A sensory diet is a treatment that can help kids with sensory processing issues. It includes a series of physical activities your child can do at home. … An occupational therapist can design a sensory diet routine.

Sample Sensory Diet

Here is a sample sensory diet, created for a second grade child with sensory processing disorder. We’ve used the annoying term “as directed” to avoid providing a cookbook recipe.

-Activities must be individualized for each child and modified frequently to meet changing needs.

-A separate program was worked out for this child with the school, including frequent movement breaks, an inflatable seat cushion for wiggling while remaining seated, and providing crunchy/chewy oral comfort snacks at handwriting time.

• In the Morning

Massage feet and back to help wake up

-Listen to recommended therapeutic listening CD

Use vibrating toothbrush and/or vibrating hairbrush

-Eat crunchy cereal with fruit and some protein

-Spin on Dizzy Disc Jr. as directed by your OT or PT

Jump on mini-trampoline as directed

• After school

-Go to playground for at least 30 minutes

-Push grocery cart or stroller

-Spinning as directed

Mini – trampoline. Add variety: have him play catch or toss toys into a basket while jumping.

-Massage feet to “reorganize,” use therapy putty, make “body sandwiches,” wheelbarrow walk

-Do ball exercises as directed

-Listen to therapeutic listening CD

-Oral work — sucks thick liquids through a straw, eat crunchy and chewy snacks, or chew gum before and/or during table top activities

• At dinnertime

-Help with cooking, mixing, chopping, etc.

-Help set table, using two hands to carry and balance a tray

-Provide crunchy and chewy foods

• At night

Family time: clay projects, painting projects, etc.

-Warm bath with bubbles and calming essential oil

-Massage during reading time