To decrease arousal level/ levels of alertness
Examples:
- Provide safe 'womblike' space using blankets, pillows, beanbag chair or large cardboard box; can be under a table, or in a corner of a room away from the main activity, it should be used as a soothing place chosen by the child or directed by an adult as needed; allow child to access this place and encourage then to take time there to 'slow down'.
- Chewy or crunchy food can be organising for some children
- Climb on playground equipment safely
- Slow movements such as rocking in a rocking chair; rolling over a gym ball
- Body squashing (see description in next section)
- Deep pressure is calming; massage, firm hug etc.
- Reduce lighting and noise in the room (ear plugs or small headphones, tapes of soft music, dim lights, and sunglasses as needed).
- Soft, rhythmical music
- Deep pressure/ proprioceptive input, hugs; firm rubbing of back or hands/ feet; roll ball over child (body squashing); push against objects such as balls, walls etc.; wheelbarrow walking; dough, clay or Theraputty activities.
- Blow bubbles or oral motor activities (blowing/ sucking etc.)
To help the child remain organised and calm
Examples:
- Access to a chill out space when needed
- Press ups (floor, wall or chair push ups), participate in pushing and pulling activities such as the proprioceptive activities
- Rolling over therapy/ gym ball:
1. Child lies on chest and stomach over the ball with hands outstretched on the floor. Adult helper stands behind and holds onto child's knees or ankles as needed.
2. Rock child back and forth so child's palms touch the floor (keeping elbows straight) and then back again so feet are on the floor.
3. Encourage child to walk forwards and backwards keeping body and arms straight.
4. Complete puzzles; reach for objects, pop bubbles etc. while lying over the ball. - Ball squashing- to provide deep pressure for a calming and organising effect.
1. Child to lie on his front on a soft mat
2. Gently roll the therapy/ gym ball gently but firmly, starting at the child's feet and finishing at the shoulders.
3. This should provide the feeling of a deep massage. However, if the child expresses any discomfort, stop immediately. - Lycra material for deep pressure- to provide deep pressure to increase sensory feedback and enable the child to regulate their sensory system, to provide a calm and organised affect to the body.
1. Let the child tightly wrap the Lycra material around themselves
2. Wrap the Lycra around the child's shoulders and back. Ask the child to push back against the Lycra
3. Wrap the Lycra around the child and ask him to push against it with his hands
4. Sit opposite the child and wrap the Lycra around your back and the child's back. Both gently push back against the Lycra, this can be incorporated into a turn taking game, rolling a weighted ball back and forth etc.
5. For Older children, having a piece of Lycra in their school bag can be a calming strategy for use throughout the day. They can use this discreetly in the changing rooms or designated quiet area. - Tactile Box: This can be filled with fidget toys to help keep hands busy and to provide a child with a lot of sensory feedback, which can help some children feel calm.
1. Theraputty
2. Stress balls
3. Weighted balls
4. Vibrating toys (as long as these aren't too distracting for other class members)
5. Small puzzles
6. Textured fabrics
To increase sensory awareness and raise child’s levels of alertness
Examples:
- Provide tart, sour or spicy food.
- Loud, fast and irregular rhythm to alert
- Increase lighting
- Morning run- jogs on the spot. Get the child to jog on the spot for 10 seconds, then increase this to a sprint, then increase the time. They could also jog around some cones.
- Jumping Jack, jump from a crouched position with arms and legs out to the sides, then return to crouched position
- Bouncing on therapy/ gym ball
- With child in sitting position on the ball, support then on the hips if required.
1. Get the child to bounce up and down on the ball, incorporating some heavy pushing and pulling into the activity to avoid the child becoming over alert if they bounce too much.
2. Get the child to throw a ball into a target or throw/ catch a balloon.
3. Get child to reach for objects up, down and to the side whilst maintaining balance.
4. Gently rock child side to side on the ball, pushing off each foot as it leaves the ground.
Over Alert
When child becomes over- excited, highly energetic, very alert, disengaged
Calm and Alert
When child becomes calm, alert, focussed and able to engage in activities successfully.
Under Alert
When child displays low energy, lethargic, sluggish, tired and disengaged
See the Calm and Alert Activity Suggestions above and try some activities that you feel may work for your child in school and at home. Once you have found activities that are acceptable for your child and appear to help them remain calm and alert, these activities can be used throughout the day. It will also be useful for other people around your child to be aware of the activities that will help them if they are under or over alert and how to help them remain at a calm and alert state.