One of the things we really struggle with when it comes to raising 3 boys in the #Autism spectrum is meeting the various sensory needs.
With the whole insurance/therapy fiasco, we have been having to do as much at home as possible because they haven’t been able to return to therapy yet.. Today I did some things with the boys outside, while Lizze and Gavin were at his infusion.
It may look like they’re just coloring on the sidewalk but they are also getting a little sensory workout as well. Both the boys are barefoot and walking on the rough cement. They are stepping on little pebbles and tolerating it quite well.
They are barefoot because their shoes are still wet from last night’s water fight. The front walk is uncomfortable to walk on barefoot but they are doing it without even realizing it because they are distracted by the coloring. At the end of the day, I don’t know how much this actually helps them. All I know is they are doing something they didn’t like doing before.
I would say that’s a good thing. 🙂
It's always interesting to find ways to incorporate sensory issues into daily activities that are more appropriate. Physical activities are usually the best thing for sensory input, and based on the need almost any activity can be adapted. Swimming and swinging have always been a huge favorite for most of the people i've worked for. For self-stims that Jeanna described I've put wet paint on the end of a rope or string, put paper on the floor or table, and allow that person to paint while she received stimulation from the rope. After a few times of doing this we (her team) could see her beginning to pay more attention to what she was painting and making actual pictures. She continued to self-stim, but now it had a greater purpose.
For body tensing i've seen weighted items work, hugs, jumping jacks, pushing/pulling heavy objects, or hanging from things as if you're about to do a pull-up. If you need any suggestions let me know and I can make up some things you could do with them around the house. You could potentially incorporate walking as an activity if you involve a game such as having to walk on tip-toes, exaggerated walking (taking really small or really long steps), speed walking, or doing a combination of walk some steps, then hop, then skip, and repeat.
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I have an 8 yr old that is very sensory, she would shake a jumprope or string all day if we let her. her Dad completely hates it and wants to throw these things out. He doesn't 'get' that she has to do this and if he took it away she'd find something else to do, could be the beaded necklaces on the hardwood floors again… Bless you Rob for being an AWESOME Daddy that 'gets' his kids… as much as you can… :*
Of course it is helping them. Every extra thing you can do for them helps. Don't ever minimize what you can do to help your kids. You don't need a hot shot degree to help them make strides:)
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