Fun, calming, cozy, relaxing.
Those are the adjectives that my beautiful 11 year old son, Michael used to describe the very shiny blue sensory body sock, also known as BodySox, he is presently sporting. He is sitting on the couch 100 percent inside. He is talking to me through the body sock and simply loving the sensation of it.
A body sock is a pretty cool thing. It is made out of stretchy Lycra that has a nice big Velcro opening. It is designed for many purposes, body awareness, strength and imaginative or creative play , and a great sensory diet addition for the sensory seeker.
I know that the body sock helps with body awareness, meaning as you are in the body sock and you are moving your body, you become very aware of just what parts you are moving, how much strength you are using to push back against the pressure the body sock is giving you.
It is also kind of fun to use the body sock as kind of like a cocoon, with your head inside a well. It is fun to “hide” inside and let the world around yo
u continue on while you have your own quiet place for a moment. Even with your head inside, you can still see out into the room or place you are in and it is not too hot.
But it is its gentle calming pressure or hug like sensations that I think make it a pretty nice sensory integration tool.
For those who have a child with sensory challenges like autism or sensory processing disorder, the gentle pressure from the Body Sock can be very calming. That is why sensory diets for some children include use of a weighted blanket or being wrapped in a blanket “like a burrito” because they offer this sensation.
We all know that our children each need a different sensory diet, but an item like this would be an easy one to incorporate into the diet. It can be used as the child watched T.V., during any free play time, or when they are listening to music.
Our beautiful son Michael, while not having any sensory issues, does have a “gifted brain.” Meaning that his mind works all the time, and it goes quickly from one topic or idea to the next and he feels things so deeply, over empathetic is how I term it. So we have learned ways to help him keep his system calm. Well, we are now adding this sensory tool to the list.
Michael put this on right after school last week, and this is typically a time of day that he is pretty tired and his mind needs to relax. We have our normal routine, but on this day, the body sock entered the scene. Here is the conversation:
Rock the Body Sock
MG: “ Mom, what is this?”
Me: “ It is called a Body sock, it is for you to use after school.”
MG: “ What is this thing going to do for me?”
Me: “ It will help you kind of calm down from school and all you have to do is to put it on and sit down for a bit.”
MG is now working to get the Body sock on,
MG has both his legs in the one side and is calling for help
We have now straightened out the problem, he is in the sock and loving it.
MG: “ Mom, this is awesome! It feels so good to stretch in this thing.”
Me: “Why don’t you sit down in it on the couch for a while.”
Michael, encased in the Body sock, ambles to the couch and plops down.
Ten minutes pass.
Me: “How is it going in there?”
MG: “ Mom, it is so relaxing, I just stretched a bit with it and I love this thing!”
Out he comes because it is dinner time.
He heads to the kitchen without the Body sock, looking like he just came out of a massage, you know kind of sleepy looking and peaceful.
Me: “Where is the Body sock?”
MG “ I put it in the den, right by the Xbox, I want to use it later tonight. Is that okay?”
Me: “ Yes, Michael it is, you can use it whenever you want to or need to…okay?’
Michael smiles and sits down to dinner.
Enough said.
Please take a peek at the Body sock items on our site, if you think that they might help your special child(s) please try it out.
They come “Michael recommended”!
Michele
Special Needs Essentials Blog 