Sensory Activity Plan
Pre-K and Kindergarten
by Kelli Arnone, MOT, OTR/L

All individuals require a certain amount of activity and sensation in order to be alert, adaptable and skillful. This is much like a person’s nutritional requirements. The important thing about a sensory activity plan is to help your child feel calm, alert and organized most of the time by using specific activities. The following is a sample list of suggested activities. Try to incorporate these activities into daily routines for as little as 5-15 minutes to make a difference. Make them fun, and not so much a chore!

Heavy Muscle Work Activities: (10-15 minutes of input lasts up to 2-3 hours.) Heavy muscle work activities are helpful to increase attention, the ability to calm and the body’s ability to filter sensory stimulation.

Movement Activities: (10-15 minutes of input lasts up to 6-8 hours.) The vestibular system is our movement sense which consists of receptors in the inner ear that are essential for the development of posture, attention, eye skills and overall coordination. Children who are sensitive to movement need to use their muscles to help regulate this sense, and should not be subjected to any type of movement they dislike.

Oral Calmers: The mouth is a very powerful part of the body that can help regulate all incoming stimulation. It is helpful to have a travel container with “sensory tools” available to your child. This container might include: fruit roll-ups, dried fruit, gum or pretzels (for resistive chew or crunch to calm the body), juice boxes , a non-leaking sippy cup or sports bottle (for resistive suck to calm the body), and /or bubbles or whistles for calming visual and respiration activities.

Determine which activities from the list are satisfying to your child and provide them frequently throughout the day to help your child regulate his/her body. Make sure you plan ahead to provide these activities, so you are proactive (versus reactive) to problems or undesired behaviors that you know are likely to occur.

Kelli Arnone is a Rehab Director & Occupational Therapist at Pediatric Potentials Rehab, Inc. which is an internationally recognized private pediatric therapy clinic located in Longwood, Florida, specializing in treating children with Sensory Processing Disorders.

TIME
ACTIVITY
8:00 Morning Wake-up Routine
Play upbeat children’s music.
Play tug of war on the floor.
10:00 Mid-Morning
Blow bubbles. Play with playdough or clay using hands
to squeeze the dough.
2:00 Afternoon
Climb and swing on the playground equipment.
4:00 Late Afternoon
Ride bikes. Swim. Run outside.
6:00 Evening/Dinner
Hop around on a ball (or walk on hands and feet like a bear) to find game pieces, then play game.
8:00 Evening/Bedtime Routine
Turn on soft music. Give a
5-minute arm/leg message. Read a book to calm before bed.

For more information, you can contact Pediatric Potentials Rehab, Inc. at (407) 322-3962 or www.PediatricRehabCenter.com.