In my post we discuss 5 easy games and activities to play with your Sensory Body Sock for Autism.
- An Autism Body Sock is a fun, stretchy sack made from Lycra.
- Your Sensory Seeker can climb inside the sock, covering the whole body.
- Your child can stretch into different positions, balance and explore !
- The resistance offers a calming feeling for those with or without Autism and for Sensory Processing Needs.
- The sock provides deep pressure and proprioceptive input.
- Used by both Occupational Therapists and parents, this is a versatile item you definitely need in your Sensory Tool Kit.
- Providing full body, deep pressure, massage and lots of fun.
- Lightweight, easy to fold and portable, your sock can travel with you anywhere!
DANCING, YOGA POSES OR OBSTACLE COURSES! THERE ARE LOTS OF FUN GAMES WITH THE BODY SOCK !
In Occupational Therapy the client engages in specific therapy treatment or activities with the body sock. In our post we show you how to use your body sock at home.
READ ON FOR 5 AWESOME BODY SOCK ACTIVITIES FOR AUTISM AND SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER!
At the end of todays post i have attached a free worksheet about being grateful and what you are thankful for today.
How to choose the right size Body Sock?
Make sure the body sock is the right length for your child. It should be as close as possible to your child’s height, but if anything maybe a little smaller to make the resistance greater.
Available on Amazon in various colours and with a size guide.
What activities can we do with our Autism Body Sock?
- A quiet space for calming
- The hamster pouch game
- Yoga poses/ exercises
- Flash light tag
- Heavy Work Activity
1. A QUIET SPACE FOR CALMING
The body sock can be used simply as a calming space for your child.
If they are triggered and feeling anxious or overwhelmed they can simply sit inside and take some time out.
Body socks usually have a zip or velcro opening for the head,so you don’t need to worry about your child suffocating.
They can very safely hide in the sock and have some quiet time.
The body sock acts as a sensory safe zone.
E### will quite often sit inside his sock after school. He says its relaxing and helps him when he feels tired.
He usually sits inside the body sock in the sensory space but sometimes he will sit in the lounge, kitchen or bedroom.
Time in the body sock is helpful after a demanding day at school, before bedtime for the wind down routine or before a transition if your child struggles with those.
2. THE HAMSTER POUCH GAME
What you need:
- Body Sock
- Cushions
- Cuddly Toys
This is a fun game which involves your child standing inside the sock and then filling it with as many cushions or soft toys, as possible.
It’s not only good fun but also provides a lot of sensory input.
E### had so much fun with this game. He zipped himself into the body sock and then I passed the cushions one by one until he looked like a giant statue.
The benefit of this activity, its fun, tiring and helps to develop motor skills. It’s also great for sensory input if your child seeks this.
3. YOGA POSES/ EXERCISES
The possibilities are endless with this body sock activity.
Pick a yoga pose or an exercise move and see if your child can execute it, while fully submerged inside the sock.
E### and i chose the “downward dog” yoga pose and a star jump exercise, for this activity.
We had lots of fun and were laughing together so much.
Studies have shown that yoga is particularly beneficial to children with Autism.
Check out this article from Autism Parenting Magazine:
In addition to the usual benefits, yoga has been proven to reduce anxiety, raise body awareness and improve mental health and mindfulness.
Yoga inside a body sock has multiple benefits, not only for the physical but also proprioceptive needs.
4. FLASH LIGHT TAG
What you need :
- Body Sock
- Torch
This activity involves your child climbing into the body sock until the whole body is covered.
Then simply shine the light from the torch, onto parts of the body sock and ask your child to “tag” where he/she can see the light.
You can move the light to different places on the body sock and also vary the speeds at which you move the light.
E### loved this game and he focused for quite a long time before he got bored. It also tired him too.
This activity develops awareness and reaction time and is also good fun.
5. HEAVY WORK ACTIVITY
What you need:
- Body Glove
- Books
Fill the body sock with some books, or other heavy items.
Ask your child to pull the books around using the body sock and their own body strength.
Heavy work tasks wake up the body and create more awareness of movement. Tasks like this help to make the child feel centred,calm and focused.
Heavy work tasks also provide pressure to the body which aids proprioception.
There are our 5 easy body sock games/activities for you to try at home.
For more ideas click to the Harkla website.
Click here for more recommendations on sensory products.
We hope you enjoyed reading this post and have found it useful.
Find attached a free printable for my readers.
English 