Sensory Activities for Autistic Children: Ideas and Benefits

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapies are widely recognized for their effectiveness in treating autism. One of the most useful strategies within these therapies are sensory activities, designed to help autistic children process and regulate the sensations in their environment more effectively. In this article, we will explore some ideas for sensory activities and the benefits they can provide to autistic children.

What Are Sensory Activities?

Sensory activities are those that stimulate one or more of the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and the vestibular (balance and movement) and proprioceptive (awareness of the body in space) senses. For autistic children, these activities can be particularly beneficial as they often experience sensory sensitivities or difficulties processing sensory information.

Benefits of Sensory Activities

1. Improved Sensory Regulation: They help children learn to manage and respond appropriately to different sensations, which can reduce problematic behaviors.
2. Development of Motor Skills: Many sensory activities require fine and gross motor movements that help develop coordination and motor skills.
3. Reduction of Stress and Anxiety: These activities can have a calming effect and help children relax.
4. Promotion of Attention and Focus: By engaging the senses, these activities can improve children’s ability to concentrate and stay focused.
5. Improved Social Skills: By participating in group activities, children can develop interaction and communication skills.

Ideas for Sensory Activities

1. Sand and Water Table

A sand and water table allows children to explore different textures and temperatures. They can use tools like spoons, funnels, and molds to experiment with manipulating materials.

Benefits: Development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Encourages exploration and creativity.

2. Sensory Bottles

Fill plastic bottles with different materials such as rice, lentils, buttons, pompoms, or gelatin. Children can shake the bottles, feel the materials, or even search for small hidden objects in them.

Benefits: Tactile and auditory stimulation, improvement of fine motor skills, and promotion of attention and concentration.

3. Putty and Playdough

Kneading and molding putty or playdough is an excellent sensory activity that also helps strengthen hand muscles.

Benefits: Improvement of strength and manual dexterity, tactile stimulation, and promotion of creativity.

4. Texture Box

Fill a box with different objects of various textures (soft, rough, smooth, hard). Children can put their hands in and guess the objects just by touch.

Benefits: Development of the tactile sense, improvement of perception and texture recognition, and promotion of curiosity and exploration.

5. Light and Shadow Games

Using a flashlight to create shadows on the wall or playing with colored lights in a dark room can be very stimulating.

Benefits: Visual stimulation, improvement of hand-eye coordination, and development of creativity.

6. Finger Painting

Let children paint with their fingers using non-toxic paints. This activity is not only fun but also an excellent form of expression.

Benefits: Tactile stimulation, improvement of hand-eye coordination, and promotion of creativity and self-expression.

Conclusion

Sensory activities are a powerful tool within ABA therapies for autistic children. They not only help improve sensory regulation and motor skills but can also reduce stress, increase attention, and promote social skills. Incorporating these activities into the daily routine can provide an enriching and supportive environment for autistic children, helping them reach their full potential.

References

ABA Centers of Florida. (2022, October 24). Habitaciones Sensoriales para el Autismo: ¡7 Increíbles Beneficios! https://abacentersfl.com/es/blog/habitaciones-sensoriales-para-autismo/

LeafWing Center. (2022, April 22). Estrategias Para El Autismo En El Aula. https://leafwingcenter.org/es/strategies-for-autism-in-classroom/

Mightier. (no date). 5 actividades para apoyar las necesidades sensoriales de los niños neurodivergentes. https://www.mightier.com/es/resources/5-activities-to-support-neurodivergent-childrens-sensory-needs/

Rise up for Autism. (2023, March 22). 10 actividades divertidas y educativas para niños con autismo. https://riseupforautism.com/es/blog/10-fun-and-educational-activities-for-children-with-autism