More children today than ever before are being diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder, which basically means their bodies are having trouble intergrating a range of experiences and as a result, can cause distress in many ways. If your child has been diagnosed with this problem, you can take inventory of the types of activities you do on a typical day and create a sensory diet or mix of busy and calming activities that help your child regulate to feel his or her best.
Instructions
1. Write down your child's schedule and list everything. Include meals, playgrounds, exercise and time spent walking, sitting, sleeping and engaging into other activities.
2. Read about the types of things that can help a child with sensory issues to feel better. For some children, spinning, jumping, climbing, hitting a ball, pushing a vaccum or other heavy item, playing with playdough, sand, coloring, reading and other busy and calm things can be important parts of the day.
3. Determine when your child needs more down time doing seated, calming activities, and when running, jumping and swinging might be needed.
4. Think about creating a balance of busy and soothing activities. If your child spends 15 minutes reading, then try spending another 15 minutes swinging at the playground.
5. Realize that every child is different, so be flexible and change the sensory diet or list of actitivities as needed.
6. Vary the activities day to day, but always try to find the same type of balance of busy and calming things so your child will feel his or her very best.
Tags: your child, balance busy, busy calming, calming activities, diagnosed with, sensory diet,