Sensory Kids: Teach Calm

What is a sensory diet?

A sensory diet is a series of activities designed to help children manage sensory input better. Many children lack the ability to modulate their energy and behavior when they are overstimulated with sensory input, sound, sight, touch, noise and highly stimulating people or environments. It’s as though every child has an outer sieve, for some children the holes are big and sensory input floods them. When this happens we need to help the child re-organize the brain by stream-lining the sensory input.

Have a sensory kit handy with a hair brush for back brushing, a blanket for gentle wrapping and rocking (blanket is always placed across chest not over face so child can breathe), soft music, nature sounds, sand tray, water table, sensory weighted-vest etc http://www.therapyshoppe.com/ so that the child can choose a calming activity. Use your sensory kit before child gets stuck on energy mountain, cause it can be hard to re-contain the child once he is so disorganized.

Imagine that a child climbs an energy mountain throughout the day. Many children can walk down the mountain without letting their energy become uncontrolled. Some children hang at the top of energy mountain, feeling frazzled, silly, angry, agitated or anxious. Help your child “Climb down energy mountain” by drawing a large mountain on a large sheet of white paper or poster board.

Talk with your child about activities we do at different stages of the mountain. Let your child draw activities on different levels of energy mountain. Use different colors to denote different levels of energy. Calm = blue, Having fun = yellow, Getting excited = Orange Over the top = Red. Have your child mark where he is on energy mountain several times a day, you do it as well!

At the base we feel calm, we play quietly, we talk quietly and we are at peace. Up the mountain a bit we get excited, we play games, we play with friends, we play at the playground or at the swimming pool. Toward the top of energy mountain we are getting extremely silly, unresponsive, uncontrollable, angry or annoyed, it’s time to “Climb down energy mountain.” Have your child mark where he is on energy mountain several times a day, you do it as well!

Use your water table, sensory kit, sand tray and outdoor activities to help your child re-set his energy. Labeling “I’m climbing too high on energy mountain” “I need a peaceful moment” “Will you scratch my back” “Let’s have a Mommy meditation moment,” a sensory kit, and planned physical activities throughout the day will help your child modulate his energy better. It will help you stay calm as well. Sometimes a calm movie or soft music and a moment to lay on a soft body pillow will do the trick.

Peaceful moments to you!

Sensory Resources

Boy and a Bear: The Children's Relaxation Book
Lori Lite, Meg Hartigan (Illustrator), Meg Hartigan (Illustrator), M. Hartigan (Illustrator), M. Hartigan
Cool Cats, Calm Kids: Relaxation and Stress Management for Young People
Mary L. Williams, Dianne O. Burke (Illustrator)
The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them
Elaine N. Aron, Elaine N. Aron
Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Sensational Kids: Hope and Help For Children With Sensory Processing Disorder
Lucy Jane Miller, Doris A. Fuller, Doris A. Fuller
Sensory Connection: An OT and SLP Team Approach
Nancy Kashman, Janet Mora
Batter Up Kids Sensational Snacks: Healthy Eats from the Premier Children's Cooking School
Barbara Beery, Marty Snortum (Illustrator)