By Chris Purgatori, MOT, OTRL
Occupational Therapist

Summer is here! While many kids thrive on relaxed days and fun activities, others struggle without the structure and routine they’re used to during the school year. Meanwhile, parents worry that time off from school will cause their children to fall behind. Summer sensory activities can help! Kids of all abilities benefit from sensory play, which increases brain functioning, improves emotional regulation, and supports their ability to process new information.

Start your adventures by sharing the “plan for the day” with your kids using a picture, verbal or written schedule. This gives them the routine they crave and assists with easier transitions, including going back to school in the fall.

• Beach trip. Walking or playing in the sand provides great tactile input that can be used for calming and organizing a child’s body. Forming letters in the sand also adds tactile input to handwriting practice.
• Outdoor scavenger hunt. The outdoors is filled with unique, tangible objects to aid in the learning process. Challenge your children with multistep directions (find something that is crunchy and something that is green). Teach same versus different skills and solve math problems (two sticks plus three worms equals five total items).

Read on for more summer sensory activities! [more]

Originally posted in Metro Parent.