You may have heard your occupational therapist (OT) recommend a sensory diet. If you associate diets with life altering patterns, commonly associated with restrictions, you might be hesitant. A sensory diet, quite oppositely, is often an addition to your child’s life. A sensory diet includes the use of individualized activities or tools at specified frequencies throughout the day to support your child’s regulation, and thereby participation in daily tasks. For children with sensory processing issues, it can be difficult to do daily tasks such as transition from one environment to the other, however implementing a sensory diet could help make that easier. A “sensory diet” is a personalized plan of activities that provides the sensory input your child needs to engage and participate in their daily activities appropriately and effectively.
Understanding the Sensory System
Think of your child’s sensory system like a tank of gas and an individualized sensory program like the best fuel grade for the car. When our sensory seekers tank is empty, we might see an increase in disorganized or unsafe behaviors (e.g. jumping, crashing, spinning) as our children try to fill their own tanks. When sensory avoiders have an empty tank, we might see a decrease in level of arousal with slouched posture and heads resting on desks as our children settle into their engine stalling. Similar to feeding your body nutritious foods multiple times a day, we need to “feed” our sensory system as well. In addition to providing input for sensory processing needs, it is essential to provide these “foods” often and in small frequent intervals during the day.
What is a Sensory Diet?
A sensory diet is not a food diet. It’s a treatment that includes activities tailored specifically for each child’s or adult’s (and their family’s) specific sensory processing issues. A sensory diet is a tailored plan of physical activities and accommodations designed to meet a child’s sensory needs. This type of treatment has nothing to do with food. The goal is to get kids in a “just right” state. For kids who tend to get overstimulated, a sensory diet will include activities that help them come down from an overloaded state and feel calm. Kids who feel or seem sluggish will do activities to help them feel more alert. Having the right sensory input helps kids pay attention in school, learn new skills, and socialize with other kids.
Benefits of a Sensory Diet
A sensory diet provides your child with activities that have the potential for regulating and reducing over-responsivity or under-responsivity. These activities are geared toward helping children participate in their daily activities most effectively while having some input from all of their senses. Using a sensory diet regularly can help kids build that self-awareness.
Tailoring the Sensory Diet
Every child’s sensory needs are different. Some crave extra movement or deep pressure; others might get overwhelmed by sound, touch, or motion. The sensory diet is most effective when it’s personalized.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
A sensory diet is a tailored plan of sensory activities that are designed to meet your sensory needs. Activities will be different based on the sensory issues your child needs addressing. Routines include how many times to repeat the circuit of activities and how long each session should last. This effects can last for hours. Plans vary by child and sensory issues they need addressing.
Examples of Sensory Diet Activities
For instance, your child’s OT may recommend jumping on the trampoline for 5 minutes followed by pushing the laundry basket from the bedroom to the laundry room before coming to sit at the table for mealtime. Other common sensory activities are somersaults, log rolling, hopping up and down, and push-ups.
A sensory diet activities list: The sensory diet activities are designed for the individual but are based on sound neuroscience principles about how the brain takes in and makes use of sensory input to create optimal states of arousal and performance.
Heavy work in the hands is an effective technique that can be used easily in multiple environments. Let music be a part of a daily routine. Have a bath song, a dressing song, a mealtime song, etc. Active participation with a drum, autoharp, electrical music devices, harp, etc.
Incorporating Sensory Diet Activities
The sensory diet allows you to anticipate the events (transitions) of the day that need extra sensory support. Typically, these sensory supports are set up in routines to ease the transition. You can start building a sensory diet at home with simple activities and everyday items. Some days your child may need more movement; other days, more calming input. Tip: Try not to force an activity that isn’t working - adapt or switch it up.
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At Home
Incorporate sensory diet activities at home. If space in your home is limited and therapeutic equipment is minimal, work with your therapist to get creative. Don’t have a trampoline? Jump on the bed for one minute before making it every morning.
In the Car
This can be both in regards to time and equipment. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the car between school and activities, work with your therapist to identify appropriate activities that can be done (safely) during the drive (for example, adding a resistance band to the headrest of the passenger seat for heavy work pulling).
Working with an Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist (OT) trained in sensory integration can be an incredible partner in understanding your child’s unique sensory needs. Your OT will also teach you how to incorporate sensory diet activities into your everyday routines using what you already have at home. Usually, an occupational therapist designs a child’s sensory diet and uses it during therapy sessions. The more kids practice, the better. So parents and caregivers should use the diet at home, too. Teachers can also do some of the activities in school.
Sensory Seekers vs. Sensory Avoiders
Children who “crave” certain senses are considered hyposensitive or a sensory seeker. This means that they have an increased need for that specific sense. On the other hand, children who have certain senses that they try to avoid and are considered “hypersensitive” or a “sensory avoider”. Remember that over-responsive children have just as many sensory needs as do children with under-responsivity.
The Importance of Monitoring and Adjusting
When first establishing your children’s sensory diet, there may be some trial and error. Track your child’s regulation throughout the day. Does your child lose steam by lunchtime, nearly falling asleep in his plate? Does your child start doing parkour on the couch immediately after your activities because he’s over-aroused? Don’t be discouraged if what worked last week doesn’t work this week. Our children’s sensory systems can be affected by sleep, environment, time of day, you name it. Is your child going through a growth spurt? Are molars erupting? Was his bedroom warm last night and he was a restless sleeper? Any number of factors may impact your child’s sensory system and subsequently his response to what may have seemed to be a successful sensory diet.
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Additional Techniques
One such technique is the Wilbarger Protocol (or brushing therapy), which uses deep pressure on certain parts of the body followed by proprioception - perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body - in the form of joint compressions. These strategies are used in combination with an overall sensory diet that integrates sensory-motor activity into an individual’s daily life routine.
The Alert Program - from occupational therapists Mary Sue Williams and Sherry Shellenberger - is a step-by-step curriculum that teaches children simple changes to their daily routine (such as a brisk walk, jumping on a trampoline prior to doing their homework, listening to calming music) that will help them self-regulate or keep their engine running just right. Through the use of charts, worksheets, and activities, the child is guided in improving awareness and using self-regulation strategies.
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