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Example of a Sensory Motor Circuit
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Obstace Information about
4. course
Wobble Sensory Motor Circuits
board 6.
Therapy for schools and parents
ball
squash
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3.
Log
rolls
or
pull
self
along
a Wall push ups 7
bench
START 8.
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Deep sholder City Care Centre,
1. Skipping
compression Thorpe Road
and / or Peterborough PE3 6DB
2.Trampet
FINISH
Sensory Motor Circuits Gym ball ideas for older students
Sensory Circuits is a short and snappy sensory motor skills
programme that helps to set children up for a school day. 1. Pull the student towards you.
It enables children to reach the level of alertness needed to
concentrate during lessons. They were dev2eloped in the
Peterborough area, where most schools use it because it is so 2. Student walks forward on their hands, then backwards.
effective. Some schools run sensory circuits after lunch as well. The slower the better.
Children participate in a 10-15 minute session of activities
designed to improve brain processing efficiency, and they 3. Roll over the ball fast and crash onto cushions or a crash mat.
generally find that the circuit is a fun way to start the day.
Some children like it so much and /or respond so well to it that
they would benefit from a sensory circuit at home at the 4. You can hold the student
weekends or in the holidays. at the hips to stabilise them
while balancing on a ball.
This leaflet tells you what to do, in the correct order.
Doing the activities in the recommended order is vital. The right 5. Arch the back over a ball. A peanut ball is more stable than on a round ball.
order results in a well regulated, happy child. The wrong order
may well result in a disregulated, upset or irritable child.
Suggested equipment
Trampet Skipping rope 6. Movement averse students are happier on the ball against a wall.
Balance board Gym ball
Chair Soft mat / carpet
Selection of balls and / or beanbags
Remove shoes and socks, as the Circuit is best done bare foot.
7. ‘Push against each other’: Two students sit on either
side of a ball, with their backs resting against the ball.
Music When given the command, both push against the ball,
It is useful to play music during the circuit. At home, it can mark each trying to disloge the other student.
the beginning and the end of the Circuit. Choose music that is
fast (140-160 beats per minute). At the end, during the calm down 8. ‘Steamroller’: Student lies on their stomach.
period, just turn the volume down. You roll ball up and down, pressing down hard.
2 Do not roll it over their head.
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Isometrics
Order of activities 1. Alerting
Here's how:
The first activities should be those that make the head change
1. In a seated position, place your palms together, imitating a direction rapidly.
position of praying. Push your palms against each other for a For example:
few seconds. (Parent or teacher says, "Push"). Then relax for a
Bouncing Skipping
few seconds. (Parent or teacher says, "Relax"). Repeat 3 to 5
times. Remember the aim is to achieve lots of heavy work input
to the joints and muscles, so decide on the number of repetitions Jumping or
accordingly. Step-ups Spinning
2. Next, curl the fingers on each hand to form a semi-circle.
Trampet ideas
Rotate one hand toward your body and one hand away from
your body. Interlock your fingers, imitating a position of an • Jump
opera singer. Pull your elbows in the opposite directions • Jump, lift knees up / kick feet out behind
whilst keeping your fingers interlocked for a few seconds. • Star jump
Relax for a few seconds and repeat at least 3 to 5 times. In • Jump and count / recite time tables / recite alphabet
the opera singer position, switch hands so the hand that • Throw a bean bag / ball at a target / into a bucket
was on top is now on the bottom. (Parent or teacher • Throw a bean bag / ball to a person who is walking round
continues throughout the steps of the isometrics to say, the trampet
"Push” and “relax"). • Throw a bean bag / ball up in the air while counting
3. Place hands on seat of chair by thighs and lift bottom off seat • Sequences of little and big jumps, eg 5 little, 1 big
of chair by straightening arms. (Parent or teacher says, • Change direction while jumping
"Push"). Then relax for a few seconds. (Parent or teacher • Jog and Hop
says, "Relax"). Repeat 3 to 5 times. • Spotty dog march (homolateral marching)
• March, touching opposite hand / elbow with knee
4. Extra Calming Stage: Parent / teacher stands behind the student
• Bounce off trampet onto a crash mat / pile of cushions
and presses firmly down through shoulders using palms of hand.
• Jump while copying gestures
Maintain the pressure for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
• Jump while following arrow chart with arm gestures
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2. Organising 3. Calming
The second set of activities should be those that provide a motor The third set of activities should be those that calm the child:
challenge to the chld. deep pressure, proprioceptive input, and heavy work
For example: For example:
• Funny walks: Animal walks.
• Press-ups on a wall:
• Egg and spoon walk Count to 10. Repeat 3 times
• Thow and catch while on a balance board
• Balance board, put bean bags around it. • Press-ups on a wall: Upside down
Child picks up bean bags one by one, or in a certain order. Walk up the wall, put feet flat on the wall and
• Walk along a gym bench (could be upturned, count to 10 before walking down the wall.
Repeat 3 times.
with the child picking up bean bags and
throwing them in a bucket) • Half press-ups from the floor:
• Pass bean bag round leg, behind back Push up from knees not from the feet.
• Log rolls, hands clasped & arms stretched out above head
• Infintity Walk: walk round 2 chairs, in and out in a figure of • Isometrics and Chair sit ups
eight. Repeat with eyes closed (see Isometrics on page 6)
• Stand inside a hula hoop that is on the ground. Spin,
• ‘Steamroller squash’:
without going outside the hoop. Stop, stand still. Student lies on their stomach.
Press hands down on head. Roll a gym ball up and down,
• Bend a rope into different shapes. Walk along it. Jump pressing down hard.
over it from side to side Do not roll it over their head.
• Make scoops from plastic bottles, use to catch bean bags
• Obstacle courses: Go over and under a chair.
• Joint compression:
Climb over a chair, through a hoop, See page 6, Isometrics Number 4 “Extra Calming”
then roll on a mat or the floor.
• Commando crawling.
• Firm massage: any of back, hands, feet, and shoulders
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