Activities for special children

8/16/2019 Activities for special children

1/11

ACTIVITIES

The following is a list of vestibular, Proprioceptive, oral motor and tactile activities that

can be used throughout the day to help prepare a child's nervous system for work. It is by nomeans a complete list of activities and not all activities may be appropriate for all children or for

a particular environment. Use what experience has taught you works for the child and his or her

environment, add, and delete activities as needed. ome activities have components of more than

one sensory input !bouncing for example has both a vestibular component and a proprioceptive

component". #ou may find an activity duplicated under two or more sensory inputs. In most

cases, an activity will be found under that sensory input that is its biggest component per

discretion of the author. $xcitatory vestibular activities will not be listed as it is not appropriate

for this sensory diet to impose such activities !please see %eneral %uidelines & for more

information".

1. CALMING VESTIBULAR ACTIVITIES (V)

() *ock in rocking chair

()+ crub floor !real or pretend"

() *un-og

()/ *ide bike

()0 1ance

()2 1o yard or house work

()3 tretch-shake body

()4 *olling !makes sure head is uncovered and clear"

()5 winging) platform, hammock, net, horse, inner tube, tire, glider, playground swing in linear

direction


2/11

()6 cooter board in linear direction

() 7agon rides

()+ 8ounce on mini trampoline, cushion, mattress !with supervision"

() 9arching

()/ Imitate head movement

()0 9ovement activities-exercise

()2 riding on moving e:uipment !wheelchair, elevator, car"

()3 ;limbing up and down steps

()4 Therapy bal-hippity hop ball) bounce lay over it and roll !with supervision"

()5 *oller skating-blading

()+6 ledding

()+ ow calm and clean it looks= !>aving head lowered calms ) haying the head erect alerts."

()++ lide and climb on playground e:uipment

()+ ump rope

()+/


3/11

P) team roller, roll large ball over and back of child, or another person roll over top of back

!gently"

P)+ People sandwich? children lying on top of each other can add blankets or furniture cushions

or pillows or bean bags to the sandwich.

P) Play catches with large ball or heavy ball

P)/ >orseback riding

P)0 now angel) begins this exercise by lying down on the floor. @eep your toes pointed toward

the ceiling as you slide your legs out to the side. 1o not let your legs roll so that your feet point

out to the side. Aow pull your legs together !but do not let them roll so your feet point in."

P)2 >and pressed together

P) 3 Table pushes

P)4 ;hair pushups

P)5 ;hair pushes

P)IB 7all pushes with shoulders

P)l 7all pushes with back

P)+ 7all pushes with arms

P) Theraband stretches

P)/ Therapy putty or modeling clay

P)0 Aeutral warmth )such as snuggling in a blanket

P)2 low back stroking with firm pressure or constant firm pressure on back with no

movement.


4/11

P)3 7eighted backpack, fanny pack, wrist weights, or weighted vest at +6)6 minute intervals.

P)4 >eavy work activities )vacuum, moving furniture, digging in the garden

P)5 Pushing or carrying heavy obCects )wagon, shopping cart, grocery bags, laundry basket, books, etc.

P)+6 8ar on playground that he-she can hang from

P)+ tacking chairs at the end of the day

P)++ 7eight bearing activities, i.e. working over a chair or wedge while on stomach

P)+ Dnimal 7alks

D" Erog Cump ):uat on the floor, placing hands on floor in front of you. 9ove both hands

forward, then bring feet up to hands in Cumping motion !remain in s:uatting position"

8" 8ear 7ak )7ith hands and feet on floor, move right arm and leg forward simultaneously,

and then move left arm and leg. If this is too difficult, try it on hands and knees.

;" Inchworm ):uat on floor with hands in front. @eeping feet stable, walk hands forward as far as you can so that you are stretched out. Then keep hands stable and walk feet up to hands back

to s:uatting position.

1" $lephant walk )8end over with arms dangling toward floor. ;lasp hands together to form

trunk. 9aintain position while walking, swinging trunk from side to side.

$" @angaroo Cump ):uat on floor, hands at sides, raise up and Cump forward, sinking back into

s:uatting position as you land.

E" ;rab walk )


5/11

%" 1uck walk) :uat on floor with hands at sides. *emain in position while walking !waddling"

forward.

P)+/ ;ooking) making ice cream with a hand crank, churning butter, kneading bread. The

planning as well as the activity are good for organiFing and se:uencing, and the end product is

very rewarding

P)+0 Gtack em up and knock em downG Use taped up cardboard shoeboxes, used spice

containers, cereal boxes, wood, or plastic blocks >ave child stack blocks from various positions

i.e. standing, side sit, half kneel, cross leg sit, kneel stand, side laying, hand and knees, s:uat,

prone on elbows, sitting on small ball or adult's lap. Eind various siFes and weights of balls to

throw and kick to knock down GtowerG using the different positions listed above. Ddd sand to

some of the boxes to add variety and challenge. >ave child stack from biggest to smallest box

and heaviest to lightest box.

P)+2 %ardening is a great sensory experience. ome may enCoy covering seeds with dirt, digging,

using a watering can, or moving dirt in a wheelbarrow from one place to another.

P)+3 ;ar wash )all you need for this is a bucket of water and a sponge. #our child can help

wash-wipe !good for range of motion and coordination" your car or bike-kiddy car, etc. ot dog game )>ave the child lie on stomach? rub arms, legs, back. *oll the child up

snuggly in a blanket, and then rock gently with one hand on child's shoulder, other on hip. #ou

can hum orsing with rhythm of the movement.

P)6 7heelbarrow walk )hold you child's legs securely while they walk on their arms.

P) ump up and down in place. ump rope.

P)+ Play wrestling.


6/11

P) Play *ock of %ibraltar by getting down on al fours position next to each other and trying

to push each other over.

P)/ 9artial arts with appropriate discussion with teacher.

P)0 Tug)of)7ar.

P)2 ;rawling !army crawl or on Gall foursG through and-or over an obstacle course

P)3 Playing in a ball pit

P)4 Pushups )


7/11

P)/5 (ibration) (ibration runs on the same pathway in the nervous system as conscious

proprioception and therefore can be calming, >owever, vibration has an element of light touch

that can be noxious to the sensory defensive child.


8/11

6)6 Eoods? popcorn, crackers, bagel, beef Cerky, fruit rollups, tootsie rolls, starburst fruit chews,

and pretFels

6) ;hewing crushed ice, fruit !non)sugar" Popsicles, froFen bananas

6)+ ;hew on coffee swiFFle sticks

6) uck on sugarless hard candy

6)/ uck on sugarless gummy candy

6)0 uck on sugarless Cawbreakers

6)2 low, deep breathsH about twenty

*$9$98$*? 9onitor for safety and always check for food and non)food allergies.

/. TD;TI


9/11

T)6 :ueeFe cheese in can dispensersK s:ueeFe in fingers and eat.

T) Eeely)9eely game) use bag or box filled with a variety of obCects, then reach in and try to

identify.

T)+ ;halkboard? cover with chalk, and then rub out obCects, numbers, letters, and shapes. Bne

could also use chalk on carpet s:uares )then G'eraseG with hands for additional tactile input.

T) oap paint on body !available at children's toy stores".

T)/ andbox play )9ay also use container of dried beans, peas, macaroni noodles and

tyrofoam packing balls.

D" >ide toys throughout box and have child find them, i.e. parts to a puFFle, game pieces,

stacking rings, pop beads, then have child complete the task, game puFFle, etc.

8" Place cups, bowls, and spoons in box and have child scoop, pour, and spoon sand from one

container into another. Ddd water to double the challenge and fun.

;" Dow child to play in sandbox G7ith only shorts on to get good tactile input all over body.

$ncourage weight bearing positions on hands-laees, prone on elbows, kneel stand to give

additional tactile stimulation.

T)0 Pudding and Einger Painting or shaving cream )Tack white trash bag to ground or table

)Place child in swimsuit on a warm day. )Place various colors of water)soluble finger paint or

pudding on plastic surface and let your child go to it. )$ncourage making lines, circles, s:uares,

faces, houses, etc. )Ddd dried beans, rice, sand, and noodles to vary texture )9ake finger or feet

prints on paper )7ash off outside with water hose or sprinkler

T)2 ;oloring with crayons on sandpaper

T )3 having cream on bathtub wall

T)4 1ot spot)put GdotsG of powder or chalk on child and have him-her rub it off


10/11

T)5 7ilbarger Techni:ue )Eirm pressure touch

T)+6 Eidget with a @oosh bail or other small tactile toys.

T)+ 7DT$* P


11/11

1" Use rolling pins and cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

$" Place pegs, beads, blocks, and puFFle pieces to pick out and complete.

E" Ddd obCects to add texture i.e.? raisins, nuts, and rice.

%" 9ake bracelets and rings to place on hands and feet.

P *$;IP$ )cup flour )cup water cup flour cup water L cup of salt Tbsp.

;ooking oil + tsp. ;ream of tartar Eood coloring 9ix all ingredients and stir constantly over

medium heat. 7hile stirring, add food coloring to desired color. 9ixture will :uickly turn into

dough)like substance and form a ball. Take out of pan and knead with fingers. tore in an airtight

container or plastic bag.

Documents

Activities for special children