Regulating your child’s worries and anxieties this summer.

Summer Holidays can bring up a lot of variation, change in routine, change in environment, last minute changes to plans and so much more! With the added unpredictability of Covid-19 summer could be challenging for some children and families.

Supporting your child to regulate their sensory needs throughout the summer by arranging fun activities for them will benefit not only your child but everyone! Get the whole family involved!

The hidden benefit to all of these activities is that it provides proprioceptive input. Proprioception refers to the messages our joints and muscles send to the brain to help coordinate movement.  Sensory receptors in every muscle, tendon and ligament provide our brains with important information about the dynamics of the world around us, including where our body or parts of our body are in space at any given time and how much force or pressure our bodies need to use.

I have developed this list of activities for you which all in some way put pressure on muscles/joints and deep pressure (tactile stimulation) to support mapping their body more deeply and more quickly as well as calm and regulate them when they feel worried, anxious or upset. Do your best to engage in activities regularly or when you notice small signs of anxiety occurring to try and prevent a meltdown.

• Pile on - Have your child lie down and pile on cushions or people, alternate people and play.
• Therapy ball games - two people back to back with ball, running to bottom of garden and back or with arms out straight - great for co-operation and communication through team work aswell!
• Rolling - Either using therapy ball and steam roller over each other or just roll across the floor, with arms above head. 
• Commando crawls- under heavy blankets would be great, if not furniture, tables etc. 
• Crashing - Get a load of blankets, cushions and any soft furnishings from him to jump and crash onto. 
• Carry heavy items- Maybe a challenge to get round obstacle course carrying carrier bags with tins in or one heavy item he has to push and pull around with him, Can even use a back pack to carry - fill it with heavy items to give him pressure whilst out walking. 
• Tug of war game
• Animal Walks – crab, bear, flamingo, duck, snake- great fun to make your own up as well!
• Swimming
• Hanging - If there is equipment in garden, hanging upside down or whilst holding with hands would be great. 
• Create playdoh masterpieces.
• Jumping on a trampoline.

These activities can be done in the back garden, park, beach or even in the house on a rainy summers day!

The most important thing is to make any of these activities fun for your child….but also, you enjoy it also! Join in, have fun, laugh and enjoy!

Enjoy your summer.

Kate x