Early years: Vestibular differences

Strategies and approaches

• Staff recognise the positive impact that recognising and planning for children’s sensory differences and needs have on children’s learning and emotional well-being.
• Give the child daily opportunities to perform gentle stretches, rocking back and forth, slowly marching; consider Yoga activities.
• Provide opportunities to work in pairs with another child working on ‘rowing’ (sitting opposite, legs in a ‘V’ touching feet with partner, holding hands, gently ‘row’ forward and back), wheel barrows etc.
• A child may need support negotiating space, walking up the stairs and with balancing activities
• Vestibular activities can help to raise a child’s level of arousal or alertness. Activities may include jumping/ working against gravity, crunchy strong tasting foods, climbing running, movement breaks, moving furniture.

Links:

Sensory Resource

Sensory

A sensory checklist for the classroom and individuals can be found on the Autism and Social Communication Advisory Teams WIKI, under the resources for schools section (scroll along to sensory processing).

Sensory_Motor_Circuits.pdf

Sensory Circuits

More information regarding sensory circuits

Last updated 2 November 2021