- Children with sensory integration difficulties will benefit from a predictable schedule. Try to spend a few minutes in the morning discussing the plans for the day.
- Children with difficulties can easily become overwhelmed by too much visual and auditory input. By controlling the environment you can help the child to stay within his ‘just right’ level, enabling him to be more organized and focused. For example, limit the amount of unnecessary visual material you have hanging on the walls and ceiling, keep the light on when watching television, use only one electrical appliance at a time and play calming music such as Mozart during quiet time.
- Hard work activities provide deep pressure that has a calming and organizing effect on the child. Try activities that involve pushing and pulling. It is a good idea to ask your child to help you with everyday tasks such as moving furniture when cleaning, carrying heavy parcels close to the body, pushing the trolley when shopping, sweeping, mopping and wiping surfaces clean.
- Eating crunchy or chunky food, chewing gum or sipping water from a bottle with a straw will also have a calming and organizing effect on the child. Try to include crunchy and chunky food such as apples, pears, and crunchy cereal during breakfast.
- Children often make it clear what their sensory systems need. For example, a child who jumps or spins around is telling you he needs activities that will allow him to do this in a safe and socially acceptable environment. At home you can create these opportunities for your child during playtime, by play wrestling, jumping on a trampoline or bed, creating fast-moving obstacle courses, etc.
- For the child who becomes over-stimulated by the environment, provide opportunity for ‘time-out’ to help him regroup and become organized. Examples of ‘time-out’ can be a few minutes in his room listening to calming music or lying under a table or bed with pillows. Remember: ‘time-out’ should be taken by the child when he chooses, not given by an adult as punishment.
by Marisa Viljoen