Sensory diet program
Some children regularly seek out opportunities to get extra sensory stimulation to ‘feed’ their
system what it needs to function at its best. Their brain needs more sensory input to help them
maintain a calm and alert state where they are able to concentrate and interact effectively with their
environment. Although their system needs this extra input, they have difficulty regulating the type
and amount of input that will best suit their needs, and as such may often choose inappropriate
ways of getting the input that their brain needs. A sensory diet will help to provide them with
appropriate sensory input.
What is a ‘sensory diet’?
Our brain, through our senses, needs a balanced diet in order for us to be able to make sense of and
function in the world we live. This is a sensory diet. We need to experience a variety of sensations
each and every day in order to keep our brain energised, organised, alert or calm. With a regular,
balanced sensory diet we are better prepared to respond appropriately to the demands of the world
we live in.
When children are having difficulties with self-regulation, adults may need to assist them to find the
right type of activities to attain the appropriate level of alertness for their situation. In order for
children to focus their attention, their bodies need to be in an appropriate state of “calm alertness”.
If they are not in an appropriate state of calm alertness, their attention may be directed towards the
wrong cues. A balanced sensory diet will help children maintain appropriate levels of alertness.
A balanced sensory diet helps organise a child’s senses so that they can carry out activities to the
best of their ability. After being introduced to particular sensory activities by parents or teachers,
children may begin to use these activities themselves when they need to change their alertness
levels.
For changes to occur in a child’s sensory system the sensory diet must be carried out consistently
and as directed. Changes usually take between 6 - 8 weeks to occur but once they do they can
greatly improve the child’s attention and functioning.
Implementation of a sensory diet
The following is an example of a sensory diet. The activities can be adapted depending on their
suitability for the child. The activity ideas described here include opportunity for increased
vestibular and proprioceptive input, which have a calming effect on our nervous systems.
Remember the intensity of the work and the duration of the effort often needs to be a lot higher and
longer than we imagine.
Activities may appear simple on the surface, but can have a long lasting effect on behaviour. For
example, it has been reported in research that even five to ten minutes of an activity that involves
the whole body in heavy muscle and joint movement can have an effect lasting up to two hours. A
sensory activity may then need to be redone. Therefore these “top ups” need to be scheduled for
certain times of the day, depending on the child’ child’s timetable and the activities that are being
performed.
Key points
1. Children will benefit from participating in sensory diet activities a minimum of five times per day.
For example: before school, at transitions times during the school day (e.g. when starting the first
lesson, after morning break, and after lunch) and then once in the afternoon/evening at home. It is
recommended to spend approximately 10 minutes doing the activities at each of these times and to
ensure that you finish with a ‘heavy work’ activity. 2. Children may need sensory diet “top ups”
throughout the day, particularly if they have not slept well, if there has been lots of sitting down
during the day, or if they seem particularly active, disorganised or distracted. At these times they
may only need to do something from the program for two minutes, or alternatively a short
movement break such as running an errand for the teacher.
A general sensory diet
Activity
Instructions
Jumping
Jump and touch a point on the wall 10 times, have
a rest, then do 10 more
Jump on a mini trampoline
Yoga
1.
3.
Pulling
2.
Try to hold very still in these positions for 5-10
seconds:
1. “Dog” pose
2. “Bridge” pose
3. “Table” pose
Pull on a stretchy rope (e.g. tug of war) or a
stretchy band tied to the wall. Pull and hold for 10
seconds, then pull even harder for another 10
seconds. Rest and then try again.
Pushing
Strong man - lock hands with a partner and have a
push-o-war. Or push against the wall as hard as he
can, holding for 10 seconds.
Wall push ups - stand arm’s length away from the
wall, with hands at shoulder height, keep back and
legs straight and bend your arms to do push ups.
Do 10 (slowly), have a rest and do 5 more.
Wheelbarrow
Walk as far as you can doing ‘wheelbarrow walks’.
Count how many ‘steps’ you can do and see if you
can keep doing more and more.
Activity
Catching
Instructions
Try playing a throwing and catching game but with
something heavy, such as a medicine ball, weighted
ball, or a small heavy bean bag.
Try catching and throwing in different positions,
such as throwing with two hands over the head or
lobbing high in the air.
Large ball activities
Lie on your tummy over a large ball or the arm of
the sofa. Try and stay really still in the position for
10 seconds.
Try to walk a few steps forward and a few steps
backwards on your hands.
Try doing an activity or game (e.g. a puzzle,
drawing or board game) in this position.
Bouncing
Sit on a large therapy ball or inner tyre tube with
your feet flat on the floor. Bounce up and down on
the ball in a rhythmical manner.
‘Hamburger squash’
Child lies on the floor while an adult adds different
layers (toppings) on top – cushions, blankets, lap
weights etc. Once the ‘burger’ is made, adult
squashes it down then after a count of 20 see if
child can climb out.
‘Hot dog roll’
Roll child tightly in a blanket or duvet with arms
straight down against body like a hot dog.
Encourage the child to kick and roll out of the
blanket.
Theraputty or playdough
Squeezing, squashing, rolling, poking, pinching and
modelling with putty, plasticine or playdough all
provide good calming input.
Chewing
Chewing gives good calming input. Try chewy tube
as well as chewy snacks for break times.
Deep pressure
Remember deep pressure is very calming.
You might like to try:
Pushing down through child’s shoulders and
holding for 10 seconds
Big bear hugs
Massage
Heavy blankets on the bed or around the
shoulders.