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Teaching children to be in charge of their sensory needs
In addition
to planned interventions and strategies that parents and teachers
utilize (Sensory Diet, Social Stories, Visual Supports etc.) to support
children with sensory processing challenges, it is also important
that children learn that they can be in charge of their sensory needs
too. With guidance from parents and teachers, children can learn
about the sensory systems and how they impact their behavior at home
and school. They can learn sensory strategies that can help them
regulate their behaviors so they can participate more successfully.
One
program that has been developed specifically to help children be
in charge
of their sensory needs is How Does Your Engine Run? Two occupational therapists,
Mary Sue Williams and Sherry Shellenberger, developed this program to help
professionals and parents teach children these skills. Their book,
How Does Your Engine Run?
The Alert Program for Self-Regulation, presents a comprehensive program designed
to help children develop insight into their own sensory systems or “engines.” The
book includes an overview of the goals of the program, explanations of the
theories incorporated in the program components and a step-by-step guide for
implementation
of the program itself. Information is also given on how to adapt the program
across different ages and levels of functioning.
The
Alert Program focuses on helping children understand that their
bodies
have different levels of alertness (arousal) which can impact their
ability
to participate
in activities at home and school. Using the analogy of a car engine to illustrate
the idea of engine levels, children begin to associate their body engines
as being “low”, “high” or “just right.” Williams
and Shellenberger have organized the program into three stages of Mile Markers
to move through as the child is taught to identify engine speeds, change
engine speeds when needed and finally regulate their own engine speeds
in ways that
are appropriate to the situations they are in. As you move through the mile
markers, sensory strategies are taught so the child can utilize them
to change their level
of alertness. The sensory strategies include, put something in your mouth,
move, touch, look and listen (see chart below). Several activities
and useful worksheets
are also included in their book. A more recent companion publication, Take
Five! Staying Alert at Home and School, offers an extensive list
of strategies and
activities for self-regulation.
CHANGING HOW ALERT YOU FEEL
| Put something in your mouth |
eat hard candy eat crunchy food: pretzels, popcorn,
nuts, apples
drink from a straw
take slow deep breaths |
| Move |
do isometrics do an errand jump up and down or try to jump a
door frame
use a therapy ball |
| Touch |
try holding and ÒfidgetingÓ with a Koosh Ball,ª paper
clips etc. take a cool shower or a warm bath
pet or play with an animal |
| Look |
watch fish in an aquarium read a book or a magazine put bright
lights on in room if you are in low speed dim lights if you are
in high speed |
| Listen |
listen to classical type music (even, slow
beat) use a personal cassette player (Walkmanª) avoid loud, noisy
places if you are in high speed |
From: Williams, M. S. & Shellenberger, S. (1996) “How Does
Your Engine Run?” A leader’s guide to the alert program
for self-regulation. Albuquerque, NM: Therapy Works www.alertprogram.com
In addition to the works of Williams and Shellenberger,
there are several childrenÕs books about the sensory systems and self-regulation.
These books can be used with individual or groups of children to help
them understand sensory processing, how it can impact their behavior
and what they can do about it. Kari Dunn Buron has recently written
two books, ÒWhen My Autism Gets Too Big: A Relaxation Book for Children
with Autism Spectrum DisordersÓ and Ò The Incredible 5-Point ScaleÓ specifically
geared towards helping children understand and be in control of their
behavior. The list below includes other books written to explain how
sensation can impact our actions and how we can use this knowledge
to help keep the engines running just right.
- The Hidden Senses: Your Muscle Sense by Jane Koomar
and Barbara Friedman
- The Hidden Senses: Your Balance Sense by Jane Koomar
and Barbara Friedman
- Cool Cats, Calm Kids: Relaxation and Stress Management
for Young People, by Mary Williams
- A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation
Book, by Lori Lite
- Putting on the Brakes: A Young People’s
Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
by Patricia Quinn and
Judith Stern
- Sit Still! by Nancy Carlson
- The Goodenoughs Get in Sync by Carol Stock Kranowitz
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