Sensory Circuits
Sensory Circuits
Sensory Circuits uses sensory-based movement activities that help children and young people to achieve the ‘just right’ level of alertness they need to prepare themselves for the day’s learning.
Alerting section
The aim here is to provide both vestibular (movement and balance) and proprioceptive (awareness of body in space) stimulation as these can help the child to become more alert.
- Jumping on a trampette
- Sitting and bouncing on a gym ball
- Star jumps
- Marching
- Step-ups
- Skipping
- Lying over a gym ball on their tummy, roll forwards and weight bear through the arms
Organising section
This includes activities that provide a motor challenge and requires the child or young person to plan, organise and/or sequence their movement.
- Catching a ball or beanbag
- Throwing a ball or beanbag to a target
- Balancing on wobble boards or walking along a gym bench
- Crawling through a tunnel
- Jumping through hoops (3-5 hoops)
- Log rolling - with hands clasped and arms stretched out above the head
- Crawling through a tunnel
- Animal walks eg crab walk, bunny hops
Calming section
The activities suggested below provide proprioceptive (deep pressure) input and heavy muscle work which can have a calming and organising effect.
- Have an adult apply deep pressure through child’s shoulders using the palms of their hands (keeping fingers together). Maintain the pressure for up to 10 seconds, repeat 3 to 5 times
- Chair or wall push-ups
- Child lies on their tummy over a gym ball and rolls over gently, backwards and forwards
- Child lies down on their tummy and an adult rolls a gym ball on their back using firm, consistent pressure
- For older children, stretch a theraband or resistance bands in front of their body or above their head. Repeat 5-10 times
Further Information can be found here:
https://cypf.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/health-and-development/sensory-processing/sensory-circuits/