Julie Williams

Autsim Specialist MSD

SENSORY INTEGRATION

EVER WONDER WHY CHILDREN DO THE THINGS THEY DO?

• Do you wonder why they are excessive risk takers - jumping and crashing into anything they can ?

• Why they can’t do puzzles - write well - or find the coordination for riding a bike or hitting a ball?

• Why they cry or cover their ears with every loud sound • Why they don’t like to be touched or can’t be touched enough?• Why they will only eat macaroni and cheese and pizza?• Why they will only wear certain clothes or need you to cut the

tags out of their shirts?• Ever wonder why you can’t seem to calm them down or get

them to sleep?• Why they won’t put their hands in anything messy or use glue,

Play Doh, or play with mud?• Why they fear playground equipment or being tipped upside

down? • Why crowded stores bother them so much leading to major

meltdowns in public places?

WHAT IS A SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER

Sensory processing disorder or SPD is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with taking in, processing, and responding to sensory information about the environment and from within the own body (visual, auditory, tactile, olfaction, gustatory, vestibular, and proprioception).

WE RECEIVE AND PERCEIVE SENSORY INPUT THROUGH SIGHTS, SOUNDS, TOUCH, TASTES, SMELLS AND MOVEMENT.

Difficulty taking in or interpreting this input can lead to devastating consequences in:• daily functioning • social and family relationships • behavioral challenges • regulating emotions • self-esteem • learning

Strategies to use in your classroom

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP!!!

START THEIR DAY WITH A CALMING ACTIVITY

General Organizing Sensory Activities

• Place your hands on the child’s shoulders or head with safe, firm pressure can help them to slow down.

• Create a quiet corner in your room• During work time try playing classical music

in the background.• Teach kids to take several breaths before

making a transition.• Have younger children march from one

activity to another .• Have children hold up the walls or push the

walls down while waiting in line.• Take movement breaks to stand and stretch

between activities.

Calming ActivitiesVisual• Reduce the amount of visual

stimuli• Use light, soothing colors for

wallsblues and peaches are

calmingreds and yellows are

arousing• Reduce use of fluorescent

lighting use lamp or natural

lighting• Turn lights off or down with a

dimmer switch• Use of small spaces

tents, pillows in corner, bean bag chairs, large boxes

Auditory

• Allow background noise

• Allow students to wear headphones

• Play classical music in the background during work time.

Smell• Natural smells, made from

100% essential oils are best

Vanilla, lavender or banana is calming.

Cinnamon is very organizing.

Be careful of body lotions, perfumes, colognes….what we may not recognize is very aggravating to others.

Oral-Motor• Allow to suck on water or

sport bottles.

• Sucking on candy and chewing gum can be organizing

• Foods that require a lot of chewing

CALMING ACTIVITIES

Deep Pressure• Squish under pile of pillows • Bear hugs• Foot massage• Allow child to sandwich themselves using

beanbag cushions, snuggling in sleeping bag, etc.

• Joint compressions (pushing joint into itself)• Blanket wrap around self• Slow rocking or swaying

rocking chair, tummy over a ball, on a swing

• Lap Snake

• Fidget toys

• Hugging a teddy bear; giving self hugs

CALMING ACTIVITIES

“REVVING UP” ACTIVITIES

• Bright lighting and fresh, cool air• Fast swinging• Bouncing on a ball, lap, or mini-trampoline• Drinking ice water or carbonated drink• Cold water play• Running tag games• Wiggle seat , rocking chair, t-stool, sitting on a ball• Loud fast music and sudden noises• Visually stimulating room (high contrast, bright colors; black

&white• Change room arrangement frequently• Dancing/Marching/Power walking• Walking in back of classroom while studying/reading• Playground Activities• Movement breaks(jumping in place; stretching; doing an

errand; shouolder rolls; Simon says

MY FAVORITE APPS