April 6 Sensory Tip- What Is s Sensory Diet

When a child has symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) the parents are often referred to an Occupational Therapist trained to help such a child. Parents are in the best position to observe and note their child’s behavior. Therefore, they should keep a daily journal of their child’s reactions as this will be of great value for the Occupational Therapist.

Each child is different and has different needs that vary during the day. If the Occupational Therapist determines that a Sensory Diet (coined by OT Patricia Wilbarger) would benefit your child, it will be carefully designed to meet his particular needs. Then you will implement these personalized activities or accommodations at home varying them and adjusting them to meet the sensory needs of your child on that particular day or even hour!

Some examples of activities in a Sensory Diet for smell/taste/oral comforts could be:

*Sniff spices and herbs

*Explore tastes: sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter

*Explore textures: crunchy, creamy, chewy, lumpy

*Use age appropriate “chewy”

 Eh! Our chewable Kid Companions Chewelry are an ingredient in the Sensory Diets! These Canadian made chewies are safe to place in mouth (no toxic materials, no breakaway pieces). The Kid Companions have a CPSIA compliance certificate that proves their safety. But best of all they have pleasurable textures, hard and rubbery to satisfy the urge to chew or bite.

Does your child find comfort in his Sensory Diet?

Kid Companions Testimonials – Word of Mouth Worth Its Weight in Gold

"ZACH was getting into difficulty at school because he always had something in his mouth - erasers, paper etc. We were always telling him "No! Stop fidgeting". Then I realised that Zach has a sensory need - so our next task was finding a sensory chewing tool to satisfy that need while being socially acceptable at school.

Just had to write and tell you a huge THANK YOU!

 

When I found Kid Companions! I was thrilled!!

Not only did the chewy fidget  help him but it was something that was still "cool" for a boy to wear. Zach was beyond excited to wear his "fidget" to school and it is making a big difference.

 Thank you for helping us say "Yes! you can fidget with Kid Companions!  "
Jodi Hargreaves

Do you have a story to tell about your use of Kid Companions?

Mar 25 Sensory Tip- They Are Too Itchy!

"They Are TOO Itchy!"is an exasperated statement I hear often
 from my very sensitive grandchild.

Every morning when we are all hurrying to get to the bus stop on time, one of my grandchildren has her ‘does not feel good, itchy, sock meltdown’.

Her thoughtful dad showed her how to warm her socks, how to crinkle them to remove all the stiffness, how to carefully fit them to her tiny feet. Unfortunately, there must be a missing component to his lesson because we hear more often than not: “NO Grandma! They do not feel good!’

My grandchild has a lot of company, for it is thought that more than 1 in 150 children have sensory needs.

Seamless Socks

Today I read from The Trenches Of Motherhood: Bug Off! By Trench Mommy. She reviewed SmartKnitKIDS® patented seamless socks and these could probably be the answer to our sensitive feet dilemma. Trench Mommy says her children’s feet cushioned in SmartKnitKids socks were comfy, cozy, and “bug” free!

Clothing for the Extra-sensitive Child

The diplomat that I have learned to become has also found another company, Soft Clothing for Children, that offers clothing items for extra-sensitive children who cannot tolerate the textures and feel of many of the clothes on the market.

Soft Clothing for Children uses flat seaming and seamless construction for extra comfort. The clothes are made in 100% of the softest combed cotton and a specially developed Soft Sensory Blends. Wide collars, encased elastic waistbands, printed labels (tagless) are a few of the perks you will find in this line of Special Needs clothing.

So, do not wait 5 minutes before the bus to defuse one more meltdown due to itchy clothes. Search for companies that cater to the needs of sensitve children in mind, including those with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and tactile defensiveness/sensitivity.

What brand of clothing have you found for your sensitive child?