Sensory Processing Disorder: Tools for Movement/Vestibular Stimuli

This is part 5 of my Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Tools of the trade series. This post HERE is the one that started it all, with a huge summary of what SPD is and our struggles with it with Froot Loop. Keep reading for some tools and toys that have helped us on our SPD journey.

In a lot of ways, the vestibular sense is the most integral sense. It is developed in the womb and many of the other senses depend on this one. 

The vestibular system contributes to our balance and our sense of where our body is in space. It provides the most input about movement in the body, and works with the auditory and visual system to give accurate information to the brain about the direction the body is moving.

Like the other senses, there are several red flags that indicate a problem. These include: 

Either a strong aversion to or a strong craving for activities such as swings, slides, bikes, climbing, jumping, falling, etc., either being fearless or extremely fearful, clutziness, either becoming dizzy super easily or not at all, not being able to find things, even right in front of them, excessive rocking/spinning/tilting/etc., extreme dislike of having their head tilted back, preferring to be sedentary or even lying down or alternatively, being unable to sit still, or difficulty with reading/writing/math.

We see a lot of this with Froot Loop. He cannot sit still and he loves to be active. He loves swinging and sliding and climbing and he just has to be moving all the time.

Some of the tools we have found helpful here are listed below. 

We sort of discovered the use of a yoga ball by accident. He bounces off of it and rolls on it. He has a hard time sitting on it because it's so big, but it's really funny watching him play with it and on it.

My first experience with a swing chair was in the Special Education room at the school I subbed for. There was a child with extreme autism there who just LOVED to be in this swing. He had pretty bad vestibular and proprioceptive needs and this was a way to keep him happy. I'm making one for the boys and plan on hanging it in the living room.

This Hopper Ball is a much smaller version of the yoga ball and has a handle for small hands to hold on to. This is a favorite toy in our house and both of the boys bounce around the house and the yard on it.

A Mini Trampoline is a fantastic way for the boys to get out their extra energy. Froot Loop loves loves loves this thing and he's on it every day, multiple times a day. It definitely satisfies his craving for movement and it wipes him out too! 

Gramma and Grammpa gave us this fun Spin n Saucer. Like the other tools, this gives Froot Loop his movement. It's also wonderful for gross motor skills. It's pretty annoying though, so it stays outside. 

One of my friends who is a parent of a child with autism recommended this fun Inflatable wobble cusion to help with the constant fidgeting. I'm hoping it will make homework time and any time he needs to just sit still and concentrate for a few minutes easier. I'll let you know!

We also have a large swingset in the backyard that has swings, a slide, a climbing wall, and a swinging disc rope so he can get multiple movement inputs. The kid just needs to move! 

That wraps up part 5! There's so many tools for vestibular SPD. Several have helped us. What has helped you?   

For part one (auditory): click HERE

For part two (visual): click HERE

For part three (tactile): click HERE

For part four (smell): click HERE

For part six (Proprioception/Body Awareness): click HERE

For the introduction/overview of SPD: click HERE