Sensory Diet for Children – Home Program

 

ARURA PAEDIATRIC THERAPY SERVICES

Sensory Diet for Children – Home Program

1. Sensory Diet for Over-Responsiveness (Hypersensitivity)

Children who are over-responsive to sensory input may react negatively to common stimuli (e.g., touch, noise, movement). The goal of this sensory diet is to help them gradually tolerate and manage sensory experiences.

Sensory System	Activity	Description	Frequency
Tactile (Touch)	Brushing technique	Use a soft sensory brush on arms/legs in rhythmic motions.	2-3 times a day
Tactile (Touch)	Playing with textured materials (e.g., play dough, sand)	Encourage the child to touch and manipulate materials with different textures.	Daily for 10-15 minutes
Proprioceptive (Body Awareness)	Deep pressure activities (e.g., bear hugs, weighted blankets)	Provide firm, calming pressure to help regulate sensory overload.	Before stressful activities or bedtime
Vestibular (Movement)	Slow, rhythmic swinging or rocking	Use a swing or rocking chair for slow, predictable movements.	10 minutes, 2-3 times a day
Auditory	Quiet time with noise-cancelling headphones or soft music	Provide a calm space with gentle music or quiet time.	15-20 minutes as needed
Visual	Dim lighting or soft visuals	Reduce visual clutter and bright lights; use calming visual stimuli.	Use during meal or homework time
Oral	Chewing on crunchy foods	Encourage the child to chew foods like carrots, apples, or gum to self-regulate.	During meals or snack times
Smell	Introducing pleasant, calming scents	Use lavender or vanilla essential oils in a diffuser to create a calm environment.	2-3 times a day during activities

 

 

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2. Sensory Diet for Under-Responsiveness (Hyposensitivity)

Children who are under-responsive to sensory input often need more intense or stimulating experiences to engage their senses. The goal of this sensory diet is to provide them with stimulating activities that help increase alertness and body awareness.

Sensory System	Activity	Description	Frequency
Tactile (Touch)	Sensory bins with rice, beans, or water	Let the child play with a variety of textures to engage their sense of touch.	Daily for 15-20 minutes
Tactile (Touch)	Rough-and-tumble play	Engage the child in gentle wrestling or roughhousing to increase sensory input.	2-3 times a day for 10 minutes
Proprioceptive (Body Awareness)	Jumping on a trampoline or jumping jacks	Encourage high-energy activities to increase body awareness and focus.	Several times a day
Vestibular (Movement)	Spinning or fast swinging	Provide opportunities for fast, intense movement activities like spinning on a swing.	5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day
Auditory	Loud, upbeat music or rhythmic beats	Play fast-paced music to stimulate auditory input and increase alertness.	During playtime or physical activity
Visual	Bright, colorful visuals	Use bright lights, colorful objects, and visual games (e.g., I-Spy) to stimulate visual input.	Daily for 10-15 minutes
Oral	Blowing bubbles or using straws	Have the child blow bubbles or use a straw to drink thick liquids (e.g., milkshakes) for oral motor input.	Daily during snack or playtime
Smell	Strong, alerting scents (e.g., citrus, peppermint)	Introduce strong scents like lemon or peppermint to heighten awareness.	2-3 times a day

Home Program Guidelines

• Consistency: Aim to incorporate these activities into the daily routine. Gradually increase or adjust based on the child’s response.
• Pacing: Don’t overwhelm the child; introduce activities slowly and adjust intensity based on feedback.
• Environment: Create a safe, structured environment for sensory activities, minimizing distractions and overstimulation.
• Parental Involvement: Engage parents by providing simple explanations for each activity and how it supports the child’s sensory needs. Encourage them to participate in and reinforce activities at home.

ARURA PAEDIATRIC THERAPY SERVICES

Sensory Diet for Children: Home Program

1. Sensory Diet for Over-Responsiveness (Hypersensitivity)

Children who are over-responsive may find sensory input overwhelming or distressing and may avoid certain activities.

Category	Activities	Purpose
Proprioceptive	- Deep pressure massage	Provides calming input to muscles and joints
	- Carrying weighted backpacks or pushing/pulling heavy objects	Helps regulate sensory responses
	- Animal walks (bear, crab, etc.)	Builds body awareness and reduces sensitivity
Tactile	- Playing with soft textures (e.g., playdough, slime)	Gradually desensitizes to touch
	- Brushing protocol (with therapist guidance)	Reduces tactile defensiveness
	- Wearing tight clothing or compression garments	Provides calming, deep touch pressure
Auditory	- Listening to calming, rhythmic music or white noise	Reduces sensitivity to loud sounds
	- Use noise-canceling headphones in noisy environments	Protects against overstimulation
Vestibular	- Slow, rhythmic swinging in a hammock	Provides calming vestibular input
	- Gentle rocking in a rocking chair	Helps calm the nervous system
Visual	- Use dim lighting or sunglasses in bright environments	Reduces overstimulation from visual input
	- Introduce gradual exposure to bright lights	Builds tolerance to visual stimuli
Oral	- Chewing on resistive foods (e.g., crunchy vegetables, gum)	Provides calming proprioceptive input to the jaw
	- Drinking thick liquids through a straw (smoothies, milkshakes)	Provides organizing oral motor input

 

 

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2. Sensory Diet for Under-Responsiveness (Hyposensitivity)

Children who are under-responsive may seek out strong sensory input and need more intense stimulation to stay alert and engaged.

Category	Activities	Purpose
Proprioceptive	- Jumping on a trampoline	Provides alerting input to muscles and joints
	- Tug-of-war or pulling heavy objects	Increases body awareness and engagement
	- Wall push-ups or chair push-ups	Promotes body awareness and strength
Tactile	- Finger painting, playing in sand, or water play	Stimulates tactile receptors and builds awareness
	- Using different textures (e.g., sandpaper, Velcro)	Increases tactile engagement
Auditory	- Listening to upbeat, fast-paced music	Provides alerting and organizing input
	- Using musical instruments (e.g., drums, tambourines)	Encourages auditory attention and engagement
Vestibular	- Fast-paced swinging, spinning, or jumping	Provides alerting vestibular input
	- Bouncing on an exercise ball	Helps increase alertness and attention
Visual	- Use bright, contrasting colors in the environment	Increases alertness through visual stimulation
	- Engage with visually stimulating toys (e.g., light-up toys)	Encourages visual tracking and engagement
Oral	- Chewing on crunchy, resistive foods (pretzels, carrots)	Provides alerting oral input
	- Drinking from a straw or using a whistle	Stimulates oral muscles and increases awareness

Key Tips for Both Types of Sensory Diets:

1. Consistency: Incorporate sensory activities into daily routines to maintain a consistent sensory diet.
2. Monitor Response: Observe how the child responds to each activity and adjust intensity or duration as needed.
3. Flexibility: Be prepared to modify activities based on the child’s changing sensory needs over time.
4. Parent Involvement: Encourage parents to actively engage with their child during sensory activities to create a supportive home environment.

These sensory diets are tailored to help children regulate their sensory systems and function better throughout their daily activities.