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December Sensory Processing Activities

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These December Sensory Processing Activities are designed to provide sensory opportunities, Christmas themed sensory prompts, accommodations to holiday activities, and sensory challenges with a Christmas and winter theme.  For more Christmas themed developmental activities for Occupational Therapists, parents, and teachers, grab try this free Christmas Occupational Therapy activities printable calendar.


 
December Sensory Processing Activities
 
December is a time of holiday fun,
hustle, and bustle.  Families have added
activities, winter parties, and distant family to visit.  This time of year brings with it unusual holiday
songs and bells, lights, different foods to smell and taste, and crowded
stores.  For the child with sensory processing concerns, it can be a very difficult time.  


The holiday rush brings with it, added and unusual sounds, sights, smells, visitors, scratchy holiday sweaters, and schedule changes. The holiday season can be downright debilitating for the child with sensory challenges. 
 
The time leading up to Christmas
can be a month-long time of sensory overload for children with sensory
issues.  It can be confusing for sensory
systems!  The overwhelming feelings of
sensory uncertainty can add a whole new meaning to holiday stress.  This time of year, when even the most intentional
parents and teachers can still cause over-stimulation or under-stimulation to
the child who is already struggling with sensory issues. 
 
There can be a need for additional calming
sensory input or changes to sensory diet, additional modifications, and added
sensory down-time.  


When it comes to preparing for the holidays and all the adjustments it brings, a plan can help. An understanding of the sensory system and how the senses are processed can help parents, teachers, and caregivers to cope with the added sensory stress for children with sensory issues.


Having a kit of ideas and coping strategies can be a helpful tool to prepare the child with sensory processing difficulties for the holiday season. 


A list of sensory activities that can be added to the day…WITH a holiday theme can make all the difference in creating a holiday that the whole family will remember, all while keeping the sensory systems in mind. 


Below, you’ll see a packet of sensory activities that has been on this site for a little over two years. This packet of Christmas Sensory Activities are bound to help families of those with sensory processing challenges to thrive this holiday season. 


There are coping strategies for dealing with all of the added and new sensory input. 


There are activity challenges that hit on the big sensory systems, allowing for calming or stimulating sensory input with a Christmas theme. 


There are Christmas and holiday themed activities that can be incorporated into an established or new sensory diet, making a valuable tool for the child who is overwhelmed or underwhelmed by all that the holidays bring.


Read more about what’s included in the Christmas Sensory Processing Activity Packet…



Included in the Christmas Sensory Processing Activity Packet:


  • Each of the sensory systems are addressed in the 31 sensory activities.


  • There is a detailed description of the sensory system and sensory processing included in this packet.


  • Information is included on sensory diets and how they are needed during the holiday season. Sensory activities with a holiday theme can be added to sensory diets depending on individual sensory needs. 
 
  • Sensory challenges and modifications that can be added into daily routines this time of year.


  • A comprehensive list of sensory coping strategies is included for handling holiday stress and over- or under-responsiveness related to holiday travel, holiday visitors, and changes in routines over the Christmas season.

ON SALE for 25% OFF NOVEMBER 24-27, 2017! Just click the link to access the reduced price of $3.75!

 
Add these activities to your
therapy plans this month.  The activity list
is perfect for passing on to parents as a home program.  Parents and teachers can use these activities
as part of an individualized plan that meets the child’s needs. 
 
The activities are
outlined in an easy to follow therapy plan, however as parents and therapists
know, a day that involves children does not always go as planned.  The activities can be shifted around to suit
the needs of the child and the family.  


Does this sound like a resource that might help your client, child, or student? If the holidays make you want to curl up in a blanket because of the added stress and sensory challenges, this might just be the tool for you and your family! 

December Sensory Processing Activities for kids with sensory needs at Christmas time
Grab the Christmas Sensory Processing Activity Packet now.

Fall Vestibular Sensory Activities

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Fall means jumping in piles of colorful leaves and it’s a season of vestibular sensory input. Moving, jumping, rolling, hopping, and swinging are vestibular activities that are sensory based movements that challenge the body’s ability adjust to changes in gravitational pull and movement. The vestibular sensory system can be rhythmical and calming or unpredictable and alerting. These Fall vestibular sensory activities are fun for the whole family.

 

Fall Vestibular Activities


Each of the sensory based Fall activities below can be used in various ways to challenge and support the sensory needs of a child.  When looking for family activities that take in all that Autumn has to offer, why not make it a sensory experience that will build traditions? 

It’s important to remember that a small dose of vestibular sensory input can impact the entire day.  Children may seek out sensory input but dislike other aspects of vestibular input. Other children may prefer different amounts or types of sensory input.  Be sure to consult your child’s Occupational Therapist.  The information and activities in this blog post and anywhere on this blog are intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a registered occupational therapist, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.



 

Try these vestibular sensory activities with the family this Fall

 

Fall Sensory Activities

 
Affiliate links are included in this post:
 
1.     Leaf Roll- Create a pile of leaves and roll in them for a vestibular component.  Try somersaults and log rolls in the lawn.  Rolling and tumbling is a great way to address vestibular needs by adding movement and challenging the positioning of children.  Set up a lawn obstacle course with piles of leaves with each station requiring different movement activities.  Be sure to check kids for ticks if you live in an area that has ticks.


2.     Leaf Swing- Kids can enjoy the scents and sights of Fall’s leaves with this activity with an added benefit of vestibular sensory input.  This activity requires a strong adult. Use a blanket to create a swing for the child.  Ask the child to lay or sit on a blanket.  Gather up all corners of the blanket and swing the child carefully just above the ground.  Lower the child into a pile of leaves.  If you don’t have leaves in your area, do this activity indoors over pillows.
 
3.     Swing and Throw Leaves- Use a playground swing for this activity.  Ask the child to lay belly down on a swing seat, superman style.  They hold and toss fall leaves as they swing back and forth.  Don’t have leaves in your area? Cut leaves from construction paper and ask the child to toss one as they swing back and forth.  Then, ask the child to gather up the leaves and do this activity again while sitting on the swing.
 
4.     Hayride- Use your local resources to attend a fall festival and ride on a hayride.  This time of year, most areas have hayrides available.  Riding over the bumpy terrain is an excellent vestibular activity. If you don’t have a hayride available in your area, try a wagon ride in the yard.  While riding, ask kids to notice the area, looking for colors, sights, and sounds of Fall.  Ask your child to find three orange things or two things that move while they are riding.

 

Fall vestibular sensory activities for the family.



More vestibular sensory activities for Fall: 

    Make a leaf balance beam
Catch leaves as they fall
Somersaults in leaves
Jump in leaves
Run through leaves
Pumpkin patch walk on slopes and hills
Wagon ride to look at leaves
Jump on a trampoline with leaves
Scatter small sized piles of leaves on a drieveway and bounce a ball into the leaf piles
Dance outside
Outdoor yoga
Leaf obstacle course
March through leaves
Simon Says, Fall-style (Simon says jump in leaves, etc)


Looking for vestibular sensory input tools for home, school, or therapy recommendations? Try the ones listed in our Free Fall Sensory Activities Guide:

 

Harvest Theme October Sensory Calendar

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This month’s Occupational Therapy calendar explores the season’s finest with a Harvest theme.  If you’ve missed this years’ series of calendars, you can check out last month’s calendar for activities that will keep your child occupied with sensory play and experiences well into this month.


Each month, I’ve been sharing creative and seasonal sensory experiences that address sensory needs based on each of the senses.  I try to come up with activities that can be modified to address multiple developmental areas such as fine motor skills, visual motor integration, gross motor coordination and balance, and functional skills.


This month’s calendar is perfect for Sensory Awareness month! 

Harvest themed October sensory calendar for occupational therapy ideas

 

 

October brings with it all things falling leaves and pumpkin spice everything, and it is definitely a sensory-filled month!  This month’s activity calendar is full of sensory activities that will challenge the senses.  You will find activities based on all seven senses and are fun ways to involve the whole family in indoor and outdoor play.  Print out your free calendar, read through the activities and get ready to play!


For more info on the activities below, grab your Harvest Sensory Booklet (It’s a freebie, too! Scroll below to grab your copy.)


Use these harvest themed ideas in sensory diets to address sensory needs.  These are creative ways to experience all that Fall has to offer with the whole family.



Take the challenge.  Encourage and experience sensory play every day this month.


Print your Fall Sensory Activities workbook and calendar and join us in daily sensory play. 

Harvest themed October sensory calendar for occupational therapy ideas

October Occupational Therapy Calendar Sensory Activities

Grab your Fall Sensory Activities booklet to build Fall harvest themed activities into your child’s sensory diet with activities the whole family can enjoy.

Get yours!



This is a great way to challenge the senses and take part in our Sensory Processing Month sensory challenge! 

Simply add one sensory activity to every day.  These can be simple ideas that the whole family can do.  Need ideas? Grab your sensory activity booklet.   


What’s in the Fall Sensory Activities booklet?

Fall Proprioception Sensory Activities
 
6 creative proprioception activities!
 
Fall Vestibular Sensory Activities
 
4 creative vestibular ideas for indoor or outdoor!
 
Fall Tactile Sensory Activities
 
4 tactile sensory experiences!
 
Fall Visual Sensory Activities
 
4 ways to incorporate the sense of sight into fall play!
 
Fall Auditory Sensory Activities
 
4 Fall auditory processing ideas!
 
Fall Olfactory Sensory Activities
 
5 ways to encourage and use scent in sensory processing!
 
Fall Gustatory Sensory Activities
 
4 Fall taste activities!
 
 
Harvest themed October sensory calendar for occupational therapy ideas

 

Harvest themed October sensory calendar for occupational therapy ideas
 
Are you excited to take the sensory challenge this October? Join us with the activities in your Fall Sensory Activities book today!

 

Looking for more ways to explore all things sensory this month?

How to incorporate sensory play into playing outside in the fall


It’s a fact that kids are spending less time playing outdoors. From after-school schedules to two working parents, to unsafe conditions, to increased digital screen time, to less outdoor recess time…kids just get less natural play in the outdoors. Therapists have connected the dots between less outdoor play and increased sensory struggles and attention difficulties in learning. 

 

 
Knowing this, it can be powerful to have a list of outdoor sensory diet activities that can be recommended as therapy home programing and family activities that meet underlying needs.
 
That’s where the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards come into play.
 
They are a printable resource that encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. In the printable packet, there are 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards. They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input.
 
Here’s a little more information about the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards
  • 90 outdoor sensory diet activities
  • 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities
  • 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards
  • They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input. 
  • Research tells us that outdoor play improves attention and provides an ideal environment for a calm and alert state, perfect for integration of sensory input.
  • Outdoor play provides input from all the senses, allows for movement in all planes, and provides a variety of strengthening components including eccentric, concentric, and isometric muscle contractions. 
  • Great tool for parents, teachers, AND therapists!
Be sure to grab the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and use them with a child (or adult) with sensory processing needs!
 
 
 

 

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    Sensory Processing at the Playground

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    sensory processing at the playground

    It can be frustrating as a therapist and parent to have a child or client with sensory processing needs when therapy equipment resources are unavailable or too expensive for home or treatment spaces.  It would be nice to refer a child to a fully equipped sensory integration gym but sometimes that is just not possible.  Children with sensory needs may receive therapy only in the school setting or at home in early intervention and would benefit from overhead swivel swings, balance beams, and bolsters.  There is a way around this expensive therapy equipment and it involves a trip to the local playground.  Try sensory processing therapy strategies at the playground. 

    Be sure to read this related resource on playground therapy.


    Kids will love the vestibular activities and other ways to challenge the sensory system in a fun way right on the playground.


    Add these resources to the ones you can find here under sensory diet vestibular activities to meet the sensory needs of all kids. 

    sensory processing at the playground

     
     

    Sensory Processing at the Playground

    This post contains affiliate links.

    First, and most importantly, it is necessary to receive an assessment and therapist recommendations from an Occupational Therapist.  Specific strategies meeting the individual’s needs are needed for safety and appropriate intervention.  Sensory processing interventions can be detrimental for the child with gravitational insecurity or the child who becomes overly responsive to vestibular input. Always consult an Occupational Therapist for individualized recommendations.  The child’s therapist can make appropriate recommendations while guiding the child rather than pushing interactions on playground equipment.


    Read more HERE about sensory systems and hyper- and hypo-responsiveness to sensory input. 


    It is important to note that simply going to the playground to play is not effective sensory integration therapy.  A typically developing child with appropriate sensory integration responses is provided with the sensory input he needs simply through the function of play.    
     
    The child with sensory integration dysfunction has difficulty processing sensory input and can not respond to play in a way that is organizing and appropriate.  The sensory information that a child with sensory processing disorder needs specific interventions to meet his needs (Ayres, 1979). 
     
    For more information on Dr. Jean Ayers, and occupational therapist and researcher who developed a theory on sensory integration, check out our blog post on Ayres Sensory Integration.

     

    What is Sensory Integration therapy?

    There is a difference between sensory play, sensory experiences, and sensory integration. Sensory integration processes information from our environment and our body in order to organize sensory input and allow us to respond appropriately.  

    Sensory integration organizes information from our eyes, ears, joints, skin, mouth, nose, and our body’s position in space.  It allows our body to pull all of this information together to enable us to respond to sensory input in purposeful function. 

    When there is a problem with sensory integration, the brain does not process or appropriately organize the sensory information in a way that provides allows for effective behavior.

    Without effective sensory integration, a person feels uncomfortable about himself and responds to ordinary environmental demands with stress (Ayres, 1979).


    There are many functional skills that are diminished as a result of sensory integration difficulties: “Children with sensory integration impairments may have difficulty orienting to and registering sensory input, filtering stimuli, or habituating to familiar stimuli.  

    They may struggle to organize a response to the sensory environment that is logical and appropriate from an observer’s viewpoint.  With inaccurate sensory processing in the CNS, praxis and motor output impairments may manifest in delayed gross and fine motor development and diminished sensory discrimination abilities (such as visual perception, tactile discrimination, and auditory discrimination).” (Tomchek, 2001)


    In Sensory Integration Therapy, a therapist guides the child into activities that help the child organize sensory information and allow the child to perform adaptive responses.  

    Therapy is a manner of helping the child to function with through activities that the child wants to do.  

    While sensory integration therapy involves many aspects that should be completed in various environments (such as vibration, deep pressure, joint compressions, brushing, as well as gustatory and olfactory sensory activities), there are SI therapy ideas that can be done at the playground that challenge or meet the needs of some children, depending on their specific needs. 

     


    Vestibular and Proprioceptive Sensory Input at the Playground

    The playground provides equipment in a natural environment that can effectively address vestibular needs.  

    Some children may need to arouse his vestibular system.  Children with typical sensory processing abilities are able to determine their body’s position in space and determine the amount of force needed for play.  

    The child with sensory processing disorders can not sense how to play on equipment that challenges his sensory systems.  Use playground equipment to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input in these ways:

    • Swings- Full body movements can be developed through gravitational insecurity on the swings.  Lying in a prone (superman) position on the swings is organizing in a forward/back motion on the swings. Slow swinging in the prone position helps to normalize a child with tactile defensiveness.  
    • Swings- Encourage the child to look up in front of them and even toss bean bags into a bucket. Ask the child to notice things around them in the playground area and play games like “I Spy” while slowly swinging back and forth in the prone position.  
    • Swings- Spinning on playground swings requires strength of the arms and upper body to maintain an upright position.  The vestibular stimulation received from spinning is intense and shouldn’t be utilized for more than 10 minutes. 
    • Swings- Position the child sideways in the swing so the swings are straddling the seat of the swing.  Children can then be slowly pushed side to side as well as front-to-back. 
    • Slide- Riding down a slide promotes use of position in space as the child holds themselves up against the pull of gravity.   
    • Slide- Another idea for using the slide in sensory play is to have the child lay prone on the slide without movement.  Use the upward ramp of the slide as a positioner for art creation or eye-hand coordination games like rolling a tennis ball up the slide and catching it as it rolls back down. 
    • Slide- Walking and crawling up the slides while looking upward is a test of gravity while encouraging bilateral coordination and core body strength.
    • Tunnels- Encourage crawling and scooting through playground tunnels with eyes up and looking out of the tunnel so that the child’s head and neck are resisting gravity and vision is guiding movement. 
    • Merry-go-round- Spinning on a merry-go-round can be done in a seated, prone, or supine position.  Holding onto the bars and maintaining upright posture is a strengthening exercise and a source of proprioceptive input. 
    • Balance Beam- Balance beams can be used in obstacle courses and are a great source of vestibular and proprioceptive input while encouraging visual changes.  Show the child how to look up forward as they walk along a balance beam.
    • Steps- Many playground equipment sets have small sets of steps to reach different levels.  Children can climb the steps, using the banister for support if needed.  Try having the child pull themselves up the steps using the banister for a change in body and head position that promotes proprioceptive input, using the body’s weight against gravity.
    • Picnic Bench-Lying prone on the seat of the picnic bench while the hands are dropped to the ground is a way to work against gravity through the arms in a ball tossing game, or drawing in the dirt with a stick.  Ask the child to scoot forward on the bench so that they need to work harder for efficiency of the vestibular system and against gravity. This type of activity promotes use of the eyes in an activity while the back, arms, head, and neck are used against gravity and help to build visual perception. 
    • Vertical Ladder- Climbing a ladder to monkey bars requires strength, bilateral coordination, and provides vestibular input.  Using the child’s own body weight is effective in providing proprioceptive input.  Children can look up with neck extension to further adjust vestibular receptor response to movement in space.
    • Ramps-  Many playgrounds have ramps built in within the playground. Crawling, scooting, walking toe-to-toe, and sliding up and down these ramps provide many different sensory input opportunities.  Try rolling a ball up or down these ramps into a target or to a friend.
    Other children may require vestibular sensory input in order to modulate excessive vestibular activity and will avoid equipment that provides a sense of gravitational insecurity.  
     
    These children tend to avoid movement and changes in position.  In these cases, children should be guided by an Occupational Therapist in treatment techniques that allow modulation of vestibular input. 
     
    Try these sensory integration therapy ideas at the playground for vestibular and proprioceptive sensory input.
     

    A word of caution about vestibular sensory input:

    Vestibular sensory input can have a late-effect on children.  They may not appear to respond to sensory input immediately, so children should be monitored and carefully watched for the effects of vestibular stimulation.

    Vestibular input (especially spinning) can evoke a powerful response in children and too much input can be overwhelming and disorganizing for children.

    These tools can be overpowering for children and the children should always be monitored for overreactions to sensory input.  

    It is for this reason that sensory integration strategies at the playground should be addressed by an Occupational Therapist.  

    The OT practioner can train parents, teachers, or student aides in appropriate sensory strategies at the playground, all while making adaptations to the vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile experiences. 

    Continued play over and over again on playground equipment in manners that are designed to integrate the sensory systems can help the child with sensory processing disorders to respond appropriately through memories of motor plans.  
     
    The sensory experiences at the playground can have a lasting impact on organization of sensory processing.
    The playground provides a wide variety of opportunities for movement through crawling, climbing, reaching, swinging, and sliding.  
     
    The playground provides a fun environment for establishing confidence in the child’s response to movement activities. 
     
    This post is part of the Functional Skills for Kids series that myself and  nine other Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapists are completing.  
     
    Each month, we are covering a different childhood function.  You can see all of the past topics here.
    Stop by to see all of the playground posts from the Functional Skills for Kids team:
    Resources: 
    Ayres, A. J. (1979). Sensory integration and the child. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
    Tomchek, S.D. (2001). Assessment of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder utilizing a sensorimotor approach. In R.A. Heubner (Ed.), Autism: A sensorimotor approach to management (pp. 103-138). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers
     
     
     
    Looking for more ways to add sensory play to your day?  Try these favorites: 
     
     
    Attention Exercises
     
    Sensory Processing and Handwriting
     
     
     
     
     
    All of these playground sensory integration tips and strategies can support students as they head back into the classroom. We love using the playground as back-to-school sensory activities to meet the needs of students transitioning back into school mode!
     
    For more fun and functional tips, check out the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook to create meaningful and motivating strategies to support kids in all environments.
     
    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.

    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.

    Super Simple Snowflake Frisbee Indoor Play

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     Is it cold where you are?  We had our first snow of the year and it is cooooold out there.  When the temps drop, there is more time or indoor play.  This Vestibular activity is super simple and a great way to incorporate movement and sensory input into play.  We’ve been sharing a bunch of creative ways to explore movement with our vestibular and proprioception sensory activities on our January Occupational Therapy calendar.  This vestibular Frisbee activity is a quick way to have fun with movement with a snowflake theme!


    Super easy and SO fun Vestibular Frisbee activity for indoor play this winter. Get the kids moving!
    Add these resources to the ones you can find here under sensory diet vestibular activities to meet the sensory needs of all kids. 


    Vestibular Activity using a Frisbee

    Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
    Kids who appear to never get dizzy or those who are overly sensitive to movement may have difficulty regulating movement in their vestibular system.  Activities like rolling, swinging, sliding, and rotating are ways to involve the vestibular system.  This super easy snowflake Frisbee is one quick way to add a little vestibular play into your day.
     
    Turing and tossing a Frisbee provides vestibular input as slight head movements are involved in throwing a Frisbee.  Some kids may overly turn in circles as they toss the Frisbee. 
     
       Super easy and SO fun Vestibular Frisbee activity for indoor play this winter. Get the kids moving!


    Super Simple snowflake paper plate frisbee

    We cut a snowflake from white paper and taped it to a blue paper plate. Double sided tape
    works well for this craft, too. The weight of this DIY Frisbee was light and a fun challenge to toss the Frisbee into a laundry basket.  
     
    Additional ways to play: 
    Try tossing the Frisbee in different positions: sitting, laying down, and between the legs.
    Tape two paper plates together for a sturdier Frisbee.
    Use a styrofoam plate (or two) to grade down this activity (make it easier to toss at a target).

    Use a smaller dessert plate
    to require more accuracy with tossing the Frisbee.


    Super easy and SO fun Vestibular Frisbee activity for indoor play this winter. Get the kids moving!
     
    Looking for more sensory activities? Try these:
    Oobleck in the Marble Run  Alphabet Discovery Bottle
    Dinosaur-Sized Sensory Feelings and Proprioception Activities
    Alphabet Discovery Bottle
    Oobleck in the Marble Run
    Fidgeting During Homework

    Ice Cube Jump and Smash

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    This ice cube jump and smash is a great ice play activity with major sensory benefits. The heavy work built through smashing ice cubes or jumping on ice cubes is huge! Plus, kids love the novelty of this sensory motor activity. Let’s break this activity down…

    Ice Cube Jump and Smash

    We’ve been sharing some fun sensory play activities recently, part of our January Occupational Therapy calendar.  The proprioception and vestibular activities linked up in the free calendar are sure to provide sensory experiences and input that will keep your child moving all winter long.  Hey, you can do most of these activities in warmer weather too, so be sure to save this one for hot summer days!  


    This Ice Cube Proprioception Jump and Smash activity will provide movement and heavy work that can help with regulation of sensory seekers.  Try making these bright and vividly colored ice cubes and playing with sensory input today!


    The movement of jumping and hopping adds a vestibular activity component to this fun activity.




    Ice Cube Proprioception and Vestibular Activity for kids that need sensory input. This is fun for typically developing children (and the adults) too!
     
     

    Proprioception Activity with Ice Cubes

    Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  
     
    I used a couple of mini muffin tin to make colored ice cubes.  
    Fill the tins with water and then add one or two drops of liquid food coloring to each section.  Kids love this activity and it is a real experiment of color mixing.
     
    Use a toothpick to mix the colors and try to achieve various shades of color by mixing more or less food coloring.
     
    Once the ice cubes are frozen, turn the muffin tin
    over in the sink and run warm water.  The ice cubes will pop out after a moment.  
     
    Place the colored ice cubes in a bowl or on a large cutting board and take them outside.  This is a messy activity and it will stain your floors, so take big precautions if you decide to do this one inside!
     
    We kept the ice cubes on the cutting board and used a hammer to smash the colored ice cubes.
     
    This activity was a huge hit with my preschooler.  She loved lining up the hammer and smashing the ice cubes into chunks.  
     
    Using the hammer is heavy work for a child and she needed to use two hands to hold and use the hammer, but she was able to smash the ice easily.  
     
    While smashing ice cubes, my daughter remembered a similar proprioception and strengthening activity we did last year using peanut shells.  It’s another messy, yet fun activity that is worth trying!
     
    Be sure to clean up any ice pieces before they melt because the liquid food coloring will dye any surface.  You may want to do this activity in the grass. NOTE: For a mess-free option, use liquid watercolors to dye the water. The colors will wash away with soap and water.
     
    Related Read: Find out more about proprioception here.
     
    Ice Cube Proprioception and Vestibular Activity for kids that need sensory input. This is fun for typically developing children (and the adults) too!
    Ice Cube Proprioception and Vestibular Activity for kids that need sensory input. This is fun for typically developing children (and the adults) too!
     

    Ice Cube Jumping

    Get the kids moving with this outdoor vestibular activity.  Take the ice cubes outside and place them in the grass. Be sure to keep them away from sidewalks and driveways because the food dye will stain the surface until the rain and weather has cleared the dye away! 
     
    Kids can jump on or over the ice cubes.  Ask them to jump up high with both knees bent.  For other vestibular challenges, have the child side jump or skip over and around the ice cubes.  
     
    Ice Cube Proprioception and Vestibular Activity for kids that need sensory input. This is fun for typically developing children (and the adults) too!
     

     

    Be sure to stop over and see the January Calendar for more sensory activities to do with the kids this winter! You can get it and all of our free resources by joining our newsletter subscriber list, found in the upper corner of this website.

     

    Snowball Shot Put Sensory Play for Kids this Winter

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    Today we have a fun snowball game indoor activity. This throwing activity offers vestibular input and is a fun shot put activity for kids, too. You’ll also love our other indoor snowball fight activity.

    I’ve got four kids.  The weather is starting to get really cold and the illnesses are being passed from kid to kid.  We’ve got runny noses, ear infections, and antibiotic prescriptions for half of the crew. This mama needs creative indoor play.  

    Shot Put Activity

    When the indoor play requires a sensory spin, this move and play activity is designed to provide vestibular input for sensory movement seekers and is sure to bring on the smiles.  Even through the sniffles!


    We’ve been sharing a few creative ways to play with vestibular input recently.  These have been wintry activities based on our Christmas OT calendar (and I’ve got a few more fun ideas up my OT sleeves for you!).  

     

    Vestibular sensory play activity for indoor play. This shot put game is a great way to incorporate the vestibular system into play.

     

     

     

    Vestibular Ball Throwing Activity

    Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.


    While this sensory shot put activity is definitely a great vestibular input activity, it can be done any time through out the year.  I went with light blue (Frozen-esque?) balls that reminded us of winter snowballs.  The small balls were from our Bounce-Off Game
    game.

    You can use whatever lightweight ball you’ve got in the house.  A ping pong ball or small plastic ball like these ball pit balls
    would work great. This would be a great activity to incorporate into other ball pit activities, too.

    You don’t want to use a bouncy, rubbery ball, because for this activity, we want the concentration to be on the target and not a ball that is bouncing all over your living room and crashing into lamps.  

    Indoor Shot Put Game



    Use a light foam ball or ping pong ball to play shot put.  Create a target using an empty laundry basket.  Your child should turn in circles like a shot put champ, extend their arm out, and toss that snowball into the target.  Encourage them to spin in one area to get rotational vestibular input. 


    Rotational vestibular input can be done by simply spinning on the feet, but adding a wheeled office seat or Scooter Board
    can be beneficial too.  Adding the scooter board allows this activity to be done in different positions. 

    Rotational Vestibular Input Activity

    It is important to note that rotational vestibular input (spinning) is a powerful physical action on the body.  

    Activities should last no more than 15 minutes. Spinning needs to be monitored, particularly in children with sensory needs.  Some children may react quickly to a spinning activity and others may take longer for their body to register the effects of rotational input. For kids that just do not get dizzy, provide only limited periods of spinning input and only in one direction for 10-15 spins, then in the other direction.  The effects of spinning can last for a full 8 hours, so it’s important to not overdo this activity.  Please contact your child’s Occupational Therapist for recommendations to meet your child’s particular needs.


    Have snow outside?  Great!  Take this activity outdoors and play snowball shot put with real snowballs!


    More ways to extend this activity:

    • Practice counting spins and balls that are tossed.

    • Use target areas in various sizes.

    • Try the activity in various positions: seated, prone, and standing.

    • Add soft wrist weights for proprioceptive input.

    • Work on hand-eye control by removing the movement component.

    • Add learning by spelling out words with each throw.

    Bowl with balls for throwing

     

    Make a Wobble Balance Ice Disc for Proprioception and Vestibular Sensory Play

    by

    This ice wobble disk is another one of our favorite ice play activities. My kids LOVED this sensory activity. While we did this one outside on a winter day, it would be fun during the hot Summer, too.

    You know how there are just some things you show your kids that are instant hits?  A surprise trip to an amusement park or ice cream for dinner will instantly bring on on the cheers and be one of those days that kids remember long after the awesome day has passed. This Wobble Balance Ice Disc is one of those things.


    Add sensory play to the outdoors with this vestibular activity.


    We’ve been sharing fun proprioception and sensory ideas recently for winter play and therapy ideas on our January Occupational Therapy calendar.  This ice balance tool is on the calendar and is a balance activity that you really need to try.


    Make a wobble balance disc from ice for sensory input and balance training. This helps kids with attention, strengthening, and fidgeting while incorporating sensory needs like proprioception and vestibular integration.


    Wobble Disc for fidgeting, balance, and core muscle strength

    Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
     

    Wobble cushions
    come in many shapes and sizes. There are seat cushions that help with attention and fidgeting while seated, balance boards
    for vestibular input, and therapy balls
    that can provide proprioceptive input.  All of these tools are capable of helping kids with sensory needs.  A balance disc or wedge provides feedback to a child’s body, allowing them to get their “wiggles” out.  They are challenged to make minute corrections to their core body to compensate for movements of the unstable surface. This is a great way to work on balance and core muscle strength deficits that are often seen in children with sensory needs. 

    Make a wobble balance disc from ice for sensory input and balance training. This helps kids with attention, strengthening, and fidgeting while incorporating sensory needs like proprioception and vestibular integration.

    Ice balance wobble disc

    This was a cold weather activity, although it could be a big hit in the hot summer weather.  You could also re-create the experience in a bathtub or baby pool brought into the indoors.  Freeze a disk of water in a large plastic bowl.  You want the frozen ice cube to be large enough for your child to sit on and thick enough that it doesn’t break when your child sits and stands on it.  A large plastic popcorn bowl works well for creating an ice disk.  Simply fill the bottom with water and place into the freezer (or outside if it’s cold enough!) 


    When the water has frozen, run warm water over the outside of the bowl to remove the ice.  Then, take it outside for sitting on. Place a folded dishtowel on the ice and have your child sit on the flat surface.  They can hold onto the edge of the disc with the towel protecting their hands from the cold ice. Your child can balance and spin on a hard surface like a sidewalk.  The snowy balance disk makes a great ice sled, too.  If you are doing this activity indoors, bring a baby pool into the house and spin and wobble in the pool. 

    Make a wobble balance disc from ice for sensory input and balance training. This helps kids with attention, strengthening, and fidgeting while incorporating sensory needs like proprioception and vestibular integration.

    Wobble Disc for Proprioceptive Input

    Sitting or standing on an unstable surface like a wobble disc is a great way to provide proprioceptive input.  Ask the child to sit on the ice disc and balance themselves as you hold their hands.  You can pull the child along a flat surface to provide proprioceptive input through their arms.  Then, ask the child to push themselves along using their legs.  They can pull their legs forward or push themselves backwards to incorporate difference muscle groups. For a greater challenge, have the child stand on the disk, holding onto your arms for support. This strengthening activity challenges balance while providing proprioception through the arms and upper body.

    Make a wobble balance disc from ice for sensory input and balance training. This helps kids with attention, strengthening, and fidgeting while incorporating sensory needs like proprioception and vestibular integration.

    Wobble Disc for Vestibular Input

    Have the child sit on the ice disc as they are pushed along on a flat surface like a porch or driveway.  Have another child push the child on their low back to get proprioceptive input to the pushing child. Practice balancing back and forth in a seated position for more vestibular input.

    Make a wobble balance disc from ice for sensory input and balance training. This helps kids with attention, strengthening, and fidgeting while incorporating sensory needs like proprioception and vestibular integration.
     
     
    Looking for more sensory activities? Try these:
    Oobleck in the Marble Run  Alphabet Discovery Bottle
    Dinosaur-Sized Sensory Feelings and Proprioception Activities
    Alphabet Discovery Bottle
    Oobleck in the Marble Run
    Fidgeting During Homework

    How to incorporate sensory play into playing outside

     
    Many sensory diet activities can naturally be found outdoors. In fact, outdoor sensory diet activities are a fun way to encourage sensory input in a child’s environment and without fancy therapy equipment or tools. 

    It’s a fact that kids are spending less time playing outdoors. From after-school schedules to two working parents, to unsafe conditions, to increased digital screen time, to less outdoor recess time…kids just get less natural play in the outdoors. Some therapists have connected the dots between less outdoor play and increased sensory struggles and attention difficulties in learning. 
     
    Knowing this, it can be powerful to have a list of outdoor sensory diet activities that can be recommended as therapy home programing and family activities that meet underlying needs.
     
    That’s where the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards come into play.
     
    They are a FREE printable resource that encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. In the printable packet, there are 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards. They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input.
     
    Here’s a little more information about the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards
    • 90 outdoor sensory diet activities
    • 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities
    • 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards
    • They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input. 
    • Research tells us that outdoor play improves attention and provides an ideal environment for a calm and alert state, perfect for integration of sensory input.
    • Outdoor play provides input from all the senses, allows for movement in all planes, and provides a variety of strengthening components including eccentric, concentric, and isometric muscle contractions. 
    • Great tool for parents, teachers, AND therapists!
    Be sure to grab the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and use them with a child (or adult) with sensory processing needs!
     
    Outdoor sensory diet activity cards for parents, teachers, and therapists of children with sensory processing needs.
     

    Snowflake Balance Winter Gross Motor Indoor Play Therapy Idea

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    When the weather is too cold to go outdoors and the kids are bouncing off the walls, you sometimes need to get creative.  Maybe you’ve got a few Occupational Therapy students who would benefit from a vestibular movement activity like this snowflake balance beam! This is a great indoor gross motor activity for preschool or older ages.

    The vestibular system is one of the bodys senses and responsible for awareness of our body in space and gravitational insecurity during tasks. Kids can use balance beams to work on integration of the vestibular sense, perfect for children who seek movement, run into objects, fear certain positions, have trouble visually tracking items in reading and written, and more. Occupational Therapy with a balance beam activities.

    Balance Beams and the Vestibular System

    Balance beams are perfect to address needs in the vestibular system.  Our body’s ability to regulate position in space helps us to manage obstacles in our path without losing balance.  The vestibular system allows us to move in space without falling or without making us thing we will fall (gravitational insecurity).
    We’re able to take in visual information, process it, and respond accordingly…all with the help of the vestibular system!


    When there is a problem in the vestibular system, a child may appear clumsy, running into objects or people, have trouble with visual tracking, attention in reading and writing, difficulty focusing on a task, and trouble with motor planning in coordinated activities that a child needs to do throughout their day.


    Balance beams are a great way to practice and work on vestibular sensory integration     into functional activities.  A child can work on balance and motor planning as they visually scan their balance beam and track the line they need to walk along.


    Balance beams challenge the vestibular system with variances in difficulty.  The great thing about this snowflake balance beam is that you can adjust the size and provide many, many alternate activities to work on coordination, listening, motor planning, direction following, and attention.

    The vestibular system is one of the bodys senses and responsible for awareness of our body in space and gravitational insecurity during tasks. Kids can use balance beams to work on integration of the vestibular sense, perfect for children who seek movement, run into objects, fear certain positions, have trouble visually tracking items in reading and written, and more. Occupational Therapy with a balance beam activities.


    Snowflake Winter Balance Beam: Making therapy fun!

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Cut snowflakes from paper and place them around the room.  Get the kids in on the snowflake cutting for seasonal scissor skill work!

    The vestibular system is one of the bodys senses and responsible for awareness of our body in space and gravitational insecurity during tasks. Kids can use balance beams to work on integration of the vestibular sense, perfect for children who seek movement, run into objects, fear certain positions, have trouble visually tracking items in reading and written, and more. Occupational Therapy with a balance beam activities.



    Using double sided tape
    , create a balance beam on the with the snowflakes.  Arrange them in a line along the floor.  It can be a simple strait line or a multi-angled balance beam track. Ask your child to walk along the snowflake line without falling off.  



    Other balance beam activities that challenge the vestibular system: 

    • Walking on tip to
    • Walking toe-to-heel
    • Hopping on one foot
    • Jumping
    • Walking sideways
    • Walking backwards
    • Crawling
    • Walking with feet and hands. Encourage direction-following and listening skills by calling out different ways to walk along the snowflake balance beam.
    • Toss a ball to your child as they are on the balance beam.
    • Ask your child to change directions as they walk along the beam.
    • Have the child look up at the wall and not down at their feet as they walk.
     
    Looking for more balance beam ideas? These are some of the best out there:
    The vestibular system is one of the bodys senses and responsible for awareness of our body in space and gravitational insecurity during tasks. Kids can use balance beams to work on integration of the vestibular sense, perfect for children who seek movement, run into objects, fear certain positions, have trouble visually tracking items in reading and written, and more. Occupational Therapy with a balance beam activities.




    This Folding Beam is great for storage concerns. Add creative balance beam activities like transferring items from a bucket at one end to a bucket at the other end.
    Balance Pods can be positioned in any room or activity. Encourage big and little steps by spacing them closely and further apart.
    Gonge Riverstones are a great challenge to the vestibular system with various sloped sides. 
    Stepping Buckets Balance challenge motor planning. Place obsitcals in between the buckets for more visual tracking while working on vestibular sensory integration.
    The BSN Gymnastics Curve-A-Beam can be reconfigured in curved patterns.

     

     

    Are you looking for more information on Vestibular or Proprioception (and ALL of the sensory systems) and how they affect functional skills, behavior, and the body’s sensory systems?  This book, Sensory Lifestyle Handbook, will explain it all.  Activities and Resources are included.  Get it today and never struggle to understand or explain Sensory Integration again.
     
    Looking for more vestibular activities?  Check out our January calendar that has 31 days of vestibular and proprioception activities based on winter play.
     
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