Engaging in sensory activities can be a beneficial way to stimulate and regulate the sensory system. In this post, we will explore a large variety of activities for a Sensory diet for autism. These activities help individuals explore different sensory experiences, engage their senses, and promote sensory integration. Whether you’re looking for proprioceptive, tactile, vestibular, auditory, or visual activities, there are numerous options available to cater to individual preferences and needs.
What is a Sensory Diet?
A sensory diet for autism is a personalized plan of activities and strategies designed to help individuals with autism manage their sensory needs. The goal is to provide the right amount and type of sensory input throughout the day to promote self-regulation, reduce anxiety, and improve focus. It aims to provide sensory input in a structured way, helping individuals seek out or avoid certain sensory experiences based on their unique profiles.
Benefits of a Sensory Diet
- Improves Self-Regulation: Helps individuals manage their sensory overload and maintain calm.
- Enhances Focus and Attention: Provides sensory breaks that can improve concentration during tasks.
- Reduces Anxiety: Offers strategies to cope with overwhelming environments.
- Promotes Positive Social Interactions: Supports better engagement with peers and adults.
Steps to Create a Sensory Diet
- Assess Sensory Needs: Observe the individual’s sensory preferences and aversions. Identify what types of sensory input they seek (e.g., movement, touch) and what they avoid (e.g., loud noises, bright lights).
- Consult Professionals: Work with occupational therapists or other specialists who can provide insight into sensory processing and suggest appropriate activities.
- Develop a Schedule: Create a daily or weekly schedule that incorporates sensory activities at regular intervals. This can help prevent sensory overload and ensure adequate sensory input.
- Include a Variety of Activities: Incorporate a range of sensory experiences, including calming and alerting activities.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly review the effectiveness of the sensory diet and make adjustments based on the individual’s responses and changing needs.
Examples of Sensory Activities
Calming Activities
These activities help soothe and regulate sensory input, ideal for moments of stress or anxiety.
- Deep Pressure Input: Activities like squeezing a stress ball, using a weighted blanket, or engaging in bear hugs.
- Gentle Movement: Slow rocking in a chair, swinging, or yoga poses that promote relaxation.
- Mindfulness Practices: Breathing exercises, meditation, or guided imagery to help calm the mind.
- Quiet Time: Designated periods for reading, listening to calming music, or engaging in quiet play.
Alerting Activities
These activities stimulate the senses and promote engagement and focus.
- Physical Play: Jumping on a trampoline, running, or participating in animal walks (e.g., bear crawls, crab walks).
- Fidget Tools: Using fidget spinners, putty, or textured items to provide tactile stimulation.
- Sensory Breaks: Short, active breaks that involve movement, such as dancing or playing tag, to help re-energize.
- Interactive Games: Activities that require quick responses, like Simon Says or obstacle courses, to promote alertness.
Here is an expanded list of sensory activities with a variety of options:
Proprioceptive Activities:
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- Pushing a heavy cart or trolley
- Carrying a weighted backpack
- Engaging in yoga poses and stretches
- Jumping on a trampoline
- Squeezing stress balls or therapy putty
- Doing wall push-ups
- Using a therapy ball for exercises
- Jumping jacks or skipping rope
- Tug-of-war with a resistance band
- Pushing against a wall or doorframe
Tactile Activities:
- Playing with kinetic sand or playdough
- Exploring various textures with a sensory bin
- Engaging in finger painting
- Playing with textured sensory balls
- Doing a calming hand massage with lotion
- Playing with squishy sensory toys
- Exploring different fabrics or textiles with hands
- Doing fingerplays or hand rhymes
- Using textured brushes or massage tools on the skin
- Sensory finger painting with scented or textured paints
Vestibular Activities:
- Swinging on a swing
- Spinning in an office chair
- Going on a carnival ride
- Doing somersaults or cartwheels
- Balancing on a balance board or wobble cushion
- Going on a swing set with different types of swings (e.g., tire swing, hammock swing)
- Rolling or crawling on the floor
- Standing on a balance board or balance disc
- Playing on a rocking horse or rocking chair
- Spinning in a spinning chair or spinning in circles with arms outstretched
Auditory Activities:
- Listening to calming music or nature sounds
- Using noise-canceling headphones in noisy environments
- Engaging in singing or vocalizations
- Participating in sound-based relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing with calming music
- Enjoying a quiet space with minimal auditory stimulation
- Listening to calming or classical music
- Playing with musical instruments like drums or a keyboard
- Participating in singing or humming exercises
- Engaging in sound discrimination activities (identifying different sounds)
- Engaging in auditory attention games (e.g., “Simon Says” with auditory instructions)
Visual Activities:
- Engaging in colouring activities with various textures and paints
- Doing visual tracking exercises with a finger or an eye tracker
- Watching colorful light displays or lava lamps
- Creating visual art projects like collages or mosaics
- Participating in visual scavenger hunts or visual puzzles
- Exploring sensory bottles with different colours and glitter
- Creating a vision board with colourful pictures and visuals
- Doing visual tracking exercises with a light-up toy or moving objects
- Engaging in visual discrimination activities (matching colors or shapes)
- Watching calming nature videos or visual animations
Sensory Diet for Autism
Home-based sensory activities
- Sensory scavenger hunt: Create a list of items with different textures, smells, and colors for the individual to find around the house.
- Homemade sensory bin: Fill a container with rice, dried beans, or water beads and add small toys or objects for the individual to explore and manipulate.
- DIY relaxation jar: Fill a clear, plastic bottle with water, glitter, and a drop of food coloring. Secure the lid and shake gently to create a calming visual effect.
- Sensory cooking: Involve the individual in cooking or baking activities that engage their senses, such as kneading dough, tasting different ingredients, or smelling fresh herbs and spices.
- DIY sensory bottles: Fill empty water bottles with a variety of materials like rice, beads, or buttons. Secure the lids tightly and encourage the individual to shake and explore the different sounds and textures.
- Indoor obstacle course: Set up a safe and age-appropriate obstacle course using pillows, cushions, tunnels, and other household items to provide opportunities for climbing, crawling, and jumping.
- Sensory storytelling: Choose a favorite book and enhance the reading experience by incorporating sensory elements. For example, provide scented markers for smelling different scents mentioned in the story or use textured materials to represent different objects.
- Sensory art projects: Engage the individual in sensory-focused art activities, such as finger painting, using textured materials like sand or fabric in collages, or creating artwork using scented markers or paints.
- Sensory-friendly movie night: Create a cozy and calm environment for a movie night with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and soft blankets. Provide popcorn or other snacks with a variety of flavors for a taste sensation.
- Calming sensory space: Set up a quiet, dedicated area in the house where the individual can retreat to when feeling overwhelmed. Include soft lighting, comfortable seating, calming scents, and soothing sounds like nature sounds or gentle music.
Remember to consider the individual’s preferences, comfort level, and specific sensory needs when selecting home-based activities. Adjust and tailor the activities as necessary to create a positive and engaging sensory experience.
A sensory diet for autism is a valuable tool that can help individuals manage their sensory needs effectively. By assessing sensory preferences, consulting professionals, and incorporating a variety of calming and alerting activities, parents and caregivers can create a supportive environment that enhances well-being, focus, and social interactions. Regular monitoring and adjustments to the sensory diet will ensure that it remains effective as the individual’s needs evolve.