Help! My demand avoidant child won't engage in sensory activity

When I talk in my sensory training about calming sensory activities such as a wall push or crawling through a lycra tunnel, I will often get asked, "but what if my child is demand-avoidant and just won't engage in a structured activity?!" Good question! It's not easy, as you may well know, but here are some tips...

• My number 1 tip is to have lots of sensory movement options out in the house. For example, in the front room you may have a rocker chair, a therapy ball, a doorway swing and some tactile mats. In the bedroom there may be beanbag, a peanut ball and a basket of sensory fidget toys. On the bed you may have a compression sheet and on the sofa you may have a weighted blanket. Basically, you need a range of sensory options available with no pressure to use them but having them out means your child may choose to engage with them. The items I have suggested are just examples and what you choose to have out will depend on your child's sensory preferences.
• Use humour - being silly and playful can be helpful for some children. Have a look at my therapy ball rough play video to see what I mean. Make sure you minimise rules and let your child choose how they want to do the activity.
• Novelty can be important for some demand-avoidant children. So it can help to have some favourite sensory items available all of the time but then have a range of other items on rotation that you put away and get back out again.

For more general tips you might like to check out the PDA Society website.

I also love this 30 minute free training from Jude Seaward and I recommend it for parents and schools.

Hanna