Sensory Activities

Checkout our PDF for some Sensory Activities and Ideas

Sensory activities benefit people with ASD by helping them process sensory information, regulate emotions, and develop crucial life skills such as fine motor control, communication, and social skills. These activities provide a calming, therapeutic effect and foster exploration, curiosity, and self-awareness by allowing individuals to engage with their environment and meet their sensory needs in a regulated way. 

How Sensory Activities Help 

• Sensory Regulation: People with ASD often have difficulty processing sensory input, leading to distress or overwhelm. Sensory activities provide a way to safely explore and process different sensations, which can have a calming effect and help with self-regulation.

• Emotional and Cognitive Development: Engaging in sensory play can stimulate the brain, create new neural pathways, and improve attention and focus. This helps develop a better understanding of the world and promotes curiosity and exploration.

• Skill Development:

• Motor Skills: Activities like squeezing playdough or building with blocks help refine both fine motor skills (using hands and fingers) and gross motor skills (using larger body movements).

• Communication & Social Skills: Sensory play offers opportunities for expressing needs and emotions, encouraging dialogue, and practicing sharing and turn-taking, which are vital for social interaction.

• Self-Awareness: Through exploring different sensory materials, individuals can develop a better understanding of their own bodies and how they interact with the environment.

Why They Are Particularly Important for ASD

• Addressing Sensory Differences: People with ASD experience sensory input differently; some may be under-responsive, while others are over-responsive. Sensory activities provide a tailored way to provide the specific types of stimulation they need, whether it's deep pressure, specific textures, or other inputs. 

• Aiding Skill Acquisition: Because sensory processing is a fundamental building block for other skills, improving sensory processing can have a ripple effect on other developmental areas, including attention, behavioral regulation, and overall skill acquisition. 

• Reducing Anxiety: The structured and predictable nature of many sensory activities can be very soothing for individuals with ASD, helping to reduce stress and anxiety levels in overwhelming situation

Sensory Activities PDF