Sensory Processing Disorder Activities — Home Ideas for Children
Sensory processing disorder is not one experience. It is a pattern across sensory systems — and that pattern is different for every child. A child can be hypersensitive (avoiding) in one system and hyposensitive (seeking) in another, at the same time. Treating all SPD with the same activities is a common mistake that makes things worse, not better.
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), developed by Jean Ayres (1972), is the primary evidence-based OT intervention for SPD. The STAR Institute for Sensory Processing and the American Occupational Therapy Association both recognise ASI as evidence-supported. Home activities based on ASI principles are a meaningful complement to clinic-based OT. For specific OT exercises alongside these sensory activities, see the occupational therapy activities guide .
A sensory diet — the term from Patricia Wilbarger (1995) — is a proactive schedule of sensory activities across the day to maintain regulation, rather than reacting to dysregulation after it happens. Proactive sensory management reduces the intensity and frequency of meltdowns and sensory-driven behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities help children with sensory processing disorder at home?
Activities that help children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) at home include: tactile activities such as playdough pressing, a dry sensory bin with rice or lentils, and finger painting on textured surfaces (for sensory seekers); vestibular activities such as slow swinging, rocking in a chair, or spinning in a controlled way; proprioceptive heavy-work activities such as carrying a weighted backpack, wheelbarrow walking, and wall push-ups (regulating for most SPD profiles); auditory activities such as sound-matching games and rhythm play; and visual activities such as bubble tubes and light table play. The right activity depends on whether the child is sensory seeking or sensory avoiding in each system — these require different approaches.
What is sensory processing disorder and how does it affect children?
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition where the brain has difficulty receiving and responding to sensory information. It affects approximately 1 in 6 children to some degree (STAR Institute for Sensory Processing). Children with SPD may be hypersensitive (over-responding to input — distressed by ordinary sounds, light touch, or certain textures) or hyposensitive (under-responding — seeking intense sensory input to register the same signal). SPD occurs independently of autism but is also present in approximately 90% of autistic individuals (PMC, 2023). A formal OT sensory assessment — using tools such as the Sensory Profile 2 (Winnie Dunn) or the Sensory Processing Measure — identifies specific patterns across sensory systems.
What is the difference between sensory seeking and sensory avoiding in SPD?
Sensory seeking (hyposensitivity) occurs when a child's nervous system requires more intense input to register a sensory signal — they spin, crash, seek tight pressure, chew on objects, or appear unaffected by pain. Sensory avoiding (hypersensitivity) occurs when the nervous system registers input more intensely than typical — the child is distressed by ordinary sounds, light touch, bright lights, or strong smells. Many children show both patterns across different sensory systems simultaneously — seeking in one system (proprioceptive) while avoiding in another (auditory or tactile). Activities must be chosen based on the child's specific profile in each system, not a general 'sensory activities' list.
What is a sensory diet and how do I build one for my child?
A sensory diet is a personalised schedule of sensory activities distributed across the day to maintain nervous system regulation. The concept was developed by occupational therapist Patricia Wilbarger in 1995, building on Jean Ayres' Sensory Integration Theory (1972). A basic sensory diet structure for a child with SPD: a proprioceptive heavy-work activity in the morning (carrying books, wall push-ups, 5 minutes of trampolining) to set regulation for the day; a brief movement break mid-morning; a calming tactile or proprioceptive activity after school or nursery before any demands; and a calming sensory routine before bed. Activities are matched to the child's specific sensory profile — not a standard template. An occupational therapist with sensory integration training can design a formal sensory diet; the structure above is a starting framework for home.
What tactile activities work for children who avoid touch?
For children with tactile hypersensitivity who avoid touch, activities should begin at the edge of the child's current comfort zone and expand tolerance gradually. Approaches that work: using tools (a spoon, a roller, a sponge) before direct hand contact; painting inside a zip-lock bag filled with paint — the child moves the paint around through the plastic without skin contact; applying deep pressure rather than light touch (firm is typically better tolerated than light for tactile avoiders); dry textures (smooth rice, dried pasta) before wet (water, paint); and always following the child's signals — withdrawal is communication, not refusal.
Are sensory processing disorder activities different from autism sensory activities?
The underlying activities are often similar because the sensory systems targeted are the same. The difference is in the framing and population. Children with SPD as a standalone diagnosis (without an autism diagnosis) may have different co-occurring needs and different family contexts. SPD activities are typically framed around regulation and daily function rather than developmental domain support. For autistic children with sensory differences, activities are usually integrated into a broader developmental support plan addressing communication, social, motor, and self-care goals alongside sensory regulation. GrowthCopter's assessment captures sensory processing as one of 14 developmental domains and generates activities appropriate to the child's specific autism profile.
How does Ayres Sensory Integration therapy work and can I do it at home?
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), developed by Jean Ayres in the 1970s, is an evidence-based occupational therapy intervention delivered by a trained OT in a specialist clinic — typically using specific equipment such as platform swings, bolster swings, scooter boards, and climbing equipment to provide controlled, therapeutic sensory input. Formal ASI cannot be replicated at home without the equipment and clinical training. However, the underlying principles — providing specific sensory input through purposeful activity, at the right intensity and duration, to promote neural organisation — can be applied at home through the sensory diet activities described above. Home activities based on ASI principles are a meaningful complement to clinic-based therapy, not a replacement.
Is there an app that recommends SPD activities matched to my child's specific sensory pattern?
Yes. GrowthCopter's sensory processing assessment identifies whether your child predominantly seeks or avoids input across different sensory systems, and generates daily activities matched to that specific profile. Seeking and avoiding profiles need opposite interventions; an activity that regulates a sensory seeker will overwhelm an avoider. GrowthCopter's approach ensures the activities match your child's actual sensory pattern rather than a generic list.