Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) occurs when the brain struggles to interpret sensory information, causing difficulties in daily life. Sensory play helps create neural pathways, enhancing sensory processing, language, social skills, fine and gross motor skills, coordination, and self-regulation.
This video, presented by an occupational therapist, introduces sensory play activities for children with sensory processing disorder and demonstrates the right way to do them.
Three sensory activities demonstrated in the above video are:
- Shaving Cream Play: Introduce soft textures to your child like shaving cream and encourage them to explore it, progressing to tougher ones like kinetic sand. This promotes fine motor skills and sensory desensitization.
- Dry Brushing (Wilbarger Protocol): Use a soft surgical grade brush to dry brush the arms and legs of your child. You can follow this up with joint compressions to calm the nervous system, reduce sensory defensiveness, and improve focus.
- Heavy Work Activities: Engages proprioception (body awareness) with tasks like tug-of-war or monkey bars to calm hyperactivity and enhance attention and task performance.
These methods aim to help children better manage sensory input and improve their ability to engage in daily activities.
