Sensory Stimulation Activities for Children With Special Needs (& Examples)

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The different senses play important roles in the reception and transmission of information to the brain. We analyze and process this information before our bodies react (gestures, behavior, etc.). Because everyone receives sensory signals differently, different bodily reactions are possible between individuals. But for children with a sensory processing disorder, it can be challenging to thrive, even in special needs-inclusive environments.

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) – sensory integration dysfunction – is one of the most common developmental disorders in American children, along with Asperger syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. For SPD specifically, various home therapy and exercise can help to develop the different senses. Here is a list of activities to experiment with.

Touch Stimulation Activities

Touch is one of the earliest senses to develop in children, acting as a critical channel for exploration, communication, and bonding. For children with special needs, sensory experiences can be both more challenging and more enriching.

Touch stimulation activities can serve as excellent tools to engage, calm, and educate children, helping them develop a myriad of skills, ranging from fine motor coordination to emotional regulation.

The following activities offer a multisensory experience for children with special needs. Incorporating a variety of textures and sensations, these exercises can be easily tailored to meet the individual needs and preferences of each child, thereby enhancing their sensory integration and overall well-being.

a baby grabbing an adult's finger

9 Simple Touch Stimulation Activities

  1. Wrap the child in a blanket and tighten it around their body.
  2. Fill a bowl or bucket with raw rice and hide soft toys inside. Instruct the child to dig in the bowl or bucket with their hands in order to find the toys.
  3. In the summer, allow the child to play by “painting” on his body with water.
  4. Bring out a rolling pin and roll it over the child’s body as he or she lays on the floor.
  5. Fill an assortment of different bowls or buckets with rice, sand, water and snow. Allow the child to manipulate and explore the different textures.
  6. Making clay is a great exercise for developing a child’s sense of touch.
  7. Spread shaving cream or whipped cream in a mirror and allow the child to create drawings with his or her fingers.
  8. Crumple and throw sheets of paper into a wastebasket to develop not only the child’s sense of touch association but also his or her sense of aim and spatial awareness.
  9. Massage the child with your hands.

From the tactile exploration of rice and sand to the calming pressure of a blanket wrap, these activities not only engage the child but also offer valuable insights into their sensory preferences and tolerances.

I was recently sent a video of a non-verbal child lighting up and giggling for the first time as they “painted” water onto their own arms. It was a beautiful moment that highlighted the incredible capacity for joy and connection that these sensory activities can unlock.

Each activity serves as an exploratory playground, offering children a safe and controlled environment to understand their own senses, build confidence, and foster a deeper connection with the world around them.

Vestibular Stimulation Activities

a vestibular stimulation therapy class - a kid in a play tunnel

The vestibular system is a complex sensory system responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, spatial orientation, and balance.

For children with special needs, understanding and integrating vestibular stimuli can be challenging but incredibly beneficial for developmental growth. Activities that stimulate the vestibular system can help children gain a better sense of their body in space, improve motor coordination, and even aid in emotional regulation.

The following vestibular stimulation activities are crafted to engage children in a fun, interactive manner while enhancing their spatial awareness and motor skills.

6 Vestibular Simulation Activities

  1. Prepare a large balloon and invite the child to lie down on his or her stomach. Roll the balloon over the child’s back while in this position.
  2. Place the child on a blanket, and pull the blanket to walk the child around the house.
  3. Practice somersaults, rolls or jumps on a trampoline.
  4. Use park swings – encourage the child to lay on the seat on his or her stomach with arms stretched forward and legs back.
  5. Lay the child on a skateboard and gently “walk” the child by pushing on his or her legs.
  6. Lay the child on the ground and ask him to move while rolling on himself.

Vestibular stimulation activities have proven to be some of the most impactful interventions we can offer. The effects often go beyond simple motor skills improvement; therapists see children become more confident, engaged, and communicative after participating in these activities.

One particular case that comes to mind is a young child who was extremely resistant to any form of physical activity. The simple act of laying him on a large balloon and rolling it gently over his back brought a profound sense of calm and focus to his otherwise anxious demeanor.

These activities are not just physical exercises; they are bridges to better communication, emotional stability, and cognitive development for children who navigate the world a little differently.

Movement Stimulation Activities

Movement is a fundamental aspect of human experience, affecting both our physical well-being and our emotional state. For children with special needs, movement stimulation (play)can be a particularly effective avenue for enhancing cognitive development, motor skills, and emotional regulation.

The ability to move freely and explore one’s environment opens up a world of possibilities for learning and growth.

The following activities focus on stimulating movement in a fun, engaging, and safe manner. They are aimed at encouraging children to understand their own physical capabilities, push their boundaries, and enjoy the sensory benefits that come with motion.

a small child walking on concrete without shoes

3 Simple Movement Stimulation Activities

  1. Play Wheelbarrow, where the child stands on his or her hands as you secure his or her legs, advancing with only the use of the child’s hands.
  2. Walk around the house imitating the gaits of various animals, such as bears, caterpillars, crabs, etc.
  3. Occasionally, allow the child to carry heavy objects such as toy boxes, books, grocery bags, etc.
  4. Encourage the child to play sports.

Movement activities serve dual purposes: helping children discover their physical capabilities while also fostering self-confidence and emotional well-being.

Whether it’s encouraging a child to carry a toy box or introducing them to sports, these activities serve as much more than simple exercises. They are stepping stones to a world where children with special needs can explore their physical abilities, build their confidence, and, most importantly, have fun while doing it.

Visual Stimulation Activities

Visual stimulation plays a pivotal role in a child’s cognitive and sensory development. For children with special needs, targeted visual activities can offer enriched learning experiences, improve eye coordination, and enhance focus.

These exercises are designed to provide diverse visual stimuli, ranging from color differentiation to tracking moving objects.

child looking at a lava lamp in visual stimulation room

6 Practical Visual Stimulation Activities

  1. Make faces or impressions in the mirror to exercise the child’s control of his or her facial muscles.
  2. Allow the child to blow bubbles in both indoor and outdoor settings. He or she will naturally trace the bubbles around the environment, exercising the eyes.
  3. Use a flashlight and manipulate the beam across the floor, walls and ceiling. The child will naturally trace this as well.
  4. Fill a large bottle of water with watercolor brilliants. Allow the child to shake the bottle vigorously and watch the brilliants mix and swirl into each other.
  5. Introduce a set of differently colored balls into a play space, and set various goals for the child, centered on identifying the balls by color (bounce the purple ball, pick up the orange ball, etc.)
  6. Play Catch, facing each other and throw a ball at eye level.

Blowing bubbles is one of my favorite; a simple yet effective activity. Beyond the evident joy that bubbles bring, they are an excellent tool for improving eye-tracking skills. The children naturally follow the bubbles as they float around, which is a subtle yet effective exercise for their eyes.

Visual stimulation activities are not just entertaining; they are also foundational building blocks that help children interact more fully with their environment.

Through these exercises, children become more engaged, aware, and confident in their abilities to understand the world around them.

Auditory Stimulation Activities

The sense of hearing is a crucial gateway to understanding and interacting with the world around us. For children with special needs, auditory stimulation can be both therapeutic and educational, aiding in developing critical skills such as attention, memory, and spatial awareness.

The following activities are designed to engage children in an array of auditory experiences, helping them identify, interpret, and react to different sounds.

child wearing headphones in an auditory stimulation class

5 Auditory Stimulation Activities

  1. Exercise the child’s senses and memory with a game of imitation, where you mimic the sounds of animals, vehicles and machines.
  2. Introduce a game of identification for long walks or rides in the car; describe specific sounds to the child, who then identifies it.
  3. Introduce the child to music and dancing, thereby encouraging him or her to develop synchronization and rhythm.
  4. Try making rhythms and music of your own by allowing the child to use cans, wooden spoons, drums and chopsticks. This teaches the child to associate specific sounds with specific materials and surfaces subconsciously.
  5. Finally, experiment with provenance exercises, wherein the child must close his or her eyes and move toward the source of sounds made with cymbals, bells etc.

It’s a joy to introduce children to making music with everyday objects. The sounds produced by tapping wooden spoons or shaking cans can serve as a subtle lesson in acoustics, teaching the children to associate certain sounds with specific materials and surfaces. This enriches their auditory environment and deepens their understanding of the world around them.

Taking auditory activities outdoors or incorporating them into car rides has the added benefit of helping children tune into their surroundings, heightening their sense of presence and awareness. Whether we’re listening for the distant sound of a train or identifying the chirp of a particular bird, the exercise inevitably broadens the children’s auditory horizons and fosters an attentive mindset.

Auditory stimulation is a potent tool in the toolbox for anyone working with children with special needs. The range of activities we can explore is almost limitless, and the benefits—both expected and surprising—continue to reaffirm the importance of sound in our lives.

Sensory Stimulation: There’s Nothing to Lose by Trying

Some children with the disorder experience serious anxiety.  This can be treated with medicine or, more controversially, CBD oil, and in doing so can ameliorate these indirect mental health challenges.

While there are several other forms of stimulation exercise, the important thing to remember is that these activities should be sensible components scaled up to a larger program designed to help the child overcome a developmental disorder.

Furthermore, the exercises must not be administered so constantly as to limit the child’s ability to engage in social and independent activities. All children, regardless of whether or not they have SPD, are always seeking forms of stimulation. Offering them a healthy balance of stimulation and exercise is key to filling their special sensory needs and diminishing the severity of SPD-related deficiencies.

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