Here are three activities that you can try right now at home that are great for sensory play.
When you have a child with a sensory processing disorder or other sensory issues, you know how playtime can be a challenge sometimes. So sensory play is a great way to help your child have fun in a safe environment while also exercising their sensory integration skills. Here are three activities that you can try right now at home that are great for sensory play.
Play-Dough
This is a classic that is a treasured memory of many people’s childhoods. And play-dough has become more popular than ever as a tool for children to foster creativity and build various skills. Not only is playing with play dough a great way to exercise fine motor skills but it can help children with tactile sensitivities. Much like a stress ball, play dough is also great for relieving anxiety because of how nice it is to squish and squeeze. You can also take advantage of the many colors to help younger children practice learning their colors. If you find that your child is sensitive to the smell of play dough, then you can also find good alternatives in silly putty, non-toxic modeling clay, or you can find an easy all-natural recipe online.
Twister
This once-popular game may have gone in and out of style at parties, but it is still a fun at-home activity. It is simple to learn and is an excellent opportunity for children to exercise their balance and motor skills. It is rare to find an indoor activity that is so fitting for exercising both the vestibular and proprioceptive senses at once.
Puzzles
As for older children, puzzles can be a great way to help them learn to sit still and concentrate. One of the best things about puzzles is that they come in many different versions and levels of difficulty; if a 200-piece puzzle is too hard then you can find one that is 100 pieces or 50 pieces. And, in addition to being another great way to relieve anxiousness. puzzles are a fun past time that you and your child can enjoy together. Your child can learn problem solving skills and it is a good hands on activity that is not too intense for children who may have sensory issues.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.