How to Create a Personalized Sensory Diet for Your Child

Creating a sensory diet for your child can improve focus, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. Sensory diets are structured activities designed to meet your child’s sensory needs, helping them feel more organized and balanced. Here’s a step-by-step guide to designing a personalized sensory diet for your child.

1. Assess Your Child’s Sensory Preferences

Begin by observing your child’s reactions to sensory input. Do they seek out movement, avoid loud noises, or crave tactile stimulation? Understanding whether your child is sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding will help you tailor activities to their needs.

Common Sensory Preferences:

• Sensory Seekers: Enjoy jumping, spinning, or squeezing.
• Sensory Avoiders: Prefer quiet spaces and dislike certain textures or sounds.
• Sensory Neutral: May show balanced responses but still need occasional regulation.

2. Incorporate a Variety of Activities

Include activities targeting different sensory systems:

• Proprioceptive Input (Body Awareness): Bear crawls, pushing or pulling objects, and yoga poses.
• Vestibular Input (Movement): Swinging, rocking chairs, or trampoline jumping.
• Tactile Input (Touch): Playing with slime, sand, or textured toys.
• Oral Motor Input (Mouth Sensations): Drinking through a straw, chewing crunchy foods, or blowing bubbles.
• Auditory Input (Hearing): Listening to calming music or noise-canceling headphones.

3. Build a Schedule

Structure activities throughout the day to help your child stay regulated. Sensory activities should occur:

• Morning: To start the day calmly.
• Midday: To recharge focus during transitions.
• Evening: To promote relaxation before bed.

4. Track and Adjust Activities

Monitor your child’s responses and make adjustments as needed. Note whether they feel overstimulated or need more input. Keep an activity log to track patterns and refine their sensory diet.

5. Collaborate with Professionals

Consult occupational therapists for guidance. They can assess your child’s needs and recommend specific activities or tools, such as weighted blankets or fidget toys.

At OrbRom Center, we offer occupational therapy and speech therapy to help children develop regulation strategies and improve their sensory processing skills.