OT Activity of the Day:
Sensory Break Fun
Target Age Range: 5 and up
Sensory breaks are wonderful things. We all take them throughout the day (stretching, taking a quick walk to get more water or coffee, exercise, or fidgeting with an object). I, for one, love fidgeting with my pen. Bottom line, we all have our strategies and use them appropriately, throughout the day.
Unfortunately many children feel this same need for a break/movement during school, so they find ways that work for them, use them, but then those strategies are sometimes not deemed appropriate. "No Johnny, you may not jump off your desk, or push your friends, or run around the classroom, etc..."
OT helps by teaching children and their families/teachers/caregivers appropriate breaks that children can take, before, after and during school so they can sit and focus when it is required.
Here I've created a "sensory break" game to help introduce sensory breaks to kids. On the backs of these cards I have various breaks that kids can take during the school hours. (I realize I only have two cards pictured, but there were about 8 cards taped to the wall). Next we will take turns throwing the sticky animals at the wall and if we hit a card we get to do that sensory break.
It's fun, there's no pressure, the kids just get to try out various breaks to see which ones work for them. Once we've established what works, it's easier to implement them into the classroom setting.
Enjoy!