The Best Home Made Sensory Toys for Autistic Children For autistic children, finding easy DIY ways to engage their senses and promote self-regulation can be incredibly beneficial. Home made Sensory toys are a great tool for providing stimulating and calming experiences, and homemade sensory toys can be even more valuable because of their personal touch and …
Autistic Nesting: What Does It Mean & What Is It For? Autism, a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by differences in social interaction and communication, is often accompanied by unique sensory experiences. One such behavior that has attracted limited attention but makes perfect sense is ‘Autistic Nesting’, a fascinating aspect of the autism spectrum experience. This article …
Jingle All the Way to a Christmas Word Wall The holiday season provides a fun opportunity for young learners to build their vocabulary through exposure to festive new words. There are so many joyful activities centring around the sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of Christmas time. Why not capitalise on this natural excitement to expand …
Introduction to Finger Gym Teaching students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) requires a unique set of skills, patience, and a toolbox of innovative teaching strategies. One of the strategies that has gained popularity in recent years is ‘Finger Gym’. This article explores the concept of Finger Gym, how it can be incorporated into your classroom, …
Hands-On Teaching Activities When You Need A Calm Classroom Calming Activities for the Classroom: The After Lunch Energy Slump After a long morning afternoons can be challenging for young children and those with special needs. I distinctly remember the stress of trying to stay awake in maths after lunch. Tiredness and stress have built up, …
Winter Wonderland – Christmas Sensory Song For information about delivering sensory stories please see our main Free Sensory Story page. This is not technically a Sensory Story but we will be using the lyrics to the song “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and linking each line with a sensory resource or action. You will know …
“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” Sensory Story Style Read More »
Finger Painting: A Fun and Educational Activity Finger painting is such a fun, messy activity for Children. I love seeing my little one explore colours and textures through this process. Not only is it entertaining, but finger painting also provides several educational benefits. It is mentioned in the EYFS Development Matters Curriculum Guidance from the …
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Understanding The Importance of Sensory Learning Sensory learning is a popular, creative and innovative approach to education that encourages children to explore the world around them and experience things firsthand. By engaging their senses, children can interact with new environments, materials, and textures that enrich their understanding of the world. The benefits of a sensory …
What is a tuff Tray and What Activities can I use It for? Tuff trays are an invaluable resource for early years and SEN settings, providing endless opportunities for sensory and messy play perfect for developing young minds. These durable plastic trays, filled with a variety of tuff tray activities and manipulatives, allow children to …
You Might be a Dragon: A Simple Multi-Sensory Story The aim of You Might Be a Dragon is to simplify a Story to encourage imaginative play. You may want to use it as an activity as part of a topic such as Castles, Myths and Legends, or pair it with reading more complex books. there …
Sensory Processing Differences and Classroom Design ‘Sensory processing’ refers to how a person’s nervous system responds to sensory information and how they react to it. autistic individuals often find it challenging to prioritise the stimuli to process in their environment, making it difficult to focus on a single stimulus. Atypical sensory processing in autism involves …
This Alien sensory story continues our “You Might be” series of simple sensory based stories that are based around a single character concept. Your learner can dress up as the character or just explore each element. You can easily create an immersive sensory space for Aliens by lighting up the room red and green or …
If you are supporting a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD), everyday environments can easily become overwhelming. With SPD, the brain has trouble receiving and responding appropriately to information from the senses. A child may become overstimulated by loud noises, crowds, bright lights, certain textures, or other sensory input that most people naturally filter out. This can lead …
Supporting a Child with SPD: 50 Tried and Tested Strategies Read More »
Linking Sensory Ideas to Learning Intentions We love sensory ideas, play based learning and developing engaging activities. The importance of sensory experiences in a child’s development is well-known. Engaging in sensory activities helps children build essential skills, including fine and gross motor skills, self-regulation, and emotional regulation. While vestibular activities, which stimulate the sense of balance and spatial orientation, are essential …
100 Sensory Ideas: Activities for Autistic Children Read More »
Hello storytellers, our most popular page is our free multi-sensory stories page. Here we share over 20 free sensory stories all written by teachers in special schools. This post will provide an idea for a prop that can be adapted as a simple sensory resource for many sensory stories, it is an evolution of Flo …
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The Benefits of Messy Play Messy play is an essential part of childhood that encourages creativity, exploration, and effective engagement in learning. As parents, we might be tempted to keep our children clean, tidy and presentable, but there is a world of benefits to embracing the mess. From fostering cognitive development to nurturing social skills, messy play has …
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Understanding Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. As a teacher, it is important to recognise that every child is unique. While there are certain commonalities in the needs of autistic individuals. Reactions to sensory stimuli can play a significant role in how engaged in learning a child will be. Reducing sensory overload can improve a child’s …
Understanding Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder: A Guide for Teachers Read More »
Heuristic Play and EYFS The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework sets standards for the learning and development of children from birth to five in the United Kingdom. It aims to ensure that children receive high-quality education and care that helps them achieve their full potential. One of the key components of EYFS is play …
Heuristic Play: Enhancing Physical Development in the EYFS and beyond Read More »
The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Autistic Children. Kids ear protection is vital. This post is a follow-up to our main post on Noise Sensitivity. I work with many children with noise sensitivity who use some sort of ear defenders to reduce the noise in the school environment. There are two types of noise-cancelling earplugs: …
Noise Sensitivity: Ear Defenders and Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids Read More »
What is Noise Sensitivity? Noise sensitivity is a common issue for many people. Studies suggest that anywhere from 30% to more than 90% of individuals with autism experience some form of sensory hypersensitivity or under-responsiveness, with sound sensitivity being one of the most prevalent. One of the most commonly reported sensory sensitivities is sensitivity to sounds …
Sensory Processing: Noise Sensitivity, Causes and Solutions Read More »
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