Activities to build interoception awareness this summer

Summer holidays are a great time to focus on building interoception awareness in a fun and engaging way. These activities can help all children, including neurodivergent children and those with trauma histories connect with their internal sensations and improve their ability to recognize and regulate emotions.

Outdoor Adventures:
Outdoor activities are perfect for enhancing interoception. During nature walks, encourage your child to focus on how their body feels. Ask them to notice the warmth of the sun, the sensation of grass under their feet, or their heartbeat after running. This not only connects them with their environment but also with their internal experiences. Take pauses during the walk to ask questions like, “How does the breeze feel on your skin?” or “Can you feel your heart beating faster after that run?”

Water Play:
Water play is another excellent way to support interoception. The sensation of water can help children become more aware of their body’s signals. Whether it’s swimming, playing with a sprinkler, or just splashing in a pool, encourage them to notice the temperature, pressure, and sensation of water on their skin. Activities like floating can help them feel the gentle pressure of water supporting their body, enhancing their awareness of physical sensations.

Mindful Eating:
Introduce mindful eating practices during meals. Encourage your child to pay attention to hunger and fullness cues, the taste and texture of food, and how their body feels before and after eating. This helps them develop a better connection with their body’s signals related to hunger and satiety. You can make this fun by creating a “taste test” game, where they describe the flavours and textures of different foods.

Sensory Art Activities:
Engage in sensory art activities that stimulate different senses and promote interoception. Activities like finger painting, playing with clay, or making sensory bottles can help children focus on the sensations in their hands and fingers. Ask them to describe what they feel, see, and hear during these activities.

Tips for Parents:

Create a Sensory Diary:
Keep a sensory diary where your child can track how different activities make them feel. This can help them identify patterns and become more aware of their body’s responses. Encourage them to draw or write about their experiences, noting any changes in their internal sensations.

Use Visual Aids:
Visual aids can be very helpful in teaching children about interoception. Use charts, pictures, or apps that help them articulate their internal experiences. A simple emotions chart with faces representing different feelings can help them identify and communicate what they’re experiencing internally.

Encourage Body Awareness:
Incorporate activities that promote body awareness, such as yoga or stretching exercises. Simple yoga poses, like child’s pose, cat-cow, and tree pose, can help children become more aware of their breath and body movements. Stretching can also help them notice the tension and relaxation in their muscles.

Interactive Games:
Play interactive games that focus on body awareness and interoception. Games like “Simon Says” can be modified to include interoception cues, such as “Simon says, notice your heartbeat” or “Simon says, feel your stomach moving as you breathe.”

By incorporating interoception-focused activities into summer fun, parents can help their children build crucial awareness of their internal states in an enjoyable way. These activities not only support interoception but also promote a deeper connection with their emotions and physical well-being. Making interoception a part of your child's summer activities can lead to lasting benefits in their ability to recognize and regulate their emotions.

Now let's just hope for some sunshine! 

Enjoy Kate xx