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Description: A sensory bin is a simple container that is filled with a sensory filler in quantity.
How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to just play. A sensory bin can allow students to explore textures, manipulate small objects, and it can allow for students to expand their vocab by discussing item that are in the bin.

Experience? I have had experience with sensory bins as my CT has one in her room that she coordinates with the season. As of right now, we have corn, small pumpkins, and more in the bin. The students enjoy it as it allows them to play and feel objects that they may or may not typically feel on a day-to-day basis.

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Description: Play-Doh is a fun, texture filled manipulative that students can play with to make objects through shaping, cutting, rolling, and more.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to just play. Play-Doh allows students to use their fine motor skills to manipulate the pieces into whatever they want.

Experience? I have had experience with sensory bins as my CT has a table just for Play-Doh in her room. The students enjoy using the scissors, the cut outs, the rollers, and their own hands to shape the Play-Doh into whatever they are imagining.

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Description: A sensory jar is a water bottle that is filled with many things such as feathers, beads, glitter, etc.
How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to just play. A sensory jar can allow students to put their own personal touch on their sensory need by feeling materials and inserting it into a bottle where they can shake it and see all their materials.

Experience? I have had experience with a sensory jar as I created one myself last semester during class presentations as a group had it as an activity. It was fun to feel the materials and then hear them once they were in the bottle.

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Description: A swing that has multiple attachments that can meet the needs of the students.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A swing can allow students to calm down, gain sensory, or just to do it- to do it. A swing can allow a child to neutralize disruptions that are caused by their vestibular system.

Experience? I have had experience with a swing as I have used the swing in class multiple times in order to meet different sensory needs.

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Description: A slide that has rollers that can allow one to feel bumps while going down.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A slide can allow students stimulate their sensory needs, develop gross motor skills, and can teach gravity (where your weight is shifted). A slide is great to use when a student needs more- the student needs to feel some sort of texture (bumps) and can also go fast as they do so.

Experience? I have had experience with a slide as I have used the slide in class.

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Description: Some sort of pit/area that is filled with soft, plastic, or foam balls.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A ball pit allows students to move through the balls- which helps to develop tactile senses and special awareness. Ball pits also allow students to engage in multiples senses including touch, body position, and more (especially when there is more than 1 in the pit)

Experience? I have had experience with a ball pit as I have used it in class and have played it in during my earlier years.

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Description: A machine that one squeezes their body through.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A squeeze machine allows students to move through the rollers- which helps students who need to feel some form of pressure that can build the toleration of a student.

Experience? I have had experience with a squeeze machine as I have used it in class.

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Description: A bed that is filled with water that allows one to move and feel.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A waterbed allows students to relax, get blood circulating, and be comfortable. Water beds can help regulate sensory responses and improve focus.

Experience? I have had experience with a waterbed as I have used it in class and my parents used to have one when I was younger.

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Description: A piece of equipment consisting of a strong fabric sheet connected by springs to a frame.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. A trampoline allows students to develop, exercise, gain motor skills, relieve stress, gain coordination, and much more.

Experience? I have had experience with a trampoline as I have used it in class and had one growing up as I did gymnastics. Given this, I spent many years of my life jumping on and using trampolines for many reasons.

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Description: A cozy, canoe-shaped chair that provides deep pressure touch (DTP) to the body.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. An inflatable peapod applies pressure to sensitive area of the body which helps students feel grounded and in control.

Experience? I have had experience with a trampoline as I have used it in class.

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Description: A blanket that provides a type of at-home measure that can provide similar benefits to deep pressure therapy.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Weighted blanket can reduce pain, calm, reduce anxiety, and improve the mood of students.

Experience? I have had experience with a weighted blanket as I have used one in class and have also used one personally at home.

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Description: When one applies paint with their fingers.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Finger painting can help with fine motor development, unleash creativity, stimulates senses, and can help with cognitive development.

Experience? I have had experience with finger painting as we did an activity with it in class and I have done it a couple of times myself.

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Description: A device that disperses essential oils into the air to create a pleasant or calming scent.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Oil diffusers ease stress, allow students to focus, pain relief, enhances mood, and more.

Experience? I have had experience with oil diffusers as I have used one for many years in my bedroom and throughout our house to calm and have something pleasant to smell. During our class we were able to smell a couple of scents that were guided towards focusing, relaxation, stress relief, and more.

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Description: A small, soft object that is squeezed to relieve stress and tension, or to improve grip strength.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Stress balls allow students to soothe a sensory or distraction that effectively redirects their attention away from anxiety. Along with this, stress balls can relieve pain, enhance emotional stability, lower blood pressure, and strengthen muscles.

Experience? I have had experience with stress balls as I have made some from scratch at one point through the use of balloons, flour, and more.

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Description: A hands-on activity that helps children explore different textures, sounds, and lights in a controlled environment.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Sensory boards can be used for many reasons such as developing motor skills, calming, exploration, independent play, and more.

Experience? I have had experience with a sensory board as I got to interact with one in class that had colors, switches, and more.

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Description: A small, flat boards with wheels that children use to move around by pushing with their hands or feet.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is mainly used by OTs as they work with students. Scooter boards can be used frequently during OT as it helps children develop skills like balance, coordination, and strength. Scooter boards also allow students to feel deep pressure input to their muscles and joints- which helps improve body awareness and calms the nervous system.

Experience? I have had experience with a scooter board as I have used them during gym while in elementary school and have seen a few students use it throughout my field. Similarly, many of my students enjoy using scooters throughout our time in the gross motor room.

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Description: Utilizes optical fiber (flexible fiber made of glass or plastic) to transmit light from a light source to a remote location.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Fiber optic lighting stimulates the senses with bright lights and colors. This can help the brain process better, improving focus, communication, and social skills.

Experience? I have had experience with fiber optic lights as I have used them during class as I moved through them and felt them. It was very fun and relieving at the same time.

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Description: An inflated cushion usually in the shape of a disk, and often covered in a bumpy texture.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as at your desk, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Wiggle seats allow students to focus, reduce anxiety, and create a more supportive learning environment. The movement gives the child vestibular input and proprioceptive input, both of which can be very calming and meet the needs of sensory seekers.

Experience? I have not had direct experience with this myself- but I have seen others use it due to not being able to sit still in class and not being able to focus.

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Description: Headphones that use microphones to listen to the surrounding sound and generate opposite sound waves to reduce or eliminate unwanted noise.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Noise cancelling headphones allow for students to reduce sensory overload, improve concentration, reduces anxiety, and allows for independence.

Experience? I have had experience with noise cancelling headphones as a student in my field tends to put them on at times when the videos played are too loud. In addition, I have a pair of headphones that has a noise cancelling option- which works great when trying to focus on what I am listening to.

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Description: A sensory tool designed to be chewed on to help with focus, anxiety, and sensory processing.

How/When/Why it should be used: It is used in many classrooms during times that the teacher allows such as centers, at your desk, to relieve yourself, or to meet one’s sensory needs. Chewables are a helpful resource that can calm, be fun, improve focus, and provide the necessary sensory input the individual is seeking out. These chewables can have different textures, diameters, and can come in various forms.

Experience? I have had limited experience with chewables as I have only been able to see and feel them- but I do believe that they can be helpful to those in need of this form of sensory.