Sensory processing disorder affects as many as one in 20 children, estimates Lucy Jane Miller, head of the STAR Center for SPD, in an interview with "Time" magazine. Children who suffer from SPD have trouble reacting to and experiencing their senses. Noises are too loud, touching is too intense and lights are too bright. Sensory activities for children can help those with SPD learn to control their reactions to certain stimuli, and it makes for an ideal lesson about the senses for children without the disorder as well.
Clay and Foam Play
Setting out a variety of play doughs, clays and foams can help children learn about the sense of touch. Each material has a specific texture, and offering the children different objects to push into the clay to create indentations and shapes can help them acknowledge the way the clay can change. Children love to shape and create, making play doughs, foams and clays ideal for learning about touch.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is used by SPD specialists to determine the different reactions an SPD child has to certain smells. Children, both with SPD and without, can smell different aromas and report how they feel. Lavender, eucalyptus, orange oil and peppermint all illicit different reactions from children, notes the Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center. Have the children pass around small vials of oils and write down how the smell makes them feel for an interesting beginner lesson on aromatherapy.
Music Time
Musical activities teach children about sounds. Purchasing a noise machine that plays music and makes nature sounds like rushing water and chirping birds can help children learn to listen and identify what they hear. It can also be a relaxing activity for a high-strung class after recess or lunchtime. Allow the children to experience different sounds and types of music as part of the activity.
Guess the Food
An activity in taste and the taste buds can help children with SPD understand why they have reactions to certain flavors, and which flavors they prefer. Other children will think it's a fun activity to identify their favorite foods. Choose items from each type of flavor: a lemon for sour, sugar for sweet, chips for salty and unsweetened cocoa for bitter. Allow the children to sample each type of food and identify which taste it is, and talk about which they like the best.
Mirror, Mirror
A collection of handheld mirrors is an ideal way to learn about sight, notes PreschoolRainbow.org. Children can look into the mirrors and look at their reflection. Instruct them to make funny faces to see the change, or even draw on their mirrors to create a scene for their faces. Have the children rotate the mirrors to see different objects in the room, breathe on the mirror and make a picture or to look in their mouths. It's a fun exercise in sight and discovery.
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