
      • Single line for walking or crawling on either side of the line
      • Zigzag paths for jumping side to side
      • Alphabet stepping stones
      • Numbered hopscotch squares
      • Dotted lines for skipping
      • Animal footprints to follow
      • Balance beam lines
      • Twisty lines for galloping
      • Shapes to jump into (circles, squares, triangles)
      • Arrows for direction changes
      • Line with stopping points (large circles) to take deep breathing breaks or a prompt to do a motor task like hopping 5 times)
      • Concentric circles for jumping in and out
      • Ladder rungs for stepping up and down
      • Patterns for matching (left foot, right foot)
      • Start and finish lines for timing races
      • Swirly lines for crawling
      • Parallel lines for jumping over
      • Star shapes for jumping to different points

      More outdoor sensory path ideas:

      The weather does not have to be perfect to use your outdoor sensory path ideas. Kids do not mind rain, wind, mud, temperature changes, or snow. “Back in my day” we used to get sent out no matter what the weather had in store for us.  It was great for our sensory system, along with building valuable skills. 

      Sidewalk chalk obstacle course

      Free printable set of resources!

      Free Chalk Walk Sensory Kit

      We created a free printable resource just for sensory motor skill development…a Chalk Walk Kit! This activity guide has chalk drawing figures designed to support proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual input for calming and organizing sensory input.

      Pick and choose the chalk walk options to create an individualized sensory path to meet specific needs.

      Work on motor planning, coordination, balance, midline crossing, and much more…all with just a piece of sidewalk chalk.

      To get this resource, enter your email address below. Member Club Members will find this resource inside The OT Toolbox Membership Club!

      Free Sidewalk Chalk Sensory Path

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        Victoria Wood, OTR/L is a contributor to The OT Toolbox and has been providing Occupational Therapy treatment in pediatrics for more than 25 years. She has practiced in hospital settings (inpatient, outpatient, NICU, PICU), school systems, and outpatient clinics in several states. She has treated hundreds of children with various sensory processing dysfunction in the areas of behavior, gross/fine motor skills, social skills and self-care. Ms. Wood has also been a featured speaker at seminars, webinars, and school staff development training. She is the author of Seeing your Home and Community with Sensory Eyes.

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