Home Sensory Tharapy

Over the years, we have gotten really creative when it comes to meeting the sensory needs of our kiddos. Let's face it OT is expensive even with insurance, and when you have four kids with sensory issues and a limited budget, sometimes you have to DIY it just a bit. Here are some of the tricks we use on a regular basis to make sure our kids get the input they need to function.

The first is kind of a no brainier....THE PARK! I know it seems redundant to even list it, but the park is really the best place to get all the climbing, swinging, jumping, rolling, hanging upside down, etc. plus bonus, it's FREE!

Next tip, find a local children's museum and buy a membership or ask for one from grandparents for Christmas. One year we pooled all the kids' Christmas money to pay for it and it was totally worth it. Most children's museums, have tons of sensory play opportunities that really aren't available elsewhere. Think giant water tables, climbing structures, life sized stuffed animals, tractors to climb in, etc. It's perfect for rainy or cold days when the park just isn't an option. 

Okay now for a few DIY at home ideas. We have dandelion blowing in the summer. It's very tactile and calming for kids with anxiety.

My youngest loves his Squishy Bin. Pretty much it's blankets and pillows in a large toy tote. I put a pillow in the bottom, sit him in and squish others around him. He absolutely loves sitting in it.

The next current favorite is tea party. The boys like to use real cereal and water to play tea party. There ends up being a lot of water play involved. 

Tower smashing might be discouraged in some houses, but if it keeps my boys from toppling other thing just to make noise, I am cool with it!

Massive batches of scented play dough are a good way to get the smelly squishy input. 

Recipe: 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of flour, one cup of water, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 2 packets of unsweetened drink mix like Koolaid.....mix all ingredients in a bowl.

This recipe does dry out over time, but it is easily freshened by adding a bit of water and kneading. This batch is still useable two weeks after being made. The picture shows three batches that I made to use with eight preschoolers in our co-op. One batch makes enough for three kids to play comfortably.

Some other ideas that I have yet to get pictures of are: pool noodles cut up in the bath tub, writing letters in a shallow bin of corn meal, kids yoga poses, Wii Fit (excellent for older kiddos with balance issues), letting them jump on the bed, letting them sit upside down on the couch or chair, shaving cream car washes outside, sand and water table, bins of rice, Magformers, Legos, Legos in the bathtub, painting in the bathtub, playing in mud puddles, playing with food. Notice most of these are pretty impromptu and don't require a lot of prep. I am not one of those moms that has hours to set up a play activity. Lol