Sensory & motor development
How to Create and Implement a Pediatric Sensory Diet
A sensory diet is a personalized plan of sensory activities spread through the day to help a child stay calm, alert and ready to learn. The term was coined by occupational therapist Patricia Wilbarger, and like a food diet, it works best when it is regular, balanced and tailored to the individual — ideally with input from an occupational therapist.
Last reviewed · Educational information only
Step 1: Observe your child's patterns
For a week, note when your child seems overwhelmed, sluggish, or just right, and what happened before. Look for patterns tied to time of day, places, noise, movement, hunger and tiredness. Our sensory processing guide explains the patterns to watch for.
Step 2: Choose activities for your child's profile
For proprioceptive seekers (crashing, jumping, chewing)
- Heavy work: carrying books, pushing a cart, moving chairs
- Animal walks, tug-of-war, climbing
- Crunchy snacks or water bottle with a straw
- Wall push-ups or chair push-ups before seated work
For auditory avoiders (sensitive to sound)
- Noise-reducing headphones in loud places
- Quiet-time breaks scheduled after noisy activities
- Warnings before predictable noises (blender, fire drills)
- Soft background sound such as calm music or white noise if it helps
For vestibular under-responsive children (seem sluggish)
- Swinging, especially in different directions
- Jumping on a trampoline (with safety netting and supervision)
- Spinning games — stop early and watch for signs of overstimulation
- Movement breaks before tasks that need attention
Step 3: Build a daily schedule
| Time | Example activity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Morning wake-up | Jumping, quick dance, crunchy breakfast | Alerting |
| Before school | Carry backpack, walk or scooter to school | Organizing heavy work |
| Mid-morning at school | Deliver items to the office, chair push-ups | Movement break |
| Lunch / recess | Climbing equipment, swings | Vestibular and proprioceptive |
| After school | Quiet snack in a calm space, then outdoor play | Decompress, then move |
| Homework | Wobble cushion, chewy snack | Sustained attention |
| Evening | Warm bath, deep pressure, dim lights | Calming for sleep |
Step 4: Review and adjust
- Keep activities short and frequent rather than long and rare
- Offer choices from a menu of approved activities
- Watch responses: flushed face, increased silliness or distress are signals to stop
- Share the plan with teachers — see classroom accommodations
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