Scissor Skills

We all have 8 sensory systems: auditory, visual, taste, smell, tactile, proprioceptive (muscles and joints), vestibular (inner ear receptors/motion and balance), and interoception (sensation of organs such as bladder and stomach).  Sometimes we have difficulty regulating our bodies due to these sensory systems processing too much or too little information from each of these sensory systems.  These are some strategies to help us regulate our bodies to help us manage the sensory information we receive.  These strategies may not be appropriate for all children as they are for a wide range of age-groups, therefore try only what is appropriate for your child.  Parent supervision is required for all activities listed. 

 Cosmic Kids Yoga  

Warm-up for the start of your day or relax after completing your work! Cosmic Kids Yoga is a fun way to listen and interact with stories all while practicing yoga poses and breathing!       

 Zumba for Kids

Get up and get dancing to these fun songs and upbeat music from GoNoodle Zumba Channel. 

Flow 

Mindfulness and relaxation videos from GoNoodle. 

Kids Bop

Sing and Dance along to these music videos created by Kids Bop and GoNoodle. 

Auditory

-       Use headphones, ear-muffs, or noise dampeners

-       Take a break in a quiet room

-       Use a visual (timer, picture) or verbal warnings to prepare before going to a noisy place

-       Use calming strategies that engage other sensory systems

-       Listen to music using headphones

-       Use visual supports (pictures, gestures, facial expressions) when communicating

-   Simon Says

-   Scavenger hunt with sounds (listen for sounds)

Visual

-       Limit bright colors and busy objects/posters/wall art

-       Limit the amount of visual material hanging from ceiling or walls

-       Reduce clutter

-       Organize spaces with tape or boundary markers

Tactile

-          Use deep pressure (massage, weighted blanket, couch cushions, pillows).

-          Choose preferred clothing items in a material your child likes.

-          Ensure tags or other clothing add-ons are removed from clothing.

-          Use heavy work activities (pushing the heavy boxes, carrying groceries in, rearranging  

            furniture items, wall-push-ups).

-         Create pictures by finger painting.

-         Play in dry rice or beans or pasta

-   Play with playdough to make letters/shapes/numbers, fun creations

-   Play with water beads

-   Make Slime

Proprioception

-          Use heavy work activities (pushing heavy boxes/toys, carrying groceries in, rearranging    

            furniture items, wall-push-ups, carrying laundry up/down stairs).

-          Use couch cushions or pillows on the floor to play “The Floor is Lava”, jumping from cushion              to cushion to get around the room.

-          Build an obstacle course using furniture/items you have in your house including couch    

             cushions, pillows, bed sheets, tables, chairs, and tape.

-          Have a SAFE pillow fight, using soft pillows.

-          Follow along to a yoga video.

-          Play games with your child such as hopscotch, ping pong, red rover, catch, Simon Says

-     Pulling a blanket with toys or pillows on top for added weight.

-     Animal Walks

Vestibular

-          Play a game of freeze dance.

-          If you have a spinning desk chair, have your child spin to a countdown of 10 like an     

            astronaut in a spaceship.  Or have them stand in the middle of the room to spin for this   

            activity.

-         Go outside and swing

-   Ride bike

-   Jump Rope

-         Egg races

-         Hopscotch

-   Twister