- Hannah OT
#Behind A Sensory Circuit
I hope you're all starting your day with yesterday's sensory circuit! I did it with both girls yesterday, and even my 2yo got involved and seemed to enjoy it!
So who managed to spot the three aspects of the sensory circuit?
The following gives a little more detail in order for you to perhaps make up your own sensory circuit or vary the one that I demonstrated.
Alerting Activities
Aim to provide vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation within a controlled setting. This prepares the brain for learning.
Activities that are typically alerting are in general:
Rapidly changing/irregular inputs
Quick tempos
Music -- lower frequencies will elicit movement
(drums), while higher frequencies can engage attention (flutes, singing, cymbals)
Cold temperatures (including foods)
Light, brushing touch Fast movement, especially spinning/rotational
Sour or spicy flavours
Fast-moving, bright, unpredictable visuals
Being outdoors
Using muscles for “heavy work” of pushing, pulling, against resistance (tends to be both alerting and organizing)
Organising Activities
Includes activities that require motor sensory processing, balance and timing. The child needs to organise their body, plan their approach and do more than one thing at a time in a sequential order.
Activities that are typically organising are in general:
Rhythmic
Use muscles for the “heavy work” of pushing, pulling, against resistance
Activities that require motor sensory processing and balance activities that require the child to organise their body, plan their approach and do more than one thing at a time in a sequential order.
Calming
Calming activities are very important as they provide input to ensure your child ends the circuit in a calm state ready to go onto the next activity.
Activities that are typically calming are in general:
Slow, steady, rhythmic, repeated, predictable input
Slow and rhythmic music
Firm, steady, pressure touch or squeezing (think massage or a big hug)
Using muscles for ‘heavy work’
Bland or sweet-tasting flavours
Slow-moving, dim, long distance views, deep colours for visuals
Neutral warmth
Chewing and blowing or breathing out
Slow linear movement forward-and-back
Equipment Free Sensory Circuit
Alerting
Reaching
Loud claps and taps
Jumping
Organising
Star jumps (Also alerting)
Balancing
Pushing pairs
Calming
Rhythmical tapping
Swooshing and integrated stroke (firm stroke as oppose to light touch)
Breathing
Squeezes
Tight hug
Log-in tomorrow for a more detailed look at self-regulation and what it means to be under or over aroused.
Hannah OT:-)