Vision & Sound Activities
This chapter will help identify the seventh daily target using activities involving vision and sound to activate a regulatory response and exercise those systems.
At the beginning of each of the following activities, the activity level is identified according to the Self-Regulation and Mindfulness 7-Level Hierarchy. As you may recall, Levels 1 through 4 on the hierarchy correspond with higher-level activities, Level 5 corresponds with midlevel activities, and Levels 6 and 7 correspond with foundational-level activities. The Threshold and Arousal Levels Table in Chapter 4 can be used to identify the child’s levels. Be sure to keep track of which activities work for the child and their reactions to the activities.
General strategies:
• Use flashlights for scanning activities. Turn down the lights for flashlight tag.
• “I spy” and “hidden picture” games are great visual activities.
• “Follow the leader” and “I’m thinking of an animal, what could it be” games stimulate the auditory system.
• Use music and visual stimuli together to optimize the multisensory approach.
EYE YOGA
AIM To enhance attention and provide an organizing activity to prepare the brain and body for work
Suggested Starting Hierarchy Level Midlevel to high on page ix
Appropriate Arousal Level All arousal levels*
Appropriate Threshold Level All thresholds*
YOU WILL NEED
• A quiet space
DIRECTIONS
1. Ask the child to close their eyes while gently inhaling.
2. Have them try moving their eyes with their eyes closed (e.g., looking up and down).
3. With the eyes open, have the child extend their arm in front of them at eye level with their thumb raised.
4. Have them use their thumb to visually track while keeping their head static.
5. Instruct the child to move their thumb toward their nose and away.
6. Have them move their arm slowly away from the center of their body and then toward the side while following their thumb with their eyes.
7. Remind them not to move their head.
8. Have the child repeat for three or four times, remembering to breathe.
9. You may use chimes or music in the background.
*The threshold indicates how easily the child detects stimuli, or changes in their environment (low = quick detection; high = slow detection). A child’s arousal is the behavioral reaction to stimuli that we can observe.
AUDITORY GUESS WHO
AIM To enhance attention and provide exercise to the auditory system
Suggested Starting Hierarchy Level Midlevel to high on page ix
Appropriate Arousal Level High (energetic) or low (lack of response)*
Appropriate Threshold Level High (hyperactive or inattentive)*
YOU WILL NEED
• A quiet space
• A smartphone, computer, or mp3 player
DIRECTIONS
1. Select various sounds, such as animal noises, babies crying or babbling, and other sounds typically found in the child’s environment.
2. Have them guess what they are hearing.
3. If more than one child is participating, see who can identify the most sounds.
*The threshold indicates how easily the child detects stimuli, or changes in their environment (low = quick detection; high = slow detection). A child’s arousal is the behavioral reaction to stimuli that we can observe.
LAVA BOTTLE
AIM To decrease hyperactivity and inattentive behaviors and provide an organizing activity to enhance functional participation
Suggested Starting Hierarchy Level Midlevel to high on page ix
Appropriate Arousal Level High (energetic or overreacting)*
Appropriate Threshold Level High (hyperactive) or low (hypervigilant)*
YOU WILL NEED
• Cooking oil
• Food coloring
• A water bottle full of water
• A funnel
• An antacid or other fizzing tablet
DIRECTIONS
1. Pour a tablespoon of oil into the water.
2. Drop in a few drops of food coloring.
3. Place the fizz tablet in the bottle.
4. Have the child watch the bubbles move up and down.
5. You can also use lava lamps or Snoezelen rooms for a similar experience.
*The threshold indicates how easily the child detects stimuli, or changes in their environment (low = quick detection; high = slow detection). A child’s arousal is the behavioral reaction to stimuli that we can observe.
I SPY BOTTLE
AIM To decrease hyperactivity and inattentive behaviors and provide an organizing activity to exercise the visual system
Suggested Starting Hierarchy Level Midlevel to high on page ix
Appropriate Arousal Level High (energetic or overreacting)*
Appropriate Threshold Level High (hyperactive) or low (hypervigilant)*
YOU WILL NEED
• A glass or plastic bottle
• Small beads, coins, jewels, or other items
• Dry rice, beans, or pasta
DIRECTIONS
1. Use a funnel if needed to place a small amount of the selected dry rice, beans, or pasta in the bottle.
2. Alternate adding in some of small beads, coins, jewels, or other items and more layers of your base substance.
3. Have the child view the bottle to see how many items they spy, one of the beads, coins, or jewels.
*The threshold indicates how easily the child detects stimuli, or changes in their environment (low = quick detection; high = slow detection). A child’s arousal is the behavioral reaction to stimuli that we can observe.
HEADPHONES
AIM To decrease hyperactivity and hypervigilant behaviors and enhance attention
Suggested Starting Hierarchy Level Foundational on page ix
Appropriate Arousal Level All arousal levels*
Appropriate Threshold Level All thresholds*
YOU WILL NEED
• Regular or noise-cancelling headphones
• Music (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Have the child listen to music with headphones.
a. Children who are inattentive may respond to upbeat, unpredictable music.
b. Children who are anxious require rhythmic, predictable music.
c. Children who are sensitive to sound may benefit from wearing noise-cancelling headphones rather than listening to music.