What are sensory diet activities?

Sensory diet activities may include the following...

Proprioception Activities

Proprioception has to do with body awareness (being aware of where your body is positioned in relation to other parts of your body).

Receptors in the muscles and joints help to coordinate movements even without vision. Proprioception activities would include things like

  • Pushing and pulling activities
  • Squeezing toys or popping bubble wrap
  • Wrapping your child in a “burrito” by rolling them up in a blanket

Vestibular Activities

Vestibular input has to do with your sense of movement and balance that is processed in the inner ear.  Such activities include:

  • Rocking in a rocking chair
  • Swinging on a swing at the park
  • Running, jumping or skipping

Sensory Diet Activities - PluffleTactile Activities

Tactile activities include any activities that involve the sense of touch, texture or temperature. Some tactile activities are:

  • Messy play such as playing with shaving cream, finger paint, or play dough
  • Reading and touching textured books
  • Tracing shapes on to your child’s back and letting them guess what shape

Auditory Activities

Auditory activities include hearing and listening. Some auditory activities might include:

  • Playing with instruments, such as imitating a rhythm with a drum or tambourine
  • Playing listening games to see if your child can guess the sound
  • Listening to music or songs

Visual ActivitiesBoy Stringing Beads

Visual activities involve making eye contact, processing what is seen with the eyes and interpreting visual input. Some visual activities might be:

  • Stringing beads
  • Matching games such as matching cards or matching words to cards
  • Picture games, finding pictures in a picture book like the “eye spy” books

Smelling And Tasting Activities

  • Play a guessing game with scratch and sniff stickers. See if they can guess the smell without looking.
  • Add a new texture to a food your child already likes. For example if your child likes yogurt, try adding some crunchy granola to their yogurt.
  • Play a guessing game with foods your child likes to eat. Put two or three foods and have them try them blindfolded.