sensory integration

The Vestibular System: A Tale of Two Movements

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

The playground. It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times. It’s the place where some find joy in climbing, swinging, sliding, and bouncing. It’s also the place where others see dread at the thought of such madness.

The playground can be a polarizing place. It’s where the movement seekers can challenge their limits. Meanwhile, the movement avoiders look for solace at a nearby bench until it’s time to go home. Why the divide? There is one system to blame and it’s the one that lets us know exactly where we stand in the world.

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The Less-Stress Mess

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Following up on this week’s Tactile Response post, here is a fun activity to try. This can be done with children of all ages and helpful for those who may have an over-responsive tactile system.  This activity gradually introduces various substances or textures. 

Materials:

  • Ziploc bags
  • A base substance, such as finger paint, shaving cream, or lotion
  • Optional:
    Other small objects to add texture like rice, beans, buttons, or beads
    Food Coloring
    Large Spoon
    Cookie Tray
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