Sensory activities that help students to learn and support neurodiversity

People say your school days are some of the best days of your life. That can be pretty hard to believe when you’re still turning up to class to read off the board and write notes in textbooks. It doesn’t exactly sound thrilling, does it?

Neurodiverse students can find things like reading and writing a really challenging method of learning. If reading chapters from a history book sounds dull, imagine how it feels for a student who responds more to colors or images, for example.

At Cali & Caro, we strive to empower neurodivergent learners to have the best school experience possible. There are a number of sensory activities which can help neurodiverse students learn more effectively.

Sensory Issues in Neurodivergent Students

Before we dive into fantastic sensory activities that help students learn, it’s important to understand some of the sensory issues faced by neurodivergent students.

People process information and the world around them using their senses. The nervous system receives messages via things like touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing, and turns them into responses. Nuerodivergence can mean that these sense signals aren’t processed properly, resulting in responses that aren’t quite appropriate or accurate to the situation.

A child with Asperger's or ADHD, for example, may find high noise levels distracting or difficult. In many cases, loud noises can be interpreted by a neurodivergent child as actually painful. Reactions to this discomfort can, at first look, appear as misbehavior or acting out. The fact is, many kids are unable to identify these feelings within themselves, let alone communicate their needs. This is why it’s so vital to create a learning environment that meets the sensory needs of learners.

How Sensory Activities can Benefit Students

Sensory play and activities have a number of awesome benefits for neurodiverse students. For children who struggle to process information the same way neurotypical learners might, these activities can help them learn better, as well as communicate and interact socially.

So much of learning is linked to the different types of memory; short-term, long-term, working memory, and sensory memory. Sensory memory enables information to be stored and referred to later on. Neurodiverse children make connections within their learning much more when sensory stimulation accompanies it.

Activities that engage taste, touch, and sight are great for helping neurodivergent students to communicate more accurately. A child with ASD may struggle to put their feelings into words, but instead relate their emotions to certain colors or physical sensations.

Anxiety and lack of confidence is common in neurodiverse students. Sensory play can encourage them to interact with their fellow students, without feeling isolated or different. 

Here are some fun and interesting sensory activities that can be introduced into the classroom to support neurodiversity.

Breathing Exercises

Focussing on breathing is a brilliant way to bring the energy levels down in the classroom if things get a bit overwhelming. Playing with different lengths of time for inhaling, holding breath, and exhaling can center students and promote calmness.

Auditory Guessing Games

When learning things like animals or types of transport, not every child will be able to make the link between pictures and definitions. Engaging the hearing sense can help neurodivergent students to identify objects and affirm their learning. 

Playing recordings of animal sounds and encouraging kids to guess what they are supports different learning types in a way that integrates them with the rest of the class.

Playing with Light

Activities that involve light are perfect sensory games that stimulate visual learners. Taking torches and sheets, kids can create shadows with their hands and objects to create different shapes. 

This is an engaging way for neurodivergent learners to demonstrate that they have learned certain things, like shapes or numbers.

Colored Fabric

Having a crate of different colored fabrics in the classroom can help both tactile and visual learners. The fabrics can be varied, from smooth and draping satin, to rigid and bumpy corduroy.

The different colors will engage students, and the textures can help to focus neurodivergent minds so that they can concentrate better on tasks. 

Geometric Stationery

Not so much an activity, but providing geometric stationery and desk supplies can support neurodiversity in the classroom in a big way. For a student with ADHD, interesting shapes provide a perfect distraction from noise and activity around them that could otherwise prevent them from focusing on their work. 

Sensory Support from Cali & Caro

Since it’s so important to support all types of learners, Cali & Caro offer a gorgeous range of sensory stimulating school supplies. No boring, plain notebooks here! Metallic, spotty, or geometric, there’s a style for everyone to love. 

Keeping work organized has never been easier, with our iridescent storage trays and stationery holders. Having a busy mind isn’t a problem, it can be a superpower, and we’re here to empower neurodivergent students, so learning can really be a pleasure.

Head to our online store to explore the full range now!