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Day 3: Sensory Lifestyle Challenge

 

DAY 3 CHALLENGE: OUTDOORS ADVENTURE

Today we are returning to the outdoors to get our body moving. Getting outside provides endless opportunities for exploration, moving your body and getting the needed fresh air.

Spending time outside is extremely important for EVERYONE.

Why play outside?

Playing outside encourages your body to move and touch various textures. It provides an opportunity for your ‘body senses’ (Proprioceptive, Vestibular & Tactile senses) to be stimulated. These senses build a foundation for many motor skills. They help with your child’s ability to develop body awareness which is essential to be able to move appropriately without bumping into their surrounding or falling off a chair, it helps them learn new motor skills such as riding a bike or playing baseball. These senses also help with the development of fine motor skills needed for skills such as writing, dressing or eating. All of these skills are not only essential in being successful in school but also in everyday tasks.

Today I challenge you to spend an hour outside. It can be spent anywhere you want.

You can:

  • Go for a hike,
  • Go to a beach,
  • Go for a bike ride,
  • Explore the nearby park, or
  • Walk around the block

You will be surprised how many benefits you can get from simply walking around the block. So don’t worry about where you go, as long as it’s out in the fresh air.

Remember NOT to rush your kids. Let them explore their surroundings. It’s about the journey and not the destination.

Things you may DO on your OUTDOOR ADVENTURE:

  • Find a stick and poke a hole in the ground,
  • Smell the flowers,
  • Explore pine cones, leaves or rocks,
  • Lift up rocks to see what bugs are hiding underneath,
  • Explore a cobweb,
  • Make shadows,
  • Blow a dandelion,
  • Splash around in puddles,
  • Climb a tree,
  • Watch ants hard at work,
  • Draw pictures in dirt,
  • Find things of your child’s favorite color,
  • Let them move their body through running, skipping, jumping, rolling down a hill,
  • Practice their balance while walking on a curb, a log or rocks

Exploring outdoors

 

Targeted Senses

 Skills Developed
Depending on your adventure you can have the opportunity to use ALL your SENSES

Large Body Movements: can work on core strengthening, upper body strengthening, gross motor skills, balance

Manipulation of small objects: can work on fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, hand strengthening, eye hand coordination, tactile perception

COLLECT & GATHER

While being outdoors I challenge your child to gather around 10 small items. We will incorporate them in tomorrow’s activity.

Some ideas for collection include:

  • Small sticks
  • Acorns
  • Pine cones
  • Small rocks
  • Leaves
  • Wood chips
  • Shells
  • Feathers

Happy exploring & gathering!

Nature Collection

 

Look for me in your inbox tomorrow!

~Urszula

Until then…happy playing!

Disclaimer: The activities in this email series are intended for sensory play. They are not a replacement for treatment of children with Sensory Processing Disorder, are not medical advice and should not be used in place of the care of a medical doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. These activities should be facilitated and supervised by an adult. All activities are to be performed at your own risk and in no event shall Sensory Lifestyle be liable for any damages.