Tactile activities (1907)
Key points below
Some children do not like to be touched. This is called tactile defensiveness. Tactile activities can help a child get used to being touched. The therapist will tell you which activities to do with your child. Be sure to supervise young children when doing these activities.
What can I do to help my child?
Have your child:
- Play in shaving cream or with finger paint.
- Find objects in rice, sand or beans.
- Draw shapes or letters onto the outside of a plastic bag filled with gel-like material like pudding, finger paint or hair gel.
- Do arm and leg massages.
- Give deep pressure squeezes and bear hugs.
- Lay under a weighted or heavy blanket.
- Snuggle in bedding, large pillows, or stuffed animals.
- Roll in the grass, carpet, or up and down carpeted ramps.
- Go down a slide or water slide.
- Go swimming.
- Jump and play in ball pit.
- Crawl through tight spaces.
You can:
- Wrap your child with blankets, towels, clothes, Spandex, Benik or ace bandage. Do not cover your child’s head.
- Gently rub your child with lotion.
- Sandwich your child between pillows, couch cushions, or bean bag chairs. Do not cover your child’s head.
- Roll a therapy ball or bolster over your child while laying on back and stomach.