Heavy work activities are important for children who are unable to control their stimulation levels. Mostly these kids are hyperactive and always need to engage in high energy level activities. Heavy work activities help to relay a heavy input into their sensory systems which calms them down. These activities include jumping or bouncing on a mattress, a wheel barrow walking competition, leap frog, pushing or pulling their own strollers, swinging, and pillow fights, among others. In choosing these activities, make them as pleasurable as possible to make the task worthwhile for your child.
Tactile activities are extremely essential for kids who are uncomfortable with various textures. Introduce different textures to your child through exciting activities to enable your child to cope or overcome their challenge. Introduce messy activities such modeling clay, making dough, and playing with foam or sand. Textured toys can also be an easier way to expose kids to different textural sensations. Put a variety of toys on a table, and ask the child to identify and pick a toy when you mention it. Also take pleasurable walk in the sand or grass barefooted also exposes the child to different textures. The game can vary as long as the child gets to interact with various textures. Do not force your child if he is uncomfortable with a texture; make it as gradual and enjoyable as possible.
Olfactory and sound sensory disorder is whereby a child has difficulties receiving and interpreting smell and sound senses. For sound integrated activities; listen to nature with your child and attempt to identify different sounds, or let your child experiment with different sound levels by allowing them to play with the stereo remote. To deal with a child who has smell sensory disorder, it is important to gradually introduce them to various smells. Another activity is to blindfold your child and ask them to identify different products by their smell.
Children with oral motor control sensory disorder have challenges responding appropriately to sensory input in the mouth. Kids with this disorder may experience speech complications, eating problems, salivating, and always putting items into their mouth. Oral sensory therapists use oral motor toys to help children cope with this disorder. Encourage your child to play with whistles, blow toys, oral massagers or textured spoons. To counter eating challenges, providing the child with different and curious food or getting food and snacks in various shapes is helpful. This makes them curious enough to enjoy other foods that you serve.