Home Exercises and Activities for Children with Sensory Processing Difficulties

There are several home exercises and activities that you can do with your child to help them improve their sensory processing skills.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best exercises and activities for children with sensory processing disorders.

1. Sensory Play - Sensory play is a great way to help children with SPD improve their sensory processing skills. Sensory play can involve anything that engages the senses, such as water play, sand play, or exploring different textures. Sensory play allows children to explore and engage with their environment in a safe and controlled way, helping to reduce anxiety and build confidence.
2. Deep Pressure Activities - Deep pressure activities can help to provide children with SPD with the sensory input they need to feel calm and regulated. These activities can include things like weighted blankets, weighted vests, or deep pressure massage. Deep pressure activities can help to calm the nervous system and improve sensory integration.
3. Yoga and Movement - Yoga and movement exercises can be a great way to help children with SPD build body awareness and improve sensory integration. These exercises can include things like yoga poses, jumping jacks, or running. Yoga and movement exercises can help to improve balance and coordination, as well as reduce anxiety and improve focus.
4. Visual Activities - Visual activities can help to improve visual processing skills in children with SPD. These activities can include things like puzzles, visual tracking games, or drawing. Visual activities can help to improve visual-spatial awareness and improve visual processing skills.
5. Music Therapy - Music therapy can be a great way to help children with SPD improve their sensory processing skills. Music therapy can involve listening to music, playing musical instruments, or singing. Music therapy can help to improve auditory processing skills and can help to reduce anxiety and improve mood.
6. Scented Play - Scented play can be a fun and engaging way to help children with SPD improve their sensory processing skills. Scented play can involve things like scented playdough, scented markers, or scented candles. Scented play can help to improve olfactory processing skills and can help to reduce anxiety and improve mood.
7. Visual Timers - Visual timers can be a helpful tool for children with SPD who struggle with transitions or have difficulty with time management. Visual timers can help children to see how much time they have left for a particular activity and can help to reduce anxiety and improve focus.
8. Chew Toys - Chew toys can be a helpful tool for children with SPD who have oral sensory seeking behaviors. Chew toys can help to provide the oral sensory input that some children with SPD crave and can help to reduce inappropriate chewing behaviors.
9. Sensory Pathways - Sensory pathways are a great way to provide children with SPD with a structured sensory experience. Sensory pathways can involve things like crawling, hopping, or jumping on designated pathways that provide different types of sensory input. Sensory pathways can help to improve sensory integration and provide a fun and engaging sensory experience for children.
10. Calming Sensory Bins - Calming sensory bins can be a helpful tool for children with SPD who struggle with anxiety or emotional dysregulation. Calming sensory bins can involve things like water beads, calming scents, or calming sounds. Calming sensory bins can help to provide a calming and soothing sensory experience for children, helping to reduce anxiety and improve mood.

In conclusion, children with SPD can benefit from a range of home exercises and activities that can help to improve their sensory processing skills