Gentle pressure affects the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which regulates heart rate, breathing, and other significant bodily functions. Sew up the 2 long edges. You’ll need a needle for your sewing machine which can cope with stretchy fabric. Weighted Blanket – These are perfect if your child has autism and needs that extra sensory input. These typically weigh 15 pounds or more and create a very calming effect. They also help some kids calm down for sleep at night, so using one as part of your bedtime routine might also be helpful. Some kids that seek proprioceptive input don’t seem to process it well. The reason we have a proprioceptive sense is to give us body awareness. Body awareness is understanding where our arm or leg is without having to look. It allows us to walk across a room full of furniture and not bump into anything.

it’s so open-ended. Surprise an unexpecting visitor as they walk in the door. With a good imagination and even incorporating some props around the house, the options are endless. 5) Alphabet There are other ways to offer this type of sensory input. You can use various sensory toys for autism so your child doesn’t get bored or receives the best experience possible. Much like the others on this guide, you’ll find a Smart Snap closure, which is much more efficient and less irritating than Velcro alternatives which can scratch the skin and pull hair. However, it’s still secure enough to allow for resistance and excessive movement.Your child doesn’t always have to be active to receive benefits, either. Many children love crawling inside just to calm down. It is recommended, however, that they be monitored while using it. If you feel they need that extra bit of resistance, then you can go down a size or a couple inches. If you want them to get more use out of it and not outgrow it within a year, then go up in size. If you have any doubts, simply look at the manufacturer’s sizing guide where they lay out height and age in relation to their sizes. Fabric First, you have to know these should never be used for infants or toddlers. Even though they are made to be as safe as possible, they are designed for children who are at least 4 years old or so.

Sew several inches across both sides of the shorter edge, leaving a gap in the middle for your child’s shoulders to fit through. When we think about proprioceptive movement, we can also include heavy work - any movement that works the muscles, deep pressure - any input that provides pressure to our body, and vibration. Proprioceptive input is typically calming to the nervous system. Whichever you decide on, just make sure it is soft and breathable. You do not want anything scratchy against your child’s skin as it can cause even more irritation. Breathability is important to let air in and out, as it’s likely your child will be active while using it.Are you a teacher or homeschool parent of kids with autism? Join my Facebook group for practical classroom or homeschool advice & support! Some individuals become easily over-stimulated by vestibular input. This can cause adverse reactions such as nausea/vomiting or irritability (among others). Some individuals seek vestibular input - constantly on the move, seeking out opportunities to spin and jump. An occupational therapist can engage a client actively in a specific, therapeutically designed treatment activity; or it can be offered at home in a dramatic play area for dress-up. Covering the child’s arms, shoulders, legs, and feet, it’s designed to offer deep pressure stimulation. This stimulation encourages focus, and a sense of calmness that is perfect if your child is dealing with ADHD, autism, or other spatial sensory challenges. Furniture, large play equipment, heavy items etc or items marked with **may incur an additional delivery charge to Northern Ireland, Isle of Wight, Offshore Islands and some parts of Scotland.

Reach arms up and out diagonally, keeping feet wider than shoulder-width apart to form a kind of star shape.

Getting the Right Size Body Sock for Your Child

To learn more about using sensory activities to help your child calm and focus, take our free workshop here (includes a workbook)! Squat as low to the ground as possible, keeping your body curled up and compact. Then move into a standing position as slow as you can – almost like you’re “blooming” or coming out of your cocoon! Proprioception is one of our 8 senses that has receptors all throughout our joints and muscles. Those receptors send signals to the brain anytime they’re squeezed or activated through pressure. Many kids that are sensory seekers love proprioceptive input which they get when they climb, jump, run, squeeze into a tight space, or hug somebody. Proprioception is the awareness of the position and movement of the body. Sensory receptors are located on your skin, joints, and muscles. When we move, these sensory receptors send signals to our brain, telling it about the effort, force, and heaviness of the movement. Then our body is able to provide an appropriate response. Tactile inputis received through our skin. It includes light touch, firm touch, and the discrimination of different textures, including dry to wet and messy. The tactile system is also responsible for the processing of pain and temperature. Tactile input can be alerting, calming, or over-stimulating, depending on the person.