By: Christine Hemelians, MS OTR/L
Below listed are the various activities for infants and toddlers broken down into the different sensory systems.
Proprioceptive system: (the body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location in space)
| Infants: | Toddlers: |
| Graded tummy time on caregiver’s chest (airplane rides) | Running, jumping, hopping, skipping, climbing |
| Lotion massage and joint compression | Deep pressure massage/ joint compressions |
| Side-rolling with use of toys | Rough house play/ wrestling |
| Encourage hands to feet | Playdough (rolling/ pressing) |
| Bounding on therapy ball/ peanut ball while holding child | Simon says game (incorporate big body movements) |
| Babywearing (wraps, structured carriers) | Children’s yoga poses |
| Squeezing squishy balls | Tug-of-war (pushing/ pulling activities) |
| Pushing ball | Animal walks (crab walks, bear crawls, kangaroo hops, etc.) |
| Bicycle kicks | Scooping/ digging/ carrying buckets |
| Pulling ribbons/ scarves from container or tissue box | Wall pushes |
| Swaddle | Drumming activities |
| Pediatric bikes/ tricycles | |
| Jumping jacks/ jump rope |
Vestibular: (the sensory system involved with providing our brain with information regarding motion, head position, and spatial orientation)
| Infants: | Toddlers: |
| Visual tracking (watching moving objects while on tummy or on their back) | Practice going up and down stairs |
| Reach and roll | Beach towel/ blanket rides (sit on towel and have adult/ older child pull towel/ blanket |
| Follow the noise (use a rattle or musical object to engage and follow sound) | Laundry basket rides |
| Bouncing on therapy ball while holding onto baby | One-footed balance |
| Airplane rides/ knee rides | Simple ball skill games (catch a rolling ball, kick a stationary ball, etc) |
| Rocking chairs | |
| Place objects out of reach and cross to either side of the body (i.e. place desired object on R side and encourage reaching to the L side, or vice versa | Swings |
| Stroller rides | Slide |
| Upside down play | Log rolls |
| Infant swings (i.e. Mamaroo) | Freeze dance |
| Trampoline |
Auditory: (ability to process and interpret sound/ noise)
Infants/ Toddlers:
- Egg shakers
- Musical instruments/ music (tempos/ rhythm)
- White noise or sound machines
- Wind chimes
- Reading out loud and narrating your day
- Singing to child
- Exposure to loud sounds (i.e. blow-dryer, vacuum, blender, gardeners, etc.)
Visual: (ability to process color, light level, contrast, and other visual stimuli in the environment)
Infants/ Toddlers:
- Hanging mobiles
- Black and white visual cards
- Glow sticks/ flashlight play
- Peek-a-boo
- Hide and seek with toys (i.e. hide under cloth)
- Puppets
- Shape sorting
- Tracking bubbles and balloons
- Sensory bottles
Taste:
| Infants: | Toddlers: |
| Mesh/ silicone teethers | Use mini spoon for trying new foods |
| Exposure to flavors and textures (explore seasonings) | Toothpicks and cookie cutters |
| Dip teething toys in foods, sauces, or condiments | Involve child in kitchen and food prep (model taste testing while cooking; involve food play) |
| Food painting | |
| Explore toothpaste flavors |
Tactile: (ability to process touch and different textures)
| Infants: | Toddlers: |
| Water play | Finger painting |
| Texture boards/ exploring fabrics | Playdough |
| Texture/ poke-a-dot books | Sensory bins (rice/ grain, water beads, lentils, grass/ dirt, etc.) |
| Sensory stretchy strings | Shaving cream |
| Food play | Water play |
| Rolling/ crawling/ walking on different textures (i.e. sand, grass, etc.) | |
| Sensory bins with edible/ safe materials | |
| Infant safe paint |
