Reach Your Child's Potential with Professional Insights
For learning, for pleasure and for consistent adult-child time, nothing seems to beat cuddling up to read picture books together. However, sometimes sensory needs distort the ideal image of such read-together times. Some children cannot sit still long enough to finish a book. Others cannot tolerate the closeness of cuddling. Still others crave physical contact [...]
In Visual Perception Activities, Part 1, I explained how visual perception comes from combining visual skills with all other sensory modalities, including the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. I then provided activity ideas for working on visual perception using (1) form constancy and visual discrimination and (2) figure ground perception. Today I will present activity ideas [...]
A.M. Skeffington, an American optometrist known to some as “the father of behavioral optometry”, believed that vision cannot be separated from the total individual nor from any of the sensory systems because it is integrated into all human performance. His model describes how visual processes mesh with auditory input, proprioception, kinesthesia and body sense. Visual [...]
No matter what your faith tradition, it seems that at this is the time of year wrapping paper is ubiquitous. Instead of tossing your torn pieces out, try looking at them with an eye for sensory diet fun. Today’s Challenge: Wrapping paper Original Purpose: wrapping gifts With Sensory Savvy Lenses: free tools for fine motor, visual, [...]
Last week, I went to pick up some Chinese food at our local Chinese restaurant. While I was there, I noticed a little girl, probably aged about six, standing next to the lobster tanks near the door. She had her eyes tightly closed, her teeth were clenched and her hands were covering her ears. I [...]
Have you been told that your child has a sensory processing disorder (SPD)? If so, you may be wondering exactly what that is! October is National Sensory Awareness month, so this is the perfect time to address this topic. I’m going to explain sensory processing disorders to you in the most basic way possible, and [...]
Don’t be fooled by the name. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is more about self-regulation than attention. Kids with ADHD often struggle to regulate emotions, activity level and impulses in addition to attention, and may even have difficulty regulating the amount of information their brains process. Most of us can just “tune out” background noise [...]
Did you know that we are half-way through Fruits and Veggies More Matters Month? More importantly, are you struggling with getting some nutrition into your picky eater? Then, you may want to include fruits and vegetables in your child’s sensory diet in the near future. For despite the common reprimand among the general population of [...]
A seven year-old who insists on wearing the same outfit everyday. A five year-old boy who frequently hits and kicks his parents during hair and teeth-brushing. A tween with autism who becomes aggressive during transitions at school. Should these actions be treated as sensory problems or as behavioral issues? Sensory or Behavioral? My answer to [...]
Using Art Therapy and other creative activities can offer unique ways for all children to gain a sense of control and mastery of their environment, grow in self-expression, self-awareness, and self-esteem. This holds true for children with special needs, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and other developmental issues as well. However, because these children very often [...]
