How A Sensory Gym Can Help Your Child With Autism

How A Sensory Gym Can Help Your Child With Autism

Understanding Autism Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect social, behavioral, and communicative abilities.

Children with Autism, may struggle navigating unfamiliar environments because of all the sensory input they may react negatively to.

Regular guidance on handling sensory processing issues is necessary to help them adapt and selfsoothe.

Sensory Gyms are a safe and enjoyable way to get the sensory input they need.

Sensory issues faced by children with Autism

Many children with Autism have difficulty processing sensory information – known as a sensory processing issues.

These are broadly of two types: 1. Hypersensitivity – children are overstimulated by various sensations and thus, actively avoid them 2. Hyposensitivity – children are under-stimulated by various sensations and thus, actively seek them out Sensory issues can lead to behavioral issues like temper tantrums, kicking, fighting, fleeing situations where they feel overwhelmed, etc.

How a Sensory Gym can help your child with ASD

A Sensory Gym is a room fully dedicated to sensory play of various kinds. It contains various kinds of toys and equipment to provide the requisite sensory input.

Play activities directed by adults in a sensory room can: ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔

improve gross and fine motor skills improve audio-visual processing help your child learn self-regulatory activities boost their concentration and productivity

Setting up a Sensory Gym at home

1. Have a clear understanding of your child’s sensory processing abilities 2. Choose a range of items to provide different sensory inputs Weighted toys,swings, trampolines, spin discs, balance beams, steppers, ropes, putty, sandboxes, ball pools, etc 3. Optimize the size of the gym according to the requirements of your child 4. Involve your child’s therapist in setting up the gym, so that the sensory processing assistance at home, and at the therapy center are in sync 5. Organize games for your child where you either direct the activities or play an active part in them 6. Keep the focus on having fun to ensure that your child keeps coming back willingly

Conclusion

A Sensory Gym, can be an extremely helpful way to guide your child through sensory processing issues.

It’s a great way for your child to have fun safely, while also making it easier to look after them for the remainder of the day.

Consider setting aside a room at home, based on guidance from your child’s therapist.

Thank you.