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Weighted toy
Weighted blankets and objects can exert a calming influence on some people. Try taking an old favourite stuffed toy and filling its paws and tummy with curtain weights, nuts and bolts or other heavy items. Great for sitting on people's laps when they're feeling jumpy.
Rice is nice
Fill a bin with rice and let your child/adult plunge their hands deep into it. Hide some toys and measuring cups for added fun. Dried beans also work well.
Home-made sensory toys
You can make sensory toys yourself with easy-to-find items. For starters, try: a balloon filled with sand and knotted securely, a smooth stone, an old set of keys, a combination lock.
Scented bubbles
Scented bubbles are great for sensory stimulation. Many sensory catalogues and supermarkets sell them.
Sensory flour games
I mix cornflour and water together and it makes a great sensory play tool. Also put flour into a plastic bag and seal it with some food colouring. As it gets squished round it will change colour.
Texture book
Chris likes to rub his hands over textured wall paper, so I made a book out of a photo album using different textures like wall paper, sand paper, bubble wrap, washing scourers, foam wash cloth etc It is an alternative to him scraping the walls.
Irritating clothes
Rajan was really hyper at school and irritable all the time. We noticed when he changed from his synthetic school clothes in to his cotton pyjamas he became calm and compliant. The synthetic fabrics (even the labels) were irritating his skin which he hated.
So do check clothing and substitute it for more natural fabrics. Also always wash your clothes in NON-BIO washing powder. Bio seems to have an irritant in it that can affect the skin of autistic people
Here I am
Sally is visually impaired, so I wear a foil string wig when I talk and play with her, it gets her attention.
Fluorescent images
We have installed a UV light in our dark hallway and use fluorescent cards with shapes cut out to stimulate Ruby who is visually impaired. As she gets older we are turning shapes into letters, words, numerals, books.
Foil play mat
We use a foil emergency blanket as play matt for Matty - it is great for sensory stimulation as it is shiny and makes nice sounds.
Wall and ceiling projector
A star laser projector is really relaxing and reasonably priced. Jojo likes to lie flat a lot so can't see things that are eye level, he also has visual impairment but loves this projector as it projects to the walls and the ceiling so he can see it wherever he looks.
Tins and sound
Old tins make great auditory aid for visually impaired people for counting objects - drop each into the tin. The objects also can't move out of working space as they stay in the tin.
Crackle paper
Grace can be comforted and stimulated for hours with silver paper. It is thick enough to resist biting and tearing, is silver coloured which reflects the light, is plastic coated which gives off a pleasing ‘crackle’ sound, is safe and is really tough and endurable for constant fingering. We use Melinex polyester film 125 micron, Code 0214 2166 which we buy from Paperchase.
Tents
Tents (play tents for kids) make great sensory spaces when kitted out with everyday items e.g. fairy lights, hanging old CD’s, tinsel, etc.
Sensory indoor tray play
We use a plastic box and fill it with different things for sensory play. Sometimes dried beans, sand, shaving foam – we put different smells in like vanilla essence or curry powder to make it more interesting. Sometimes we squeeze toothpaste in which is good fun when you get it all over your hands because it dries quickly. If you have the patience you can even fill it with baked beans !
Bags or tights
Laundry bags can be used to fill with shiny or scrunchy materials ….….. You could use old tights too.
Spotlight it....
We use a powerful torch (osram) to highlight parts of the picture or page when we are reading or looking at pictures with Jenny.
Paddling pools have many uses!
We use our paddling pool for all sorts of things, you can make it a ball pond, fill it with balloons and in the summer you can put food colouring in the water to make it different.
Sensory activity pack
Tacpac have a sensory activity pack for using with their touch and communication programme which is a resource particularly for children with sensory needs and complex/multiple disabilities. You can put together your own.
Sensory integration
Toby has all sorts of physical sensory needs to do with motion and movement. We went to a private Occupational Therapy service who put together a great physical programme for him which made a big difference. London Based www.maximumpotential.org.uk/.
Smell box
We made a resource box of smells for Cathy. You can use photo canisters, herb jars etc
Smell tour
We often take Roger out for a smell tour, we have made a route which goes past places like the fishmongers, fish and chip shop, The body shop/Lush soap shop, pet shop, etc
Drums
We borrowed an African drum from a friend and found that Simon loves to drum along to CD’s.
Let the music come to you....
www.livemusicnow.org.ukis a UK charity who have trained and experienced musicians who bring music to people with Special needs. Good for Groups.
Weekend sound tour
We take Hannah to the centre of town at the weekends because she enjoys touring the buskers.
Lunch time concerts
Most big cities have lunch time concerts – we live in London and find there are quite a few free ones if you look out for them.
Sensory trails
If you put sensory trails in your search engine you might well find one local to you.
Indoor fireworks
You can get cheap boxes of indoor fireworks – we get a box occasionaly for some fun. They are good for birthdays, visuals and smells.
Aromatherapy
Ellie likes our home made aromatherapy massage sessions. I put on relaxing music and massage her. Don’t forget the aromatherapy oils need to be diluted in to a special carrier massage oil. Also different people like different pressure so experiment a bit according to personal sensory needs.
Hydrotherapy bath
Our friends have a hydrotherapy bath which they invite Tom to use occasionally, he totally loves it and it’s great for his muscles.
Vibrating cushion
Jonny got very distressed whenever the bus stopped. We worked out that if he had a vibrating ball or cushion during the periods the bus stopped he was quite happy.
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