Add to Your Child’s Sensory Diet With Snacks
In the world of Complex Learners, chances are you’ve heard the term “sensory diet” before. The first time you heard it, you may have even thought – what does food have to do with sensory input?
A sensory diet is not solely food-related, instead, it’s more of a sensory lifestyle. A sensory diet is a meaningful and personalized plan of sensory activities designated to support an individual’s sensory preferences and regulation. Through a sensory diet, you’re building opportunities for sensory input throughout the day. Sensory diets are an integral part of a student’s day at the Wolf School. Sometimes an individual needs an alerting and awakening strategy, while other times calming strategies can help relax the body. These strategies can tap into any type(s) of sensory input based on the student’s individual needs.
At Wolf, we offer strategies that support our 8 different sensory systems.
1. Vestibular System
What Is It: The position of our head in space
Strategy Example: Using a swing
2. Proprioceptive
What Is It: The position of our bodies in space
Strategy Example: Heavy work like pulling another student on a scooter
3. Tactile
What Is It: Touch/Texture
Strategy Example: Using Playdough
4. Gustatory
What Is It: Taste
Strategy Example: Eating something sour to help wake the system up
5. Olfactory
What Is It: Smell
Strategy Example: Using a diffuser with essential oils (lavender to relax, citrus to wake up)
6. Visual
What Is It: Sight
Strategy Example: Adjusting overhead lights to use natural light instead
7. Auditory
What Is It: Hearing
Strategy Example: Using noise-cancelling headphones to focus
8. Interoception
What Is It: Internal sense within your body
Strategy Example: Check-ins to increase awareness of what your body is telling you
Adding To Your Sensory Diet Through Snacks
While there are multiple strategies for each system, did you know you can actually use fun snacks to help your child work on their proprioceptive system? Think of it as heavy work for your mouth! We talked with Wolf’s OT, Lauren Packer, to learn more about utilizing snacks as part of your child’s sensory diet!
Offering a variety of snacks in your child’s lunchbox is also one way to encourage sensory exploration and help support their regulation while at school. Here are some suggestions to try!
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit not only offers a sweet taste, but fruit leather or dried mango can also encourage alerting proprioceptive input to the jaw. This can be a great snack to help students stay alert and ready to learn throughout the day. The sweet flavor profile of dried fruit can be easily worked into a picky eater’s diet.
Beef Jerky
Similarly, beef jerky, like Chomp’s sticks, provides a savory flavor and protein while also offering alerting proprioceptive input.
Crunchy Snacks
Crunchy snacks like pretzels, carrots, and apples can keep the mouth busy, as well as strengthen the oral motor cavity. Strong jaws can help individuals better manage a variety of textures and food types.
Warm Foods
Warm familiar foods in a thermos, like oatmeal or soup, can be calming and comforting, especially as we move into the cold fall and winter months.
Once you learn more about your child’s sensory needs, you’ll be able to find all kinds of ways to build sensory input throughout their day – even in what they pack for lunch!
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