Calming Strategies
- Deep pressure massage; input through shoulders or on back, arms or legs
- Joint compressions
- Stretches
- Snuggling in a sleeping bag, beanbag chair or large pillows
- Blanket wrap
- Blanket swing-slow swinging back and forth in a blanket
- Slow rocking (sitting in an adult's lap or on the floor with adult's arms wrapped around child with slow rocking back and forth)
- Lycra/spandex clothing; Theratogs
- Weighted vest
- Sucking-lollipops, popsicles, hard candy
- Hideout or quiet corner (can use a large box lined with pillows, cover child with bean bags in a crash pit)
- Modified push-ups can be done by whole class as a way to take a break or prepare for a writing assignment; can be done several times a day and is highly recommended for students with low tone, as the deep pressure temporarily facilitates tone to enable better fine motor control while writing
- Stand facing 2 feet from a wall, push off the wall keeping the back and legs straight 5-10 times
- While seated in chair, push off the chair with hands, lifting body up off the chair, 5-10 times
- Fidget toys
- A balloon filled with flour or rice; double the balloon to make it stronger
- A seal-tight baggie containing a small amount of Play Doh, Theraputty or modeling clay
- Hard objects can be placed in the baggie with the dough for tactile feedback: pennies, pebbles, marbles, etc.
- Koosh balls
- A wide variety of small manipulatives can be found at dollar stores
- Handling a fidget toy in the right hand stimulates the left side of the brain for improved language processing during language arts class
- Listen to quiet music with a steady beat using headphones
- Bear hugs (child faces away from you)
- Reduced noise and light levels; whisper voice
- Use a soft voice and slow down your movements and speech
- Make a calming sandwich (make a "hot dog" or "burrito") by having child lay between 2 bean bag chairs or large pillows
- Crash pit
Alerting Strategies
- Bright lighting
- Fresh, cool air
- Crunchy or chewy foods (pretzels, carrot sticks, apple slices, licorice, gummi bears, nuts, popcorn, crackers, gum)
- Brisk body movements
- Loud fast paced music
- Having the child run in place, do jumping jacks, jump on mini trampoline, jump into crash pit
- Fast swinging
- Splash cool water on their face or neck
- Sip cold ice water from a water bottle with a straw
- Bouncing on therapy ball
- Running-hide n' seek, tag games, duck, duck, goose game
- Misting cool water from a spray bottle on face
- Cause and effect toys with sounds and lights
Organizing Techniques
- Sucking on hard candy or using curly straws
- Vibration-use a vibrating pillow, toy massager, vibrating pen for sensory stimulation prior to a writing assignment
- Hanging, pushing, pulling. or lifting heavy objects
- Chewing, blowing
- Swimming
Environmental Modifications at Home and in the Classroom
- Take periodic breaks to have everyone close their eyes for one minute
- Turn off the lights when not needed
- Use daylight
- Arrange seats to take advantage of natural light
- Have a section of the room lighted with a table top lamp using an incandescent bulb
- Wear tented glasses in the room
- Control for noise by keeping doors and windows closed with necessary
- Carpeting and drapes help absorb noise and change the acoustics of the room
- Soft classical music playing in the background can be comforting
- Ear plugs
- Headphones to listen to music or books on tape
- Respect the child's complaints of noise pollution, remember they are hearing things that other people do not notice and ordinary sounds can be unbearable for them
- Keep the room temperature down
- Change the air in the room periodically by opening the windows on mild days
- Control for temperature on hot days
- Give the child preferential seating near a cool spot in the room
- Remind the child to remove outer clothing or heavy shirts
- Use a humidifier
- Provide a water bottle at all times
- Properly fitted chair, the child should be able to sit with his feet flat on the floor and his back straight; ankles, knees and hips should be at 90-90-90 angles; depth of chair seat should allow student to sit back in the chair and not hit the back of his knees; chair back should be high enough to support the student
- Table should be at a height that allows the elbow to bend down at about a 30 degree angle
- An air filled seat cushion can provide safe movement while seated in the chair
- Some classes have had success having students sit on large therapy balls
- A bean bag chair for alternative seating when not required to do table top work
- Provide opportunities for vestibular stimulation
- Swing in a hammock, sit in a rocking chair, ride a scooter board, or climb the ropes in gym class; horseback riding is very therapeutic for this
- Aroma therapy
- To improve concentration use orange, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary
- To increase confidence and self esteem use rose, jasmine, neroli and sage
- To relax and relieve stress use lavender, chamomile, marjoram and basil
- To promote harmony in a group use patchouli, sandalwood, orange and vanilla
Resources
- Garden Angelis Guide to Aromatherapy: An Introduction to Aromatherapy and the Use of Essential Oils by Susanne Blake (1997)
- Sensory Stragegies by Sandy Curnow, OTR (2010)
- Sensory Strategies in the Classroom by Daiane Walker, M.S., OTR/L (2010)
Until next time, BLOSSOM!
Lauren Thome, M.A.
