By now we’ve all hopefully been experimenting with providing our Special Needs children with sensory experiences. Have you been able to facilitate learning activities with various sensory focusses, i.e. visual, auditory, tactile, taste, hear and movement? Keep up the great work because every effort at sensory exploration for the special needs child is a step in the right direction.
Let’s have a look at how physical development can be incorporated during focussed sensory play. Position your child in the following postures while he/she takes part in activities…
Child in a wheelchair:
Sit in the wheelchair at a table
Sit on the floor with legs straight
Lie on his/her stomach over a wedge cushion with arms pointing to the floor in front
Standing frame
Physically mobile child:
Sit on a chair with feet flat on the floor (legs bent 90̊ )
Sit on the floor with legs straight
Stand at a table
By doing this you are giving your child the opportunity to stretch his/her muscles and increase physical stamina whilst he/she is having fun. You may notice that some positions are challenging for your child. Try to distract your child with a highly motivating activity and make your participation in the playing extra interesting and fun.