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How to Start a Successful Sensory Diet

 

Have you created a sensory diet for a child or received one from your pediatric therapist? Now it is time to get all the suggested sensory strategies started.Have you created a sensory diet for a child or received one from your pediatric therapist? Now it is time to get all the suggested sensory strategies started. It can be difficult to make sure that the child receive all the recommend sensory input throughout the day.

If you are at the earlier stages of creating a sensory diet, you get can a step-by-step process that shows you exactly how to create a sensory diet based on the whole child and specific environments here.

Tip to help implement a successful sensory diet

Here are tips to help carry out your sensory strategies:

Educate, educate, educate.

One of our main jobs as pediatric therapists is to educate children, parents and teachers.  Make sure everyone understands why you are suggesting these specific sensory diet activities and how each one will help.

Offer a child centered approach to establishing a child’s sensory preferences and dislikes.

As you carry out the sensory diet continue to help children develop their own coping strategies along with the child’s parents, therapists and teachers.  Need help with this?  Check out Sensory Mini Books and Charts.

Read more on how to help students develop sensory strategies that work here.  Download FREE worksheets to get started right away.

Make it a part of the child’s everyday routine.

This is probably the most important suggestion – use activities that can be easily infused into the child’s regular day.  For example, going on a trampoline in the middle of math class may not be feasible but bouncing gently on a therapy ball may work!

Suggest just right challenges.

Make the sensory diet activities achievable and challenging all at the same time. Child who struggle to process sensory information or perform motor skills can get easily frustrated which is understandable. By creating challenges where they can reach the goal is empowering.

Collect data on the Sensory Diet.

I know this one sounds boring but once the sensory diet is implemented you must collect data. What suggestions are working?  What activities are not successful?  A sensory diet is not a static “prescription”.  It is constantly changing based on the child’s need and environment.

If you recommend fidgets, alternative seating, weighted vests, headphones or any other sensory tools to be used in the classroom, then the Sensory Tools in the Classroom packet is a huge time saver to make sure all team members are informed of the purpose and goal of the sensory tool.  It helps school staff to determine if the sensory tool is helping the student to achieve the goal, desired behavior or outcome.

Use Visuals

Many children respond well to visual schedules to perform sensory strategies.  You can try the Cut and Paste Sensory Diet.  This download includes of the materials to create 2 sensory diet books, one for home and one for school with over 150 picture word cards.

Try BrainWorks. It is an exciting online tool for creating effective sensory diets for children, teens, and adults. BrainWorks takes pride in being USER-FRIENDLY, from start (selection of what you need) to finish (empowering the child to select appropriate activities). Our web-based product allows you to print out visual sensory diet tools, helpful forms, and activity picture cards.

Need more information on sensory strategies?

The Sensory Strategies for the Classroom Bundle includes 9 digital downloads to help students to be ready to learn or participate in functional tasks.

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook digital download is your strategy guide for turning sensory diets and sensory activities into a sensory lifestyle. - written by Occupational Therapist, Colleen Beck.

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook (digital download) is your strategy guide for turning sensory diets and sensory activities into a sensory lifestyle.  Written by Occupational Therapist, Colleen Beck, The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook includes a 133 page PDF document filled with information on the sensory system and the whole child, sensory diets and how to create a lifestyle for sensory success.  This book is suitable for therapists, parents, teachers or anyone who wants to help children with their sensory needs.

Have you created a sensory diet for a child or received one from your pediatric therapist? Now it is time to get all the suggested sensory strategies started.

 

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