Helping Your Child With Sensory Needs Back To School

Writen by Christopher Auer

The lazy days of summer are slowly winding down as the new school year approaches. You may find yourself in need of some transitional activities or ideas to help your child with sensory processing disorder. Here are some suggestions:

1. Ask your child about what tangible type objects give her comfort. Or ask about what types of things he likes doing to feel more comfortable? Phrase questions as concretely as possible and also to your child's understanding. The object might be something like a soft, squeezable stuffed animal or a hand fidgit she can quietly manipulate when she feels over sensitized. It may be a chewable something like a straw, gum or rubbery object. Whatever "it" is listen to what your child is telling you he needs in order to feel more secure. You may find that you already have that something within your possession. If not, don't fret. You can be creative with your child in designing the "comfort item" at home with materials you already possess or going to your local discount retailer to obtain it at little extra cost.
2. Often choosing a few summer closing activities your child enjoys doing is a good way of transitioning to a new situation. Be creative with your child in choosing these and make it more fun by having the rule be that the activity has to be at little or no expense. Some of my favorites are: packing a picnic and taking a walk to a nearby park to have it. I have each child pick and help make at least one of their favorite foods from some "sensible" choices offered (this way I am more assured of them eating more healthfully). We also like going to a nearby horse stable that offers pony rides for $5 for as long as the kids can ride. This gives the children much needed work on balance and coordination as well as interaction with animals. Be creative and work together to come up with ideas!

For more ideas of transitional activities, I suggest talking together as a family to find out what everyone likes and dislikes. Try to come up with ideas that provide the most sensory need for the buck.

Christopher R. Auer, MA is the author of Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: A Family Guide to Understanding and Supporting Your Sensory Sensitive Child (New Harbinger, 2006) Additional information at http://www.spdresources.com or email spdresources@comcast.net