Sensory Smart™ Strategies During the Pandemic © Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L Co-author, Raising A Sensory Smart Child Author, Sensory Processing Challenges: Effective Clinical Work with Kids & Teens sensorysmarts.com sensoryprocessingchallenges.com Sensory Processing 101 We first learn about the world through our senses Neurological process of transforming sensory input into meaningful messages Usually occurs automatically Because of nervous system wiring, some people take in and use sensory information differently Ranges from quirks to severe dysfunction Uncertainty is Dysregulating Most people thrive on routine and predictability. Between COVID-19, remote/hybrid learning, the election, climate change, life is anything but certain! Get up at the same time each morning, get dressed, eat, and go to remote/in-person school or work. Create a visual/written plan for the day to help know what to expect. Support sensory, motor, and emotional needs to feel safe and regulated. Sensory Breaks Reset brains and bodies Sensory Havens Retreat: dim light, gentle sounds, oral comforts, pleasant smells Personalized tool box 5-Minute Balance Breaks Smell essential oil Take 5 Breathing Drink water Use Putty Time limit for use Chew gum Lift Weights Read a book Easy Movement Breaks Movement resets eyes, brains and bodies Stand up, stretch, walk, obstacle course, take a walk, climb stairs, bounce on a therapy ball GoNoodle.com activities Move Your Body card deck (superduperinc.com) Simon Says Shoulder shrugs, arm circles, karate hands Yoga Poses Some favorites: Child’s pose, Cobra pose, Cat & Cow pose, Downward Dog What’s Your Name? Spell out your full name and do the exercises for each letter! A 10 jumping jacks B 10 bunny hops C 5 crunches D 3 donkey kicks E 10-second plank F 5 calf raises G 10 squats H 10 seconds on each foot I 5 leg raises each side J 5-second plank K 10-second child’s pose L 5 lion roars M 3 squat jumps N 5 jump-ups O 10-second plank P 10 penguin steps Q 15-second run R 10-second run in place S 5 spins each direction T 5 sidewalks each way U 8 steps on your heels V 12 dinosaur stomps W 10 steps on a line X 3 log rolls each way Y 12 dinosaur stomps Z 5 lazy 8’s each arm Lindsey Biel, OTR/L, lindsey@sensorysmarts.com wheelofnames.com $ New % Open & Save ' Share ( Customize ) Fullscreen Wheel of names More English Enter names here ! Shuffle " Sort ! Add image C li 10 jumping jacks 5 frog jumps 8 log rolls c k to s pin 6 twist jumps 10 sec on right foot 10 sec on left foot 7 crab walks 10 sec plank pr te r or e s s c trl+ e n 8 entries We recently had a database # mishap which made 10% of all saved wheels unavailable Sep 4-9. We are very sorry about this mix-up and we believe everything is back to normal now. If you are missing any of your saved wheels when you click Open at the top of the page, please contact us. Version 80 Teens and Adults Brain Gym: Lazy 8‘s, Cross Crawl Steezy Dance lessons (www.steezy.co) step-by-step learning Use gym equipment Run laps Pilates/strength training Yoga Balloon Tennis & Toy Toss Don’t forget to breathe! Whistles and blow toys Blow feathers off hand, cotton balls across table Make a bubble mountain Yoga breathing LION BREATH! Desk Time/Screen Time Set Up for Success Remote Learning Requires: Managing sensory needs Sitting still and focusing for long periods Physical stability and security Seeing well, eating well, sleeping well Create a designated learning space Set aside a special area in your home if possible. Reduce clutter to provide a clear, clean work space. Eliminate visual and noise distractions as much as possible. Sensory Hacks Consider a privacy partition in a busy room Cover clutter with a sheet Use headphones to block out noise and listen better Organize materials - sharp pencils (with grips if used) scissors, tape, glue, paper, and class materials. Clean eyeglasses if worn. Make sure tech is charged and working. Try diffusing an essential oil. Mint and citrus tend to alert, flowers tend to calm. Position to Play and Learn Solid base of support: hips, knees, and ankles at about 80-90º angles, feet on floor, footrest or bouncy band around front chair legs Pelvis in neutral so spine can elongate Movin’Sit Jr. moderately inflated wide end toward back Appropriate size table - no hiking shoulders, slumping. Consider Lighting Avoid overhead lighting which reflects off surfaces (add matte paper to table if this is the only light source available) Sensitive kids see and hear fluorescent lights flicker! Warm LED, incandescent, or halogen bulbs at eye level work best as does diffused natural light. Try Color Screen Filters iPhone/iPad: Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations> Color Filters. Presets or customize color Tint. Mac computer: System Preferences>Accessibility> Display>Color Filters. Android phone/tablet: Irlen Colored Overlay App for Android Windows 10: Settings>Ease of Access>Color>Color filters Chrome books: Settings>Accessibility>Color Correction. Try Color Screen Filters iPhone/iPad: Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations> Color Filters. Presets or customize color Tint. Mac computer: System Preferences>Accessibility> Display>Color Filters. Android phone/tablet: Irlen Colored Overlay App for Android Windows 10: Settings>Ease of Access>Color>Color filters Chrome books: Settings>Accessibility>Color Correction. Try Color Screen Filters iPhone/iPad: Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations> Color Filters. Presets or customize color Tint. Mac computer: System Preferences>Accessibility> Display>Color Filters. Android phone/tablet: Irlen Colored Overlay App for Android Windows 10: Settings>Ease of Access>Color>Color filters Chrome books: Settings>Accessibility>Color Correction. Strategies for Masks No One Size Fits All Mask Hacks Be a good role model. Teach that it’s not a big deal to wear a mask and you’re proud to protect others. Practice at home with a new mask. Increase wearing time. Tap into interests: animals, superheros, etc. Add a drop of therapeutic grade essential oil to outer edge. Test at home before going out. Bring an untreated mask along just in case. If appropriate/safe, give gum if they chew on mask. Use a hand tool like a squishy ball or Silly Putty to redirect fidgeting from the mask. Practice deep, calming breaths through the nose rather than mouth using a visual such as Take 5 Breathing. Disposable Masks Disposable masks often do not fit well, do not seal well, can get hot, and slide under the nose. If you or your child prefers these but they are too loose, fold the mask in half lengthwise, tie a knot at the edges of the mask, and push the sides of the mask beneath the knot to reduce gaps. You can also add a cord lock to snug it up. Reusable Masks Wash in hot water with unscented detergent before wearing to remove smells. Wash daily (or more often if soiled) with hot water. Straps with adjustable cotton ear loops may be more comfortable than straps that go behind the head which can tug hair. Attach mask to buttons sewn on a headband or cap. Clear Mouth Masks Help with facial recognition Help with oral motor modeling Help with social interactions Shown: Fun and Function Social Mask Alternatives Neck gaiters and bandannas offer little to no protection (aside from snug, multi-layer gaiters) Medical-grade face shields offer some degree of protection to the wearer by working as a cough, sneeze, and splash guard but some air escapes around the edges of the shield. A mask and shield worn together provides greatest protection, essential if you or your child is sick or extra vulnerable. Normalizing the abnormal Free downloadable coloring book at maskcoloring.com Social stories and books at https:// www.autismresourcecentral.org/social-stories-foryoung-and-old-on-covid-19/ Many books available online YouTube videos such as Jack Hartman’s “Why Do People Wear Masks?” More Sensory Smart Strategies Practical strategies for home and school! In bookstores, libraries, online, sensorysmarts.com. Visit sensorysmarts.com and sensoryprocessingchallenges.com for FREE screening tools, webcasts, articles, tips, resources, and more. Join over 108,000 people on Facebook at Raising a Sensory Smart Child and Sensory Processing Challenges pages.
