The following is a list of suggested activities that can be utilized to provide sensory input. It is beneficial to engage in a variety of sensory input throughout the day.
It is important to note that some activities will have a more calming and organizing effect, while others may be more stimulating. The impact of different types of sensory input varies for each child.
By incorporating these tasks you can help improve and maximize attention, assist with self-regulation, decrease frustration, improve body awareness and decrease sensory seeking behaviors.
All activities should take place with adult supervision. DIscontinue with signs of overstimulation or when safety is a concern.
Please contact me with any questions.
Proprioceptive Input: This sensation refers to the unconscious awareness of where the
body is in space (position and movement) as a result of input from the joints, muscles and tendons. This
input tends to have powerful calming and organizing effect on the nervous system.
Activities to try:
● Marching
● Crawling – through tunnels or under desks, chairs, etc on all fours
● Playing “Tug of War” – with ropes, theraband activities, etc.
● Pulling/Pushing – weighted wagon, pushing against a wall, pushing against another
person (hands together), wheelbarrow walking
● Kicking – soccer ball, big ball
● Carrying heavy items – weighted backpacks, groceries, books
● Therapy ball activities
● Scooter board activities
● Pulling apart resistive toys/objects – legos, snap beads, stretchy toys, K’nex, putty, etc.
● Climbing on playground equipment
● Joint compressions
● Biting, chewing, and crunching resistive foods
● Obstacle Courses - over/under/through furniture, pillows, etc
Rough play
Strengthening activities
Jumping on the ground or on a trampoline
Pulling a wagon
Vestibular Input: Refers to receptors in the inner ear that process whole body movement and are
responsible for developing balance and postural control. Quick movements tend to be alerting and slow
movements tend to be calming. Vestibular input helps the nervous system stay organized and balanced.
*All of these activities must be supervised carefully, with a watchful eye for overload. If signs of overload are observed, follow with a Proprioceptive activity.
Activities to try:
● Bouncing – therapy balls, hoppity-hop
● Rocking in a rocking chair
● Climbing on playground equipment or swinging on swings
● Scooter board activities
● Spinning on a sit n spin. Spin eqaul number of times in both directions
● Jumping in place/hopping on one foot
● Running
● Swinging
Jumping on a trampoline
Talking a walk in a wagon
Body Bowling- set up bowling pins, large cardboard building blocks, empty seltzer bottles, etc. as bowling pins. Have your child lay down about ten feet away from the “bowling pins” and log roll into them. The next time they do this they should have their head on the opposite side from where it was positioned the time time.
Tactile Input: Tactile (touch) activities develop fine motor skills, hand and finger awareness, fine motor
planning and attention. Tactile discrimination allows for protection, such as withdrawal from unexpected
light touch, painful stimulation or discerning hot and cold input. Deficiencies in this system can
significantly affect learning, social interactions, and personal safety. Tactile input is organizing and can
be calming for some children.
Activities to try:
● Play-dough or therapy putty
● Massage (with or without lotion)
● Textured mediums – shaving cream, finger paints, rice, sand
● Textured toys – koosh balls, gertie balls
Massage with a hand held massager
Use of a wash cloth or loofah during a bath or shower. Provide long continuous strokes up and down on the arms and legs.
Dry off with a warm towel after a bath or shower
Use of a weight blanket
Lay underneath a bean bag chair
Play in a ball pit
Body Burrito: Lay a blanket on the ground. Lay your child on top of the blanket, and roll them in the blanket with their head outside of the blanket and their body rolled in it.