Boost Your Child's Focus with These 8 Alerting Sensory Tools

Does your child need help staying focused or engaged throughout the day? Alerting sensory tools could be just what they need to thrive!

These tools are designed to stimulate your child’s senses in a fun, engaging way, helping them stay alert, improve concentration, and better manage sensory needs. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular tools and how they can help:

Types of Alerting Sensory Tools and How They Help

Fidget Spinners‍

Perfect for kids who need to keep their hands busy. The repetitive spinning motion helps improve focus and reduce restlessness, making it easier for children to stay engaged during tasks like homework or reading.

Squeeze Balls‍

Great for releasing built-up energy or stress. Squeezing and releasing these soft balls strengthens hand muscles and provides calming sensory input, which can help with focus and emotional regulation.

Sensory Bottles‍

These bottles, often filled with glitter or small objects, offer a visual and calming sensory experience. Watching the contents move can be soothing, making them ideal for moments when your child feels overstimulated or needs a mental break.

Obstacle Courses‍

Obstacle courses are excellent for engaging the whole body. They provide heavy work input, which can help improve body awareness, coordination, and overall focus. Plus, they’re a fun way to burn off energy!

Target Games‍

Activities like throwing bean bags at a target or using a nerf gun can help kids develop hand-eye coordination and motor planning skills. They’re also great for teaching patience and focus as kids aim and try to improve their accuracy.

Trampoline Jumping

Jumping on a trampoline is fantastic for kids who need to release energy. The rhythmic bouncing provides vestibular input (related to balance and movement), which helps calm the nervous system and improves focus afterward.

Bouncy Balls‍

Whether your child sits on a large exercise ball while working or bounces a smaller ball during play, this tool helps with balance, coordination, and core strength—all while keeping them engaged.

Tactile Toys‍

These include items with different textures, like squishy gel toys, textured balls, or toys with bristles. They help children explore their sense of touch, which can be both calming and alerting, depending on their sensory needs.

How These Tools Can Make a Difference

Alerting sensory tools can be a game-changer for children who need extra sensory input to:

• Stay alert and attentive during tasks
• Improve focus in school or at home
• Manage day-to-day sensory challenges

By integrating these tools into your child’s routine, you’re not only helping them stay engaged but also giving them valuable opportunities to develop skills like coordination, balance, and fine motor abilities.

Making It Fun and Functional

Here are a few ideas for using these tools at home:

• Place a sensory bottle on your child’s desk for calming visual input during homework time. Learn how to make a sensory bottle here.
• Set up an obstacle course in the backyard for active play and coordination practice.
• Encourage trampoline time or bouncing on a ball before starting a focused task like reading.
• Keep squeeze balls or fidget spinners handy for car rides, appointments, or other times your child needs to sit still.

Support That Comes to You

At POTS Newcastle, we understand that every child is unique. That’s why we tailor our approach to your family’s needs, bringing mobile paediatric occupational therapy directly to your home. Our team helps parents like you use sensory tools to create a supportive and engaging environment where your child can thrive.

Need advice on the best sensory tools for your child? Get in touch with us today to learn more or book an appointment.

Discover the difference sensory tools can make—your child’s focus and happiness are worth it!

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