The great outdoors is a fantastic sensory playground where muscles can move and sensations can sing. In order to make it more fun, we recommend incorporating seasonal sensory activities to engage your kids and encourage more learning through play. Our OTs are sharing some of their favorite outdoor sensory activities for the spring and summer months.
Create an Outdoor Obstacle Course
There are endless obstacle course variations you can create that cater to your child’s skills, interests and therapy goals. Use Spot Markers to mark the path and a Rockin’ Rocker Board for them to balance on and climb over. You can time them for an extra challenge! Some children may need a little hand-holding until they feel secure enough to venture the course alone. Be sure to change it up and take it indoors when you're done to keep the equipment clean and ready for the next round of sensory fun.
Wheel Around
Grab a scooter, tricycle, or bicycle and find your favorite park, path or quiet side street for a wheel of a time. Mobility tools are fantastic for developing core strength, lower extremity control, teaching directional skills and balance training. You can find many adapted bicycles and ride-on toys too, to fit all your kids’ needs. The Mobo Mobito bike is a wonderful tool for kids who need additional support while bike riding. Make sure to monitor your kids as they wheel around.
Water Therapy
Water is not only engaging but can also provide sensory integration and motor planning opportunities. Turn on the hose, pull out a water table or help with watering plants. Encourage your child to wash a car or hose down the driveway, if appropriate. The Stick ‘N Twist Suction Shapes are a great toy to use in the water as kids stick them to the sides of a pool or water table and try to pull them off again. Don’t forget to go for a swim if possible!
Heavy Outdoor Work
Though age-dependent, heavy yard work is terrific for people with sensory processing disorders. Mowing the lawn (pretend mowing is fine), raking leaves, watering plants, taking out the garbage and sweeping are all great outdoor activities. When done under proper supervision and with safe practices, these activities can provide the heavy work kids’ bodies may crave. You can play catch in the backyard with Weighted Textured Balls for an interactive game.
Find a Forest
Spring is an excellent time for a family hike. Find a nearby park, green space, or forest to get your family moving, walking, skipping, and bonding. Wear the Denim Weighted Baseball Cap for calming sun protection, and compression clothing to help self-regulate during the outing. While you're out, encourage your kids to notice the sights, sounds, and smells. Discuss what you saw and experienced when you’re home.
Play Ball
Not a day should go by without a bit of hand-eye or eye-foot coordination. Grab Hand Eye Coordination Scarves or a Therapy Ball and get outside for your favorite lawn game. Don't be afraid to get a bit creative. You can use Spot Markers for bases and play a game of kickball. Race each other across the lawn on Hopper Balls. Encouragement is key and persistence improves skills.
Choose your favorite activities or try them all and just get outside! Have fun playing outdoors and exploring all the sensory activitiesthe season has to offer.
Want more activity ideas? Check out our collection of outdoor play tools.
This post was originally posted on 05/12/2022 by Fun and Function's Therapist Team. It was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness on 08/28/2023.
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