QUESTION: I have a two year old little boy that I work with that has to lick everything, including my clothes when I am working with him. He will tap his fingers on his tongue and lick every toy initially as well as continuously during play. At times, he will also bite down on his… [Continue Reading]
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What is a Sensory Diet? A sensory diet is the strategic use of sensory activities. While most of us use sensory strategies without really thinking about it (drinking coffee to stay alert, listening to soothing music to unwind, jogging to release tension, etc.), some children and adults have sensory needs that require a more intentional approach. A sensory diet is a plan, usually established by an Occupational Therapist, to meet the needs of people with sensory processing disorders so they will be able to engage in social interactions, focus on their education, self-soothe, and sustain attention to task more effectively. BrainWorks simplifies the process of creating sensory diets and teaches self-modulation through its use. Click here to join BrainWorks or view membership options.
BrainWorks offers two convenient options: Physical Products or Digital Access:
Using digital BrainWorks is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Select activity picture cards based on child’s age and activity type (calming, alerting, or just-right) with our easy-to-use digital program:
2. Print your selected picture cards. The arrows indicate whether the activity will have a calming (red arrow), alerting (green arrow), or just-right (yellow arrow) effect on your child.
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3. Cut and paste to create a variety of visual sensory diet tools!
Products Created with Digital Access (click to enlarge)
What else does www.SensationalBrain.com have to offer?
Information – Just click on any of the topics at the right of the screen to learn about sensory processing, sensory diets, resources, research and more! Many forms are available for your use as well, including a very helpful Sensory Symptoms Checklist.
Support – Click on the “Questions and Answers with Gwen” tab at the top to post a question on our blog and receive an answer from Gwen, an experienced occupational therapist and nationwide speaker and consultant on sensory processing and sensory diets.
Research – We are currently in the process of compiling research releated to the various sensory strategies often recommended by occupational therapists and other professionals who help to create individualized sensory diets. In addition to the research already on our site, we will be adding to it continually over the next few months. SensationalBrain.com members also receive regular emails highlighting relevant research to keep you up to date.
Who is SensationalBrain.com for?
Professionals – Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Special Education Teachers, and others who work with babies and toddlers, or children and teens with sensory processing needs and are involved in creating or carrying out sensory diets.
Parents – You are your child’s best advocate! SensationalBrain.com is created to be easily used by parents and professionals alike. If you need further explanation or information on any related topic, just ask Gwen.
Children and teens with the following diagnoses are most likely to benefit from a sensory diet and all that SensationalBrain.com has to offer:
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – sometimes also called Sensory Integration Disorder
- Sensory Modulation Disorder
- Autism
- ADD or ADHD
- Learning Disabilities
- Anxiety or Depression
| Families & Individuals For more information for individuals and families with sensory needs, click here. |
Professionals For professionals (therapists, doctors, nurses, special education teachers), click here. |
