Using your child's sensory system to help them learn!

Learning to write is usually a challenge for children with disabilities. They often struggle with decreased attention to task, decreased visual perceptual skills, decreased ability to process verbal information, etc.

While I recommend that an evaluation be completed to determine what the problem is, here are a few suggestions to help increase their ability to learn using their sensory system.

- Have the child complete the activity laying on his/her stomach (proprioceptive input)This can help improve attention to task as well.
- Roll them in a blanket and complete a task on stomach, while wrapped in the blanket.
- Use shaving cream, or finger paints for the child to write in (Be attentive if your child put things in his/her mouth)
- Write letters on paper over sand paper, or have them trace on sand paper with their finger.
- Have them create letters/numbers out of pretzel sticks.

Using as many of the child's senses can improve their ability to learn and retain the information.

These are some ideas to help you get jump started. You can combine these to increase the effectiveness.