Creative Ways to Support Your Young Sensory Seeker at Home

You may find yourself spending more time at home than you’re used to lately. The COVID-19 pandemic has made life a bit more difficult for everyone. But, if you have a sensory-seeking child who relies on the routine of school to stay grounded, this time at home can be even harder. 

Thankfully, there are things you can do at home to support your young sensory seeker. From creative DIY activities to effective communication, you can make things easier for them with just a bit of time and effort. 

If you’re running out of ideas or you’re not sure where to get started, let’s cover a few unique ways you can offer your child support and help them feel grounded once again and meet their needs, even without their normal routine. 

1. Have a Dedicated Sensory Space

Your child might be used to having a special sensory room at school with things that intrigue them and keep their mind active. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy for families to do. If you live in a small home or apartment, you might not be able to dedicate an entire room to sensory activities. 

But, you don’t have to change an entire room. Putting together a corner of a room, a spot in your child’s room, or even having a sensory “box” full of things your child can enjoy will make a difference.

Just make sure you’re aware of the surroundings of that space. Try to dedicate an area with few distractions or noises. 

2. Create Sensory Tools from Household Items

You don’t need to go out and buy expensive sensory learning toys and tools. Get creative with household objects and create a sensory bin with things like rice, dry beans, or pasta, and add measuring cups, small toys with different textures, and sifters. 

The goal here is to get your kids to explore and learn all at once. A sensory bin is a fantastic way to calm them down and help them focus. 

3. Get Slimy

Homemade slime has become a huge trend over the last year or so – not just for sensory-seeking children, but almost all kids!

Slime is a great sensory object that can be made with a few household ingredients. Your kids can help make it or add things to it like food coloring, glitter, etc. to make it their own. 

4. Burn Some Energy

Getting physical is a great way to keep your sensory seeker active and interested. Try physical activities you know they enjoy, or introduce something new like bouncing on an exercise ball or doing silly walks across your living room. 

You can even set up a “sensory obstacle course” for your child with furniture, so they have to use their bodies in different ways to go from section to section. 

5. Encourage Breathing

Your child can benefit from deep breathing and mindfulness just as much as you. Take a few minutes each day and encourage them to focus on their breathing. Breathing exercises can help to encourage calmness in your child while reducing their stress levels. If they tend to get overwhelmed easily, this is a great “tool” to use. 

6. Provide a Structured Day

If your sensory seeker struggles to focus or pay attention, create more of a structure for them throughout the day. It can help to break sections of “work” (school, homework, etc.) into small blocks of time. When your child focuses for that period of time, they can enjoy a sensory activity. 

By doing this every day, your child will know what to expect and may be less likely to lose focus while they’re working. 

7. Be a Model

Believe it or not, your child looks to you for indicators on how to handle different situations. So, it’s incredibly important to model your behavior(s) correctly. If you’re in the midst of a difficult situation, try to remain calm. Work through it with a level head and patience. 

When your child sees you doing this, they’ll have a better understanding of how to do the same thing. It’s not an “instant solution” and you may not notice changes right away. But, your child is watching. So, make sure you’re responding to things appropriately. 

These are only a few examples of ways to support your young sensory seeker in your own home. You know your child better than anyone. So, don’t be afraid to put your creativity to good use. You’ll both benefit from it. 

If you need support, please read more about child therapy and reach out for a consultation.