Often we find that children have a difficulty time paying attention in the classroom due to a number of factors. Strategies are utilized in classrooms to assist children to pay attention in class. Similarly, at home many parents find that their kids have a hard time paying attention to tasks. Here are some ideas to use at home to assist your child in regulating themselves so that they can more fully participate in activities at home. These are just suggestions; you can talk with your school occupational/physical therapist to get an idea of other strategies that can be utilized that are catered to the needs of your individual child.
Proprioception Proprioceptive input (sensations from joints, muscles and connective tissues that lead to body awareness) can be obtained by lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects, including one’s own weight. A child can also stimulate the proprioceptive sense by engaging in activities that push joints together like pushing something heavy or pull joints apart like hanging from monkey bars.
Vestibular Vestibular input (the sense of movement, centered in the inner ear). Any type of movement will stimulate the vestibular receptors, but spinning, swinging, and hanging upside down provide the most intense, longest lasting input.
Tactile The tactile sense detects light touch, deep pressure, texture, temperature, vibration, and pain. This includes both the skin covering your body and the skin lining the inside of your mouth. Oral tactile issues can contribute to picky eating and feeding difficulties.
Auditory Auditory input refers to both what we hear and how we listen, and is physiologically connected with the vestibular sense. In addition to various types of recorded and live music, here are some ways kids and adults can get calming and organizing auditory input.
Visual Visual input can often be overstimulating. Think about ways you can simplify the visual field at home for a calming, organizing effect. Alternately, if the child seems “tuned out” and doesn’t respond easily to visual stimulation, add brightly colored objects to encourage visual attention. For example, a child who has trouble getting aroused for play may be attracted by a brightly painted toy chest filled with toys in appealing colors. A child who seems unable to watch a ball as it rolls may be able to watch it if the ball lights up or makes noise as it moves.
Smell Olfactory input (sense of smell) comes through the nose and goes straight to the most primitive, emotional part of the brain. So if your child is upset by something being stinky, it’s no wonder. Certain odors can stimulate, calm, or send him into overload.
Information retrieved from Sensory Smarts. © Motor Development Team |