SENSORY CIRCUITS-How to Create One at Home

from Special Needs Living June 2022 Digital Issue

The ABC's of IEP'S

By Angela Arlington

Sensory Circuits help individuals increase their focus and attention span, decrease anxiety, boost endorphin levels, self regulate and help with executive functioning. To be effective, the sensory circuit includes three types of activities that must be used in order – Alerting, Organizing, and Calming. Typically an individual should do the sensory circuit in 10–15 minutes. Depending on the person, they may need to spend more time in one category, which is fine. Adult supervision is recommended and people with medical conditions should ask a medical professional if activities are safe for them to do. When creating a sensory circuit, start with two to three activities in each category and add more when it becomes boring or ineffective.

Alerting – Activities that provide vestibular stimulation by having the head move in different ways. These prepare the brain and body for learning.

Organizing – Activities that provide multi-sensory processing and balance. These prepare the body and brain to increase focus, attention span, and improve processing skills.

Calming – Activities that provide deep pressure. These help to keep the brain and body calm and grounded to the environment.

Alerting Activities:

· Hopscotch

· Throwing a bean bag at a target or in a bucket

· Jumping with both feet in different directions

· Jog and hop

· Bouncing on exercise or therapy ball

· Jumping on trampoline

· Skipping

· Jumping and counting to 10 (or sing ABCs)

· Swinging

· Controlled spinning – spin five times clockwise and then five times counterclockwise

· Walking fast or running

· Listening to music with a strong beat

· Marching – have hands tap opposite leg when lifted

· Jumping Jacks

· Throwing a ball up and down 10–15 times

· Cross-county skiing in place

· Windmills

· Jump over cans in a row

· Galloping

Organizing Activities:

· Obstacle courses – go over and under an object, climb up and down objects, then roll around on a mat

· Bear Walk – hands and feet on the floor, hips up – walk left and right

· Starfish Jumps – jumping jacks as fast as possible with legs and arms spread wide

· Crab Walk – sit and place palms flat on the floor behind near hips. Lift up off ground and crawl

· Walking on a balance beam and picking up small objects sitting on the beam

· Infinity walk – follow figure 8 or walk in and out around chairs – try doing it with eyes closed

· Throw and catch a ball on a balance board

· Simon Says

· Jumping on trampoline

· Wheelbarrow walking

· Crawling through tunnels

· Picking up and putting down chairs

· Scooter boards – lay on stomach and push with feet

· Shape sorters

· Step-ups on small step or box – five starting with the right foot, then five starting with left foot

· Posting items on a wall

· Play Twister

· Putting pegged pieces of a puzzle together

· Stepping stones

· Walking up and down stairs

Calming Activities:

· Wall push-ups

· Hugging self and breathing

· Listening to slow and calm music

· Laying under a weighted blanket

· Moving furniture

· Picking up heavy objects and moving them

· Steam roller

· Squeeze balls

· Deep pressure massage

· Tapping or massaging head

· Walking in a body sock

· Pulling Playdough or Theraputty

· Picking up a small, weighted ball – up and down

· Rocking Chair – move slowly back and forth

· Pulling a bag filled with cans

· Squeeze fidgets

· Walking with a backpack full of objects

START at the trampoline and jump 30 times or five minutes Walk fast or skip to the sensory hallway Put hands on a wall and push counting to 10, do three times