Free Sensory Circuit Planning Tool With Examples

A sensory Circuit is a personalised, person-centred plan designed to provide individuals with sensory experiences that support their self-regulation and sensory processing. These interventions are not about “fixing” or “normalising” sensory differences but rather about honouring and supporting each person’s unique sensory preferences and needs. For neurodivergent individuals, a sensory diet can be a powerful tool to help regulate sensory processing, enhance focus, reduce overwhelm, and promote overall well-being.

Creating a sensory circuit or sensory diet, however, can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. That’s where our Sensory Diet Planning Tool comes in a simple user-friendly, tool designed to simplify the process and empower individuals, carers, and education staff to create customised sensory plans with ease.

Introducing Our Sensory Diet Planning Tool

Our Sensory Diet Planning Tool is a digital resource that makes sensory diet planning accessible and intuitive. Built with neurodiversity-affirming principles at its core, the tool recognizes that sensory needs are unique to each individual and should be celebrated, not pathologised. It is designed to be used in conjunction with our Sensory Profile tool. Use that to identify the prime areas of need then use this tool to design a sensory diet to meet those needs.

Key Features:

• Customisable Activities: Choose from a wide range of sensory activities tailored to different sensory preferences and needs.
• PDF Generation: Export your personalised sensory diet plan as a PDF for easy sharing and reference.
• Neurodiversity-Affirming Language: The tool uses language that respects and validates the experiences of neurodivergent individuals.

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Sensory Activities: Honoring Sensory Diversity

Sensory activities are at the heart of a sensory diet. These activities are designed to engage the senses in ways that feel safe, enjoyable, and regulating. They can be categorized based on the primary sense they stimulate, but it’s important to remember that many activities engage multiple senses simultaneously.

This tool is designed to be used in conjunction with reading the Sensory Circuits book by Jane Horwood.

Categories of Sensory Activities:

1. Vestibular Activities: These activities support balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.
2. Proprioceptive Activities: These activities provide deep input to muscles and joints, promoting a sense of calm and body awareness.
3. Tactile Activities: These activities engage the sense of touch and can be soothing or stimulating, depending on individual preferences.
4. Auditory Activities: These activities help regulate auditory processing and create a calming environment.
5. Visual Activities: These activities provide visual stimulation and can be both calming and engaging.
6. Oral Activities: These activities provide oral sensory input, which can be regulating for some individuals.

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Why a Sensory Diet Matters

A sensory diet is more than just a list of activities—it’s a way to honour and support sensory diversity. For neurodivergent individuals, sensory differences are a natural part of who they are. A well-designed sensory diet can:

• Help individuals feel more grounded and regulated.
• Reduce sensory overwhelm and meltdowns.
• Enhance focus and engagement in daily activities.
• Promote self-awareness and self-advocacy.

Our Sensory Diet Planning Tool is designed to make this process easier, more accessible, and more affirming. By providing a range of activities and customisable options, the tool ensures that every sensory diet is as unique as the individual it’s created for. Please note we do not store any personal information or receive a copy of any reports generated.

Creating a sensory diet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With our Sensory Diet Planning Tool, you can design a plan that celebrates sensory diversity and supports individual needs in a neurodiversity-affirming way. Whether you’re new to sensory diets or looking for a more streamlined approach, this tool is here to guide you every step of the way. Sensory preferences are not “right” or “wrong”—they’re simply part of what makes each person unique. By embracing these differences and providing the right sensory input, we can create environments where everyone can thrive.

Appendix – Sensory Circuit Example Activities Included in the Tool

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Vestibular Activities

Activity	Duration
Swinging	15 minutes
Jumping on a Trampoline	20 minutes
Bouncing on a Therapy Ball	15 minutes
Rolling Down a Hill	15 minutes
Using a Spinning Chair	10 minutes
Rocking in a Rocking Chair	15 minutes
Scooter Board Activities	20 minutes
Jumping Like a Frog	10 minutes
Using a Sensory Swing	20 minutes
Playing with Balloons	15 minutes
Balance Beam Walking	15 minutes
Spinning Dance Moves	10 minutes
Rolling on a Mat	15 minutes
Playground Equipment	30 minutes
Head Inversions	5 minutes

Proprioceptive Activities

Activity	Duration
Obstacle Course	20 minutes
Yoga or Stretching	15 minutes
Nature Walk	30 minutes
Playing Simon Says	20 minutes
Hopping on One Foot	10 minutes
Deep Pressure Massage	10 minutes
Pushing or Pulling a Weighted Cart	20 minutes
Climbing a Rope Ladder	20 minutes
Using Resistance Bands	15 minutes
Hugging a Weighted Stuffed Animal	15 minutes
Building with Blocks	30 minutes
Using a Weighted Lap Pad	15 minutes
Lying on a Therapy Ball	15 minutes
Jumping into a Pile of Pillows	15 minutes
Wrapping Up in a Lycra Body Sock	10 minutes
Stomping Like a Dinosaur	10 minutes
Weighted Blanket Time	15 minutes
Wall Push-Ups	10 minutes
Animal Walks	15 minutes
Heavy Work Activities	20 minutes
Joint Compression Exercises	10 minutes
Carrying Heavy Items	15 minutes

Tactile Activities

Activity	Duration
Scented Playdough	15 minutes
Water Play	30 minutes
Finger Painting	30 minutes
Fidget Toys	10 minutes
Exploring Different Textures	20 minutes
Playing with Sand	30 minutes
Bubble Wrap Popping	10 minutes
Playing with Water Beads	20 minutes
Playing with Ice Cubes	15 minutes
Playing with Shaving Foam	20 minutes
Squeezing a Therapy Putty	15 minutes
Tearing and Crumpling Paper	10 minutes
Using a Sensory Brush	10 minutes
Exploring Nature Textures	30 minutes
Building Sandcastles	30 minutes
Messy Play with Food	20 minutes
Texture Scavenger Hunt	25 minutes
Rice Bin Exploration	20 minutes
Dry Pasta Play	20 minutes
Sensory Bags	15 minutes

Visual Activities

Activity	Duration
Coloring with Markers	20 minutes
Creating Sensory Bottles	15 minutes
Watching Bubbles Float	10 minutes
Playing with Magnifying Glasses	15 minutes
Glow Sticks in the Dark	15 minutes
Lava Lamp Watching	15 minutes
Flashlight Tag	20 minutes
Creating Tie-Dye Art	30 minutes
Sorting Colored Objects	15 minutes
Light Table Activities	20 minutes
Rainbow Rice Play	20 minutes
Pattern Making	15 minutes
Kaleidoscope Exploration	10 minutes
Shadow Play	15 minutes

Auditory Activities

Activity	Duration
Listening to Calming Music	15 minutes
Dance Party	20 minutes
Listening to Nature Sounds	15 minutes
Singing Songs	20 minutes
Making Animal Sounds	10 minutes
Whispering and Listening to Echoes	10 minutes
Playing with Wind Chimes	10 minutes
Creating Gentle Rain Sounds with a Rain Stick	10 minutes
Listening to Sound Stories	20 minutes
Musical Instruments	20 minutes
Sound Matching Games	15 minutes
White Noise Activities	15 minutes
Rhythm Activities	20 minutes

Oral Activities

Activity	Duration
Chewing Gum	10 minutes
Crunching Ice Chips	10 minutes
Drinking Thick Smoothies Through a Straw	15 minutes
Blowing Bubbles	10 minutes
Using Chewy Tubes	15 minutes
Blowing Musical Instruments	15 minutes
Drinking Through Different Straws	10 minutes
Exploring Food Textures	20 minutes

Multi-Sensory Activities

Activity	Duration
Creating Sensory Circuits	30 minutes
Cooking Together	30 minutes
Creating a Sensory Garden	30 minutes
Practicing Mindfulness Activities	10 minutes
Sensory Bin Exploration	25 minutes
Nature Scavenger Hunt	30 minutes
Art and Craft Projects	30 minutes
Indoor Beach Play	25 minutes
Science Experiments	30 minutes