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VIDEO for understanding Sensory Motor impact

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VIDEO for understanding Sensory Motor impact

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Presentation video talking all about the impact of sensory motor discussed with professionals.

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Understanding sensory motor differences and the impact of neurological “noise” in Autism

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The website above give a ton of examples of gross motor sensory activities using common house hold items!

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12 Gross Motor Sensory Activities Using Household Items | Gross Motor Activities for Special Needs

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Gross Motor Activities for Special Needs Does your child have sensory breaks in their IEP? Or need them? Are you worried about loss of PT sessions, gym class, recess, organized sports and all the other things that may make our kids more sedentary? And hey, not everyone has a sensory room in their ho…

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This is a sensory motor activity aimed towards younger students that works on their handwriting skills through the use of shaving cream.

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Sensory Motor Play for Handwriting from Child Success Center

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Some examples of fine motor, gross motor, and visual activities and ideas to incorporate into the classroom.

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To purchase a whole calming sensory room with everything included is $9,574.

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The Calming Sensory Room has everything you need to create a multi-sensory area for autism and special needs.

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The image above shows an example of a sensory diet, in this case it is showing Christina's sensory diet. The things she will do to calm her body down.

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Children with sensory issues often benefit from picture cards explaining what they are doing/about to do. The image above shows an example of picture cards.

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Basic information all about a sensory diet.

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Do you ever chew gum or fidget with a pen during a meeting at work? Do you take a walk to stay alert during the afternoon lull?

When you do these things, you're providing the sensory input your body needs to remain focused and attentive throughout the day.

For kids with sensory processing issues, these needs are even more intense. Without exposure to the input they need, they can struggle with demonstrating appropriate behavior, remaining alert, and keeping themselves organized and in control.

A sensory diet is a program of sensory activities kids perform during the day to ensure they're getting the input their bodies need. An occupational therapist usually designs it.

Whether the concept of sensory diets is new to you or you're looking for more specific information for your child, the following guide can help.

What's the medical community's stance on sensory diets?

Studies show that kids with sensory processing issues respond to sensory input differently than other children. Their sensory responses affect their behavior.

Research on treatments for sensory processing issues has been inconsistent for a number of reasons, including:

Homogenized study groups. It's difficult for researchers to find study groups of children who all have the same sensory needs. Children with sensory processing issues all have very unique presentations.

Intervention techniques. There's not one single set of sensory interventions followed by all occupational therapy practitioners. This lack of consistency makes it difficult to study the effectiveness of these interventions. That said, while experts are calling for more rigorous and reliable research in this area, most therapists use at least some sensory interventions. Anecdotally, many therapists and families describe positive results from using sensory strategies.

Sensory input and techniques

The term "sensory input" refers to experiences that stimulate the various sensory systems of our bodies. Some people with sensory processing issues demonstrate behaviors indicating they need more input to their sensory systems.

Sensory systems include the following:

Proprioceptive system

Kids who seek out rough play and jumping or crashing may need more input to this particular system. Proprioception is one of our movement senses. It contributes to coordination and body awareness.

Input to the proprioceptive system may include:

stomping

jumping

deep pressure

working against resistance

Vestibular system

This is our other movement sense. It's related to balance and how we perceive our body's orientation in space.

Some kids need constant movement and can't sit still. Others appear sluggish or lethargic. In these cases, the following vestibular input can help meet the child's needs:

Tactile input

Tactile input involves the sense of touch. Kids who constantly touch and fidget with objects or who are always touching others may need more tactile input. These children may benefit from the following:

fidget tools

tactile sensory bins

deep pressure

Auditory input

Sensory experiences that involve sound refer to auditory input. When kids are constantly humming, yelling, and making other noises, they may need more auditory input than other children.

Good auditory experiences for kids who seek out this kind of input include:

listening to music with headphones

playing with toys that make noise

playing instruments

Visual input

Kids who require more visual input may look closely at objects. They may seek out moving or spinning objects. They may have difficulty focusing on information presented visually.

Activities that provide visual stimulation may incorporate light or moving objects, such as:

flashlight play

toys that light up

toys with moving parts

Olfactory and oral sensory systems

These two systems are how we process smell and taste. When kids seek out input to these systems, they may lick or smell objects like crayons or toys. Chewing also provides proprioceptive input, so kids may bite or chew on objects (think pencils or shirt collars).

These kids may benefit from exploring smells through play with the following:

chewy toys

chewing gum

chewy or crunchy snacks

scented markers

essential oils

Keep in mind that while some kids with sensory processing issues need more sensory input in one or more of these areas, other kids may be hypersensitive to certain types of sensory experiences. These children may require less input. They may also require strategies to prevent negative reactions to these experiences.

Sensory diet examples

Effective sensory diets are tailored to the child's needs and have elements that can be easily incorporated into a child's routine.

Below are two examples of sensory diets:

For a child who seeks out rough play, has trouble calming themselves, and chews on objects

For a child who can't sit still and constantly touches and fidgets with objects

Products

There are a number of sensory products an occupational therapist may recommend to help kids meet their sensory needs. Some of these items include:

Sensory sock

A sensory sock is a stretchy sack that a child can fit inside. It provides calming deep pressure and movement against resistance. You can find one here.

Abilitations StayN'Place Ball

A weighted yoga ball can be a good tool for kids who seek out movement. They can sit on it or use it to bounce or roll on during sensory breaks. You can find one here.

SmartKnit seamless socks

These socks have no bumps or seams inside. They can be a nice option for kids who are sensitive to the feeling of their clothes. You can find them here.

Waldorf rocker board

For kids who seek out movement input, a balance board is a tool that can be used to rock from side to side and play with balance. You can find it here.

Weighted vest

Subtle deep pressure and resistive input to a child's torso can be calming for them. A weighted vest can accomplish this. You can find them here.

Weighted blanket

Weighted blankets can provide deep pressure to the entire body. Like weighted vests, they can be used as a calming sensory strategy. You can find one here.

Crash pad

Jumping, rolling, or crawling on a crash pad can provide tactile and proprioceptive input for kids who seek out rough play. You can find one here.

Sample sensory diets

These sample sensory diets can help explore different types of sensory input with kids while noting their responses.

Resource guide

The following resources can be useful supplemental tools if you're looking to incorporate a sensory diet into your child's life.

Therapy Shoppe

For a range of sensory toys and tools, the Therapy Shoppe offers everything from oral sensory chewing products to weighted and tactile products.

Social Thinking

If you're looking for various products that support appropriate social skill development in kids, you'll want to head over to Social Thinking.

Fun and Function

Fun and Function is a popular retailer that offers a variety of sensory and other therapeutic products.

'Sensory Processing 101'

" Sensory Processing 101 " is a book designed to promote a deeper understanding of the sensory systems and sensory processing.

Takeaway

Children with sensory processing issues may need strategies throughout the day to help them stay on track with appropriate behaviors and interactions. A sensory diet may be an effective way to structure a child's routine while providing the sensory input they need.

Claire Heffron, MS, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist with 12 years of experience in school-based settings. She's one of the founders of The Inspired Treehouse, a blog and online business that provides child development information and products for parents, teachers, and therapists. Claire and her partner, Lauren Drobnjak, are also the executive directors of The Treehouse Ohio, a nonprofit organization that provides free and low-cost developmental playgroups for kids and continuing education for child development professionals.

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A sensory diet is a program of sensory activities that kids perform during the day to ensure they're getting the input their bodies need. Whether the concept of sensory diets is new to you or you're looking for more specific information for your child, our guide can help.

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The video above shows a DIY sensory room. A women created her own sensory room and shared how she created it. This will be helpful if I need to create a sensory room of my own one day.

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Above is a picture of a sensory room, a lot like the one we have in the education building. This room has things like a swing, colorful floor gel tiles, rollers, and more.

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This video above shows students actively participating in a sensory room and using the items/toys available to them.

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The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn

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Assessment and the purpose of assessment for sensorimotor functions.

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Sensory and motor assessment for balance, coordination, and reflexes.

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This website teaches you how to create a sensory room and also allows you to purchase items for your sensory room right from the website.

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How to Create a Sensory Room: A Complete Guide

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Large selection of toys and therapy products for children with special needs like ADHD, autism, or sensory processing disorders. Vests, fidgets, swings, interactive learning and mobility tools. Offering parents, therapists, and teachers with articles and information.

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List of Ideas for future sensory rooms.

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This is a sensory motor activity aimed towards first graders that works on spelling while balancing on a ball.

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Sensory Motor Activities for 1st Grade Spelling from Child Success Center

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Above is a picture of a calming sensory room, a lot like the one we have in the education building. Including items such as sensory blankets, tactile pillows, mood lighting, calming noise, and more!

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The website above is full of information all centering around sensory motor facts, and activities.

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A child's foundation to growth, development, and learning starts with sensory and motor interaction with the world. Crawling, balancing, visual tracking, and coordination are all ways that a baby experiences the world while simultaneously developing their brain and body.

Often, children who struggle with learning or developmental disorders have sensorimotor system delays. ¹ It is crucial to improve motor function, sensory detection, and processing before any higher learning, behavioral or academic changes can truly happen. This is at the core of everything we do at Brain Balance.

What are sensorimotor activities?

Sensorimotor activities are tasks and exercises that engage and strengthen the brain by activating our body and our senses at the same time. Sensorimotor activities are a powerful way to strengthen the brain and improve cognitive processing - our brain's ability to gather information and respond appropriately in our daily lives.

How do sensorimotor activities work?

The sensory and motor systems are tightly integrated. Sensory stimulation and feedback provides important information to the brain through sensory skills like smell, touch, vision, hearing, and balance. Motor function is how your brain and body receives, and then reacts to, sensory stimulation.

When done regularly, sensorimotor activities can help build:

Muscle tone, strength, and coordination

Rhythm and timing

Bilateral coordination

Gross and fine-motor skills

Primitive and postural reflexes

Eye-muscle balance and coordination

Vestibular balance and posture

What are some sensorimotor activities to try at home?

At Brain Balance, we're all about helping families find fun and inventive ways to stay active and keep the brain engaged from the comfort of your home. Below, you can find fun activities to help activate the sensory and motor systems in the brain that the whole family can enjoy. It only takes three to five minutes to engage your muscles, spike your heart rate and positively impact your focus and memory.

Brain Power Exercise Circuit:
3-Minute Circuit (Ages 4-10)

Choose 3 activities below. Complete each for 1 minute. Repeat 2x per day.
5-Minute Circuit (Ages 11+)

Choose 3 activities below. Complete each for 1 minute. Repeat 2x per day.

Bike ride

Dance to a song

Jumping jacks

Jump rope

Tag Relay race

Stretching & yoga

Planks Sit ups

Running in place

Simon says

Frog walk

Obstacle course

Fast paced walk around the block

Army crawl

How can you improve sensorimotor skills?

The Brain Balance Program's unique combination of activities is designed to drive meaningful change in the symptoms they are experiencing. After families complete the cognitive assessment, we personalize a program that is tailored to your child.

Our program then works to integrate sensory input and strengthen sensorimotor skills through the frequency and duration of activities prescribed in your personalized program.

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Sensorimotor | Motor Function | Brain Balance

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A child's foundation to growth, development, and learning starts with sensory and motor interaction with the world. Crawling, balancing, visual tracking, and coordination are all ways that a baby experiences the world while simultaneously developing their brain and body. Often, children who struggle with learning or developmental disorders have sensorimotor system delays.

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There are many benefits to a sensory room. Some of which being...
-sensory stimulation
-increased learning and play
- improved balance and movement
-helps tackle behavioral problems

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The image above shows multiple examples of sensory room activities a child can do in a sensory room.