Curricula and Learning Links - Special Needs

Sensory Integration Disorder

July 2002

The following discussion appeared on HomeschoolChristian.com's message boards. The topic is creating centers out of ideas gleaned for a sensory integration diet as spoken of in The Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz.

What is sensory diet? One parent offered this definition: A sensory diet is a "catch phrase" to describe giving your child sensory stimulation to desensitize the child or to encourage the child (depending on the needs). It includes activities that would be textile in nature (playing in shaving cream, taking a shower), help with balance and motion, offer opportunities to swing or hang, offer opportunities to be wrapped up tightly, or have their body brushed, possibly eat and chew foods of different textures, etc.

Why would you need this? Again, she says, "Some children have immature neurological systems at an age where they should be more coordinated. So, they often don't get enough stimulation (they are the kids who are louder or touch more) or they get too much stimulation (normal sounds hurt them or normal touch irritates them). Also, they often have trouble w/the vestibular system (the system that tells you where you are in space) which would show up as being very clumsy or, at the other extreme, afraid of movement.

Several parents offered ideas of things that have worked.

Hanging Center to apply the needed pressure to his joints. I hung a chin-up bar across his doorway.

Large gym ball in place of his chair when he is doing deskwork that doesn't allow for much large motor movement. This is supposed to allow him motion without losing focus.

Hoppity hop toy

T-stool

Hotdog activity using our futon. This involves rolling him up and rubbing him as though we are applying ketchup, mustard, etc.

Brush to brush him. Corn silk vegetable brushes are recommended.

Corner pillow place

Cool mist vaporizer with lavender oil in it to help her relax.

Human chalk board where she lays on her tummy and we write on her back. Anywhere from secret messages to math problems. She has to guess what we are writing.

Hula hoop for spacial awareness. We all take turns going through the hoop trying not to touch the sides.

Massage therapy at night right before bed helps her shut down too...as well as our nightly time of reading.

Beads on a LONG string or twine for better tracking on convergent vision.

Appliance boxes to make tunnels for the kids to play in. The concept is NOT to touch the sides of the box as you crawl through the maze.

Weighted vest by getting an old vest at a thrift store and just making a lot of bean bags and sewing and safety pinning them all over the vest.

Walking barefoot opened up his world in a fun way so he could participate in a lot of things without having to worry so much about his feet.

Hammock swing on the swing set in place of one of the swings so we could do some of the other pressure/swinging/propreoception stuff outside.

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Curricula and Learning Links - Special Needs

Sensory Integration Disorder

July 2002

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