Fall is upon us.  That means shorter days, cooler weather, and busier lives. Now that school is back in session, we begin to realize how tight our schedules become.  If you have multiple children that means there are multiple obligations and schedules to be met.  But even if you only have one child, this time of year always tends to extremely busy.  With that said, it becomes very difficult to maintain carrying out a sensory diet.  Between homework, extra-curricular activities, and life at home, there seems to be very little extra time to do those activities that your occupational therapist has recommended.  We find ourselves asking do we really need to add one more thing onto our plates?

 

A "sensory diet" is a term coined by Patricia Wilbarger, MEd, OTR (OT-Innovations.com).  It is made up of a variety of activities put together by an occupational therapist to be carried out throughout the day to help a child with sensory processing concerns remain regulated, attentive, and organized.  Just like a nutritional diet, it is important for these children to have the right amount of input throughout the day.  So, especially now that schedules are busy and the demands on our children are greater, the answer is "yes", carrying out the sensory diet is still important.

 

To be effective and ensure that the there is good follow through, it is recommended that the sensory diet be developed with both the family members and occupational therapist.  When putting together a sensory diet, it is best to first do some research.  This means that the family should log a typical day for the child for several days, noting both the easy and difficult times throughout the day.  With this information, as well as that gathered in the clinic, the OT will be able to determine what activities are best for achieving the "just right" state.

 

A sensory diet can be as structured as need be based on the child's needs.  It should include activities from the sensory areas that provide the most input for organization.  What is important is making sure that the activities that are suggested are ones that can easily fit into a child's daily routine, both in school and at home.  They should not require a lot of extra equipment or a lot of time.  Therefore, there really should be very little difficulty fitting a "sensory diet" into your busy days.  For example, for a child that may require increased oral input, have them drink their drinks from a straw.  For a child who needs extra proprioceptive input, have them use animal walks, such as crab walking, to move about the house. Allow the child needing extra tactile input to use a fidget or a bag filled with appropriate tactile media (such as beans, rice, or pasta) while traveling from one activity to the next.  These are just a few examples, but all do not require any extra time.

 

Like any diet or exercise program we try to start as adults, we find the ones that require the most effort are the hardest to maintain and soon given up on.  The same is true for carrying out a sensory diet.  So, whether you are a parent of a child needing a sensory diet or a therapist developing one, it is important to really pay attention to the daily routines of the family and make sure that the sensory diet fits into it.  Home programming is essential for all therapy clients, but especially those with sensory processing concerns.  It is not possible that a therapist can be with a child all day long, nor can they receive therapy daily, therefore having an effective home program will provide success and increased ease at home and school.