Hi ,
When I talk in my sensory training about calming sensory activities such as a wall push or crawling through a lycra tunnel, I will often get asked, "but what if my child is demand-avoidant and just won't engage in a structured activity?!" Good question! It's not easy, as you may well know, but here are some tips...
- My number 1 tip is to have lots of sensory movement options out in the house. For example, in the front room you may have a rocker chair, a therapy ball, a doorway swing and some tactile mats. In the bedroom there may be beanbag, a peanut ball and a basket of sensory fidget toys. On the bed you may have a compression sheet and on the sofa you may have a weighted blanket. Basically, you need a range of sensory options available with no pressure to use them but having them out means your child may choose to engage with them. The items I have suggested are just examples and what you choose to have out will depend on your child's sensory preferences.
- Use humour - being silly and playful can be helpful for some children. Have a look at my therapy ball rough play video to see what I mean. Make sure you minimise rules and let your child choose how they want to do the activity.
- Novelty can be important for some demand-avoidant children. So it can help to have some favourite sensory items available all of the time but then have a range of other items on rotation that you put away and get back out again.
- For more general tips you might like to check out the PDA Society website.
If you have any more tips and strategies for supporting demand-avoidant children with sensory activities, I'd love to hear them.
Hanna
P.S. If you are thinking of booking your child in for an assessment with me, I'm full until the end of June so please contact me asap if you would like to get in before the end of he school year. You can click here for info on Sensory Success.
P.P.S. I do have space for an immediate start on my 6 month Sensory Confidence programme. Sensory Confidence does not include an assessment but you do get my support in the group for 6 months, access to my in-depth sensory training and lots more. You can click here for info on Sensory Confidence. |