Proprioception is the awareness of the position and movement of the body. Sensory receptors are located on your skin, joints, and muscles. When we move, these sensory receptors send signals to our brain, telling it about the effort, force, and heaviness of the movement. Then our body is able to provide an appropriate response. Gentle pressure affects the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which regulates heart rate, breathing, and other significant bodily functions. Stretchy, resistant walls provide a tactile means of self-referencing that improves body image and sensory integration. Weighted Blanket – These are perfect if your child has autism and needs that extra sensory input. These typically weigh 15 pounds or more and create a very calming effect. On top of that, the design is laid out so that children won’t get tangled up in them. They can feel free to play, eat, relax – just about anything, with them on.

P.S. If you have any questions or comments about any of my resources, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me at [email protected] Act out the ABCs! Use a mirror to sing and position yourself throughout the whole alphabet song. “Spell” something out and have a friend guess the word! Add another motor component to weekly spelling words, or word-wall words by spelling them with your whole body. 6) Games Designed for compression, the nylon and spandex blend is just a bit tighter than the others in this guide. However, if your child needs the added resistance, this is an excellent option and made for more active play times.Reach arms up and out diagonally, keeping feet wider than shoulder-width apart to form a kind of star shape. If you want to use it year-round, then it needs to be cool and lightweight enough for use in the summertime, too. Closures

An occupational therapist can engage a client actively in a specific, therapeutically designed treatment activity; or it can be offered at home in a dramatic play area for dress-up.Whichever you decide on, just make sure it is soft and breathable. You do not want anything scratchy against your child’s skin as it can cause even more irritation. Breathability is important to let air in and out, as it’s likely your child will be active while using it. Individuals are usually not over-responsive to proprioception, meaning they don't have over-reactions to this type of sensory input. We do, however, see individuals who are under-responsive or sensory craving, meaning they want more heavy work, crashing, hugs, etc.

Sensory Blanket – These have been used for years by many occupational therapists to help regulate emotions or behavior. They offer deep pressure therapy similar to what weighted blankets do. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. This system is directly related to balance and vision - specifically eye movements. Because of the location in the inner ear, the vestibular system is activated with head movements. When the head moves, the eyes move, and the brain and body must respond - balance! Covering the child’s arms, shoulders, legs, and feet, it’s designed to offer deep pressure stimulation. This stimulation encourages focus, and a sense of calmness that is perfect if your child is dealing with ADHD, autism, or other spatial sensory challenges. Some kids that seek proprioceptive input don’t seem to process it well. The reason we have a proprioceptive sense is to give us body awareness. Body awareness is understanding where our arm or leg is without having to look. It allows us to walk across a room full of furniture and not bump into anything. Squat as low to the ground as possible, keeping your body curled up and compact. Then move into a standing position as slow as you can – almost like you’re “blooming” or coming out of your cocoon!

Practice partner yoga or with a friend in front of the mirror and try to copy each other’s poses! 3) Motor Activities When we think about proprioceptive movement, we can also include heavy work - any movement that works the muscles, deep pressure - any input that provides pressure to our body, and vibration. Proprioceptive input is typically calming to the nervous system.

Nylon, on the other hand, does not offer much stretch; but it does add a bit of durability which is why you’ll often see Lycra or Spandex blended with it. Sew up the 2 long edges. You’ll need a needle for your sewing machine which can cope with stretchy fabric. Furniture, large play equipment, heavy items etc or items marked with **may incur an additional delivery charge to Northern Ireland, Isle of Wight, Offshore Islands and some parts of Scotland.Expand a movement activity on a swing or suspended equipment in an OT office to involve several sensory systems at once. 4) Pretend Add another element to animal movements like bear walking, crab walk/scuttle, slithering like snakes, and hopping like a bunny. Some individuals become easily over-stimulated by vestibular input. This can cause adverse reactions such as nausea/vomiting or irritability (among others). Some individuals seek vestibular input - constantly on the move, seeking out opportunities to spin and jump.