Sensory circuits are a form of sensory integration intervention that involves a sequence of physical activities that are designed to alert, organise, and calm the child.
The sensory circuit aims to facilitate sensory processing to help children regulate and organise their senses in order to achieve the “just right” or optimum level of alertness required for effective learning.
The circuit should be an active, physical, and fun activity that children enjoy doing.
Here are some examples of basic sensory circuits:
- Alerting activities: These activities are designed to increase the child’s alertness and attention. Some examples of alerting activities include:
- Bouncing on a trampoline
- Spinning in a chair
- Jumping jacks
- Tapping on a drum
- Organising activities: These activities are designed to help the child organise their senses and focus their attention. Some examples of organising activities include:
- Walking on a balance beam
- Crawling through a tunnel
- Playing with a ball of clay
- Listening to music
- Calming activities: These activities are designed to help the child relax and calm down. Some examples of calming activities include:
- Reading a book
- Listening to nature sounds
- Taking a warm bath
- Stretching
Sensory circuits can be used in a variety of settings with children of all ages.