Education | Special Needs Essentials Blog

As I write this blog today, it is our typical Friday afternoon. The great feeling that the weekend is upon us, the traditional pizza dinner (eaten in the den) and the chance to unwind from what was a busy school week for us all.

Relaxation takes on many different forms depending on the person who is doing it.

Michael relaxes by bouncing a basketball and chatting away, about his day, Elizabeth on the other hand, relaxes by watching some television. By herself. Laying on the floor. Never on a chair, never on the couch. It is what feels right to her.

We all have our own like and dislikes when it comes to listening to what our bodies and minds need through the course of each day. And most of the time we can adjust from what we want to do to what we have to do, pretty much without missing a beat.

Example: We may want to remove ourselves from a long, tedious lecture, but what we do is move to a new position to get comfortable, tell ourselves “only 15 more minutes” and watch the clock. (We may complain in our head about things or mumble a bit) but for the most part, we can manage to get through the lecture and our day.

But for those whose neurological system has trouble regulating itself…those times when we can manage by doing things like I mentioned, are the very times they cannot do it alone. They need help to get their system to cope with and adjust to the environment around them.

Those on the Autism spectrum have sensory needs. Those who have Sensory Processing Disorder have sensory needs. Truth be told, we all have some sensory issues (I throw out the topic of itchy tags…anyone else guilty of ripping them out themselves?) but it is the degree to which they affect one’s day and life that makes the difference.

There is something called a Sensory Diet, a phrase coined by OT Patricia Wilbarger. It is a carefully designed, personalized activity plan that provides the sensory input a person needs to stay focused and organized throughout the day.

What this means is that certain sensory inputs are offered to the person in need throughout their day to help them. Be it sounds, lights, texture and more.

Our brain receives sensory input from our five senses: Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Tasting, Tactile or Touch. These very senses, whose input can overwhelm a certain person’s system when they are too much, can actually be used to calm another person who has different sensory needs.

And this is where the wonderful, unique and so amazing thing called a Sensory Diet comes into play.

Some people need less noise, others need to hear music or calming sounds, or even to block out sounds with something like earBanz to stay organized.

Some people need lighting that is calm, like when teachers use Fluorescent Light Filters to take away lighting that is too bright.

Some people shy away from being touched and others crave touch and pressure so weighted blankets can provide the input they are looking for. As can weighted lap pads.

Fidget toys, such as chewy necklaces, chewelry or chewy tubes, can offer sensory input to those who need to move or fidget and even for those who have a sensory need to chew.

So many things can be used to help a person who has sensory needs, it is all about finding the right item, in the right amount at the right time. And this is where the OT or occupational therapist comes in.

To get a sensory diet tailor made for your child will help beyond measure. In my opinion, it is one of the most important things.

The OT can help make this diet. And they can decide if your child needs brushing which is officially called the Wilbarger method. Please read about this wonderful protocol when you can. But those brushes called Wilbarger brushes are the things that I feel helped Elizabeth the most in her earliest years.

A sensory diet is unlike any diet that one hears about on an infomercial. It is not one that will trim a waistline or help with cholesterol. For those who have sensory needs, it is downright life changing. Please search our website to see the amazing selection of sensory items, read how they are used and please ask questions to those who work with your child or please ask questions here on this blog site.

I can share what we did, you can share your experiences and we can help those who just started learning about their child’s needs.

I wish you a peaceful week.

Toys aren’t merely devices made to keep your busy little bee while you finish folding laundry. True, some do just that, but many toys are created as educational tools to teach your children and help them develop better physical, organizational, emotional and social skills. For example, introducing your child to puzzles early on is not only a great, essential way to ensure he or she get the hang of figuring out fun stuff now, but that they also succeed in the great puzzle that is life.

More benefits of playing with puzzles include the development of great hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, plus shape recognition and problem solving. Puzzles also help children learn about their place in this world and their surroundings while they also become socially confident creatures.

Puzzles also encourage little ones to set goals and achieve them, which then promotes the emergence of self esteem —and lot of it. And maybe, one day, they’ll also do their own laundry! Til then, let’s do some puzzles.

1. First Puzzle – Treehouse

Great for building self-esteem, this puzzle is large, which is great for sweet little hands, and it’s foam, which makes it easy for wee fingers to grip. Encouraging hand-eye coordination and visual sensory development, it’s designed to really get into the brain and improve cognition, logic, and reasoning.

2. Sensory Puzzle Blocks

Nice and vibrantly colored, these puzzle blocks help develop fine and gross motor skills while improving hand-eye coordination. They’re textured, too, so as to provide tactile and visual sensory input. Stack, build, and assemble the foam pieces with friends and family to improve social skills.

3. Tot’s First Chunky Pegs

Again, here’s a puzzle that’s made to help your child develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This 20-piece set is designed for tots 12-months old and up to stack, sort, match, and build away with the chunky pegs and pegboard.

4. Edushape Play Mat

Now here’s a cool concept: use six-by-six foam alpha-numerical puzzle pieces to get your little darling’s logic, reasoning, and motor skills running AND build a fort! With 36 pieces to play with in total, it’ll be easy for your sweetie to get lost in a little world of numbers, letters, and learning. Creating a whimsical box full of fun, this colorful, soft, easy-to-clean floor mat has endless learning possibilities, not to mention it’s also a great insulator for cold floors. Once assembled, the mat is 72”x72” big and is perfect for designating a specific play area in the home.

5. First Puzzle – Fun Forrest

This large foam puzzle has 10 pieces that are easy to grip so they work wonderfully with little fingers. While building self-esteem, this puzzle also encourages hand-eye coordination and visual sensory development and improves motor skills, cognition, logic and reasoning. And when joined by friends and family, it can also do wonders for your child’s social skills. Did we mention it features all of your favorite forest creatures?

What will be your kid’s first or next adventure in the wonderful world of puzzles? Leave us a comment or drop by our Facebook page to tell us all about it!

Simple Steps To A Sensory Diet

Categories

Recent posts

Visit Our Website

RSS Feed

Follow Blog via Email

Like us on Facebook!