As the vibrant colors of spring emerge, it's the perfect time to encourage children to get outside and play. Why not leverage that play time to boost their development through multi-sensory activities? When children activate multiple sensory systems at once - sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, etc. - it has a tremendous impact on their development!
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Research continues to show that multi-sensory engagement helps our working memory, attention, self-regulation, and other cognitive processes, setting them up for success in school and daily life. When we process new sensory information (especially when it is more than one sensory system simultaneously) it helps our brains create new neural pathways! Not only do these new neural pathways help with our cognitive processing skills, as mentioned, but they are also related to increased processing speed and motor coordination!
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We all know the five senses but did you know there are three “hidden” sensory systems? These hidden and special senses should be included in playtime as well! So let’s break the silence on them:
- The Vestibular System – Helps children know where their head is in space and is important for balance and movement control (e.g., swinging, spinning, cartwheels).
- Proprioception – Helps children understand where their body is in relation to itself and is important for knowing body position (without visual attention) allowing for coordination and balance (e.g., jumping, climbing, pushing, pulling).
- Interoception – Helps children recognize internal body signals (e.g., hunger, thirst, bathroom needs).
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This Spring, we challenge you to find some fun outdoor activities to do with your child and see how many senses you can incorporate into each activity. Here are a few ideas!
Spring Sensory Activities to Try
🌿 Garden Adventure – Digging in the soil provides proprioceptive input engaging muscles and joints for strengthening and coordination. Smelling flowers provides olfactory (smell) input, which can have a calming or alerting effect depending on the scent. Encourage children to listen for birds or rustling leaves for auditory (hear) input and feel different textures of leaves and petals tactile (touch) exploration. Encourage them to describe what they hear and feel.
🖍 Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course – Drawing the course engages the visual system and proprioceptive and vestibular system if the child is weight-bearing (i.e. crawl position or bear walk position). Turning on music adds auditory input, while hopping, crawling, and balancing continue to enhance vestibular and proprioceptive awareness. You can also incorporate different textures (e.g., stepping on a towel or walking barefoot on grass etc) to provide tactile (touch) input.
💨 Bubble Chase – Blowing bubbles provides oral-motor input, and popping bubbles improves hand-eye coordination and visual tracking. The unpredictable movement of bubbles engages the vestibular system by having the child chase them. Add an extra sensory element by using scented bubbles for olfactory (smell) input.
🛝 Swinging for Sensory Regulation – Swinging in different directions stimulates the vestibular system, helping with balance, coordination, and focus. A compression swing offers deep-pressure proprioceptive input, which is especially beneficial for children who seek calming sensory experiences. Add variety by adding a visual or auditory element—try spinning with eyes open vs. closed or playing calming vs. upbeat music.
These activities naturally integrate multiple senses, supporting children’s development while keeping playtime fun and engaging!
 Kaleidoscope Occupational Therapy |
How Kaleidoscope Occupational Therapy (KOT) Can Help
If your child struggles with focus, coordination, sensory processing, or emotional regulation, occupational therapy can help!
At KOT, we specialize in sensory integration and functional skill development, helping children thrive through engaging, play-based therapy. Our team of experienced occupational therapy practitioners provides 1:1 therapy in many settings including:
✅ Home-based therapy
✅ Private school-based therapy
✅ Community-based therapy (e.g., grocery stores, playgrounds, and restaurants) to build real-world skills
✅ Clinic-based services at our location in Fredericksburg, VA
We also offer:
🌟 Specialty Groups
🌟 FREE Screenings
🌟 FREE 20-minute phone consultations
Contact us TODAY to learn more about our specialty groups and schedule your FREE screening or consultation!
This spring, let’s make movement, play, and sensory exploration a priority! KOT is here to support your child every step of the way.
Contact KOT with questions or to schedule: Email Christiana: ccooper@kotfxbg.com |
References: Harkla. (2022). What is Multisensory Processing. Retrieved from https://harkla.co/blogs/special needs/multisensory-processing
