Autism and sensory diet
Just as your child needs food throughout the course of the day, the need for sensory input must also be met. To rev up for a busy day with the kids or for a long day at work, you might take a brisk shower, drink some coffee, and listen to music while getting dressed. Get a firm massage, use a weighted vest or lap pad from a therapy catalog, or place light weights in the pockets of a fishing, athletic or regular type of vest. Infants, young children, teens, and adults with mild to severe sensory issues can all benefit from a personalized sensory diet. A child who needs to get up and move around for a few moments during circle time may be reprimanded to sit down and stop fidgeting. As an adult, you have developed the self-awareness to anticipate daily demands, and find tools that allow you to stay more or less on an even physical and emotional keel. At the end of the day, you might go to the gym, do some yoga stretches, take a warm bath or drink some herbal tea or a glass of wine to unwind. Print out these sensory diet activities to get started. The great news is that the effects of a sensory diet, combined with professional intervention, are usually immediate AND cumulative. Have him vacuum, carry books from one room to another, help wash windows or a tabletop, and transfer wet laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. Generally, a child whose nervous system is overaroused and too wired needs more calming input, while the child who is more underaroused and too tired needs more alerting input. Have your child jump on a mini-trampoline or rebounder or play hopscotch. And a child who struggles with body awareness, low muscle tone, or a poorly functioning vestibular system may end up flopping on the floor or bumping into desks, walls, and other kids because his nervous system requires this input. It is strongly recommended that you work with an occupational therapist who has a solid understanding of sensory processing issues.
A child who struggles with sensory processing challenges is a child in need, indeed. Each child has a unique set of sensory needs. Kids whose bodies need particular types of sensory input tend to do exactly what they need to obtain that input, sometimes in ways you may not particularly like. See our Toys and Equipment page for items that provide valuable sensory input. Without straining, teens and adults can shovel snow or lift free weights. Just as you may jiggle your knee or chew gum to stay awake or soak in a hot tub to unwind, children need to engage in stabilizing, focusing activities too. You might chew gum, sip water, or jiggle your foot to stay focused. There are practical proven strategies for reducing oversensitivities and undersensitivities, and modifying tasks and environments to support success while we build underlying sensory processing skills. She can push her own stroller, and a stronger child can push a stroller or cart filled with weighted objects such as groceries. A child who self comforts orally may not be allowed to chew gum, drink water, or have a crunchy snack when her body needs it. Your child may love to hang upside down, jump on the bed, spin in circles, crash into furniture and other kids, chew on nonfood objects. Also check our Working with Schools page regarding sensory diet at school. A child can also stimulate the proprioceptive sense by engaging in activities that push joints together like pushing something heavy or pull joints apart like hanging from monkey bars. Adults engage in sensory diet activities all the time to maintain an optimal level of arousal and alertness for a given task. Just as we need food on a daily basis, some children need daily sensory activities to survive and thrive in the world.
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