A Sensory Integration Approach to Helping Hyperactive Kids

Okay so let's get back to my son's sensory profile.  If you have a child like mine who is under responsive to some stimuli and overcompensates with frenetic movement and bouncing into people and things what can you do?  I am going to give you some ideas for sensory integration activities which have greatly helped my son over the years to be calmer, become more attentive, and be able to process information more successfully.

• Swimming or Bathing: My son loves the water and I will tell you why. Being immersed in water gives us more awareness of our bodies in space. For my son, this feeling he gets while being submerged in water is calming. There are times if he is upset that he will go straight to the bath tub to soak and soothe his nerves.

• Pushing or Pulling Activities: The deep joint pressure caused by pushing or pulling can get your child that proprioceptive feedback they crave. Some activities which involve pushing or pulling can be to pull a wagon, fill up a suitcase with heavy items and have your child pull, play tug of war, push a vacuum cleaner, or do animal walks like be a crab or bear.

• Buy a Mini-Trampoline: This was probably one of the best purchases I have ever made. If you have a kid who is craving movement, a trampoline will help a lot! Ours is small enough for two people to jump but low to the ground so there is less risk of injury than for a large backyard trampoline. I bought mine at the sporting goods store. If my son has excess energy I send him to his trampoline where he can jump it out.

• Get a big therapy or exercise ball: This was another purchase I will never regret. You have probably seen them at the gym. They are big rubber balls that you can use to help you to do sit-ups. But in the case of your child, you can use it to roll him or her on their tummy, or to bounce them, or even to give them calming pressure to their body by rolling the ball over their back. The balls come in different sizes and you can find them in your sporting goods store or on-line. Here is such a store which carries many items you can use for sensory integration.

• Create a crash pad: If your child wants to purposefully bang and bump into things then he is telling you that he needs this type of sensory input. Give it to him by making a safe place to crash. You can put an exercise mat on the floor and cover it with pillows or you can buy several beanbag chairs. My son liked to be tossed over and over into his crash pad of pillows when he was small enough for us to lift him. Use your imagination to create a place where your child can bang and crash to his or her content.

I hope that these ideas will be of use to some of you out there.  I know firsthand how difficult it can be to parent a child who is constantly in motion.  These sensory integration techniques should help your child to become calmer and happier.  If you have more ideas for activities to help with hyperactivity and sensory integration issues please share them here.  You will undoubtedly help others in the process.