EYFS Activities - Supporting SEND… Sensory regulation

Some children find it hard to change their arousal levels to suit their environment (arousal means their body’s alertness). When they find this difficult, we say that they are struggling to regulate. Ideally we want children to learn how to self-regulate, but they may need our help in doing this. One type of regulation is sensory regulation, where children use their senses to help them regulate. These activities can be helpful for all children, but in particular children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and those with sensory processing differences.

Here are two play-based sensory regulation activities, one to increase arousal and one to decrease it:

JELLY RESCUE

Suitable for: toddlers and pre-schoolers

This activity can increase a child’s arousal and alertness. Get messy and sticky rescuing toys from the bottom of a bowl of jelly. It’s lots of fun and great for sensory regulation, problem-solving and hand-eye co-ordination.

Don’t forget to risk assess and always check for relevant allergens and choking hazards.

Equipment

• Jelly, water, a jug, small and clean plastic toys, bowl, fridge, spoons and spatulas (optional extras).

How to:

• Make the jelly in a bowl following the instructions on the placket. Add a selection of small, clean plastic toys to the bottom of the bowl before putting it in the fridge to set.
• Tell the children that they are going to pretend to be a Jelly Rescuer! Their job is to gently use their tools – spoons, spatulas and hands – to carefully rescue their toys that are trapped at the bottom of the jelly bowl.
• Let the children enjoy the sensory experience of feeling for and pulling out their toys from the jelly, which has an interesting texture – firm and springy but easy to break through.
• Encouraging children to use their pincer grip to pull out the toys from the jelly is great for supporting fine motor skills.
• Give children time playing with the jelly, squeezing it between their fingers or wobbling a piece on their hand – it can be a very relaxing feeling for them.

Alternatives

• To make the whole of this activity edible, try hiding edible treats instead of toys to rescue! Let children feel the different textures in their mouth and use a variety of flavours to stimulate their sense of taste as well as touch.

Extension activity

• If they are happy to do this, the children could do the activity with their eyes closed so they just have to use their touch sense to feel for the toys.

Skills developed

• Problem-solving.
• Motor skills.
• Sensory integration.
  
  

CATCH THE BUBBLE

Suitable for: babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers

In contrast to the other activity, this can be used to decrease a child’s arousal and help to calm them. Bubbles are my ‘go to’ resource when trying to help children with sensory regulation. For young children, bubbles appear almost magical with their translucent, glistening rainbow colours and ability to float.

This simple game is accessible, enjoyable and relaxing.

Equipment

• Bubbles (ensure that the bubble mixture you have chosen is safe for babies and does not irritate sensitive skin) and music player.

How to

• Blow bubbles near to the children while playing some calming music.
• Encourage the children to relax and watch the bubbles moving.
• Let them enjoy being mesmerised by the movement of the bubbles and the sounds of the music.
• Demonstrate how you can gently catch a bubble, or pop one and encourage the child to copy you.
• This activity is brilliant for helping children learn how to track something with their eyes. It is also great for motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.

Alternatives

• Try making giant bubbles using a hula hoop and a large tray of bubble mix. Or lots of little bubbles with a tennis racket dipped in a bucket of bubble mix.

Extension activity

• Try blowing bubbles in an outside space so the children can watch and follow them whizzing past in the wind.

Skills developed

• Concentration.
• Motor skills.
• Sensory integration.
  
  
• ABOUT THIS SERIES
• This eight-part series is on practical ways to support the development of essential skills in children from birth to five, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Georgina Durrant is the author of 100 Ways Your Child Can Learn Through Play, a book of play- based activities that help develop important skills for children with SEN. She is a former teacher/SENDCO, private tutor for children with SEND and the founder of The SEN Resources Blog, www.senresourcesblog.com.
• Twitter: @senresourceblog Facebook: @senresourcesblog Instagram: @thesenresourcesblog