The Build-Your-Own Sensory Break tool provides children with a variety of calming and focusing activities to help manage their energy levels, emotions, and attention in a fun, interactive way. It is ideal for use at home, in classrooms, or during therapy sessions to support children in learning how to self-regulate and feel good both physically and emotionally.
Key Features:
Mix-and-Match Activities:
- The tool offers a range of activities categorised into sensory actions, including Toss and Catch, Stretch, Fidgeting, Pretend Play, and more. These activities allow children to create a personalised sensory break based on what they need at the moment—whether it’s calming down, waking up, or focusing.
Clear Goals for Self-Regulation:
- Each activity helps children work towards goals like Wake Up, Organize, Focus, Sit Still, Calm Down, and Learn. This helps children understand the purpose of each activity, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment once they complete their break.
Feedback and Reflection:
- After each break, children can reflect on how the activities made them feel by rating their emotional state (Better, The Same, or Worse) and marking how many goals they achieved. This feedback loop helps children become aware of how different activities impact their emotions and focus, encouraging self-awareness.
Sensory Integration:
- The tool incorporates activities that engage various senses, such as tuning out noise with calming sounds, crawling to stimulate large muscle groups, and playing with putty for tactile input. These sensory experiences can be especially beneficial for children with sensory processing needs.
Encourages Independence:
- By allowing children to choose their activities, the tool promotes independence and decision-making skills. It empowers children to identify what works best for them in different situations, fostering a sense of control over their emotions and behaviours.
The Build-Your-Own Sensory Break is a versatile resource for promoting self-regulation, focus, and emotional balance in children. With its mix-and-match format, it can be adapted to fit individual needs, providing children with a playful way to develop essential life skills in self-regulation and emotional awareness.
