Sensory processing disorders cause children to have a distorted sense of their surroundings, which often interrupts their learning and exploration of their world. Sensory integration is our brain’s ability to interpret and respond to sensory information, and those with sensory processing disorder often have difficulty integrating and responding to this information.

Using sensory integration products is one key way to help a child with sensory processing disorder make sense of the world; additionally, these products are ideal for children who do not have sensory processing disorder, and these items can help children reach important developmental milestones.

One such sensory integration product is a sensory board, and you can purchase one or make one yourself. Including your child in the creation of a sensory board is a fun activity, and you can really tailor the board to your child’s needs.

Purchase wooden or cork coasters from a craft supply store; you can assemble these squares into a larger board after they have been decorated. Using a glue gun, attach a particular object, one for each square. Consider the following sensory objects:

• Beads
• Buttons
• Felt
• Feathers
• Velcro
• Cotton
• Bubble wrap
• Sandpaper
• Wax paper
• Yarn
• Ribbon
• Squishy shapes
• Fake leaves or flowers
• Pipe cleaners
• Plastic letters or shapes
• Pasta
• Craft foam
• Faux fur
• Create texture with glue from the glue gun

These boards help with both tactile and visual issues relating to sensory processing disorder. You can attach almost anything to your board, as long as it is secure and safe. Attach the smaller coasters to a larger board to create a single board with many tactile experiences.

Photo by My Delicious Ambiguity