Beach Time Fun for the "Out of Sync" Child
The “out of sync” child may appear
• Over sensitive to sensation such as touch, movement, sight, or sound.
• Under responsive to touch, movement, sight, or sound.
• Fidgety.
• Have poor body awareness.
• Is very emotional, easily frustrated.
• Resistive to change, anything new such as food, scenes, clothes, or games.
• Immature gross motor skills (running, jumping) and fine motor skills (drawing, cutting).
Activities to Help Sensory Processing A Day at the Beach
• Put shovels, buckets, water bottle, and towel into knapsack or wagon and have child carry sack or pull wagon.
• Adults swing child carefully in big beach sheet as if it were a hammock.
• Run to the water.
• Swim, splash, and jump in the water.
• Fill buckets with water and sand and carry with both hands.
• Use fingers to make shapes and letters in the sand.
• Bury each other in the sand and let the kids use their muscles to pull themselves out.
• Fly kites, have your children hold on with both hands.
• Play caterpillar in a cocoon and wrap child in a blanket or beach towel for comfort and relaxation.
• Take a long walk along the shore to make foot prints in the sand and look for shells.
(adapted from M. A. Kranowitz C, (2003) “The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun”. NY:Berkley Publ. Grp.)
