As promised in our last blog, today we are talking about how we incorporate sensory activities into a daily routine using a TBRI-informed approach.

Morning Sensory Activities:

Sensory Wake-Up Routine:

• Start the day with deep-pressure input like a big bear hug, squeezing a pillow, or using a weighted blanket for a few minutes after waking up. This grounding activity helps regulate a child’s nervous system.
• Offer a sensory-friendly breakfast with a variety of textures, like crunchy granola or soft yogurt. Some children benefit from chewing gum or crunchy snacks in the morning to wake up their sensory system.

Brushing Routine:

• Using a soft-bristled sensory brush on the arms or legs (under the guidance of an occupational therapist) can help children who are tactile-sensitive to regulate their touch senses.

Movement Breaks:

• Incorporate 5–10 minutes of movement before school or daycare, such as jumping on a trampoline, running, or doing yoga stretches. This proprioceptive and vestibular input helps them feel grounded and reduces fidgetiness throughout the day.

Sensory Activities for Transitions:

Transitions can be challenging for children from hard places, especially when their sensory systems are already overwhelmed. Here are a few ideas to smooth those transitions:

Heavy Work:

• Engaging in heavy work activities (pushing, pulling, carrying) during transitions can help regulate a child’s body. For example, before moving from one activity to the next, have the child carry books to a different room, push a heavy bin, or do wall push-ups. This type of activity provides proprioceptive input, which calms their system.

Calming Hand Fidgets:

• During transitions from school to home or after-school activities, offer a fidget toy (such as a stress ball or stretchy band) to help ease their nervous system while moving from one environment to another.

Visual Timers:

• Use a visual or auditory timer to help children know when a transition is coming. The predictability of a timer helps decrease the sensory overload of sudden changes.

Sensory Activities for After-School/Evening:

After a long day, children often need help regulating their sensory systems, especially if they've been in a stimulating school environment.

Calming Sensory Space:

• After school, provide quiet time in a calming sensory space where the child can unwind. Let them spend a few minutes sitting in a cozy corner with soft lighting, a weighted blanket, and calming sensory tools like a squishy ball or stress-relief putty.

Proprioceptive Activities:

• Use after-school time to incorporate proprioceptive input, which helps with calming. Activities like jumping on a trampoline, doing animal walks (like crab walk or bear crawl), or playing with resistance bands are effective.

Water Play:

• Water activities, like a bath or playing with water beads, can be calming and help children regulate their touch sense. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to bath water to enhance the calming effect.

Stretching or Yoga:

• Introduce simple stretching or yoga before dinner or bedtime. This can help ease tension in the body and promote relaxation. Try poses like the child’s pose, downward dog, or seated forward bend, which provide both proprioceptive and vestibular input.

Bedtime Sensory Routine:

A consistent sensory-friendly bedtime routine helps children wind down and feel safe before sleep.

Weighted Blanket or Compression:

• Incorporate the use of a weighted blanket or tight blankets for deep-pressure input. Deep pressure helps relax the nervous system and can make falling asleep easier.

Gentle Rocking or Rhythmic Motion:

• Rhythmic motions like rocking in a chair or slow swaying can help calm the vestibular system. Sitting with the child and gently rocking before bed can be soothing.

Mindfulness or Guided Imagery:

• End the day with mindfulness exercises like deep breathing, or use guided imagery to help the child imagine a calm, safe place. This can shift focus away from any lingering sensory overload.

Lullaby or Nature Sounds:

• Playing soft, calming music or nature sounds can help children settle into sleep. Rhythmic sounds provide auditory input that can help regulate the brain before bedtime.

Weekend Sensory Activities:

On weekends, when there’s more time for play, you can incorporate fun sensory activities that allow children to engage with their environment in a way that helps them regulate.

Obstacle Course:

• Set up a simple obstacle course at home with pillows to climb over, tunnels to crawl through, and heavy objects to carry. This gives a combination of proprioceptive, tactile, and vestibular input, which can help with overall sensory regulation.

Messy Play:

• Let children engage in messy sensory play like playing with shaving cream, slime, or finger paints. These tactile experiences can help desensitize children who are averse to certain textures, while also being fun and engaging.

Nature Walks:

• Nature walks offer both sensory and emotional regulation. Encourage the child to explore different textures (feeling leaves, dirt, etc.), listen to natural sounds (birds, wind), and observe calming sights (trees, water). Nature offers a sensory-friendly environment that promotes grounding.

These activities, when combined with TBRI’s connecting principles of co-regulation, can help children feel more in control of their sensory worlds and more secure in their relationships with caregivers.