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> I need to find more non inciting to violence ways of giving Ben this
> input.
>
>

A mini trampoline.
A sockem bopper or whatever they call those weighted kid-sized things that
spring back up after you knock them down (although that's probably "violent",
it may be very useful).

Found this:

Calming Activities: Experiences that may help to relax the nervous system
Stretches
Deep pressure massage
Slow rocking or swinging
Fidget toys
Progressive muscle relaxation
Quite music with a steady beat
Bear hugs
Reduced noise and light levels
Lavender, vanilla or other soothing smells
Snuggling in a sleeping bag, large pillows or
bean bag chair
Organizing Activities: Experiences that can help an individual become focused
and attentive

Sucking or chewing on hard candy or gum

Adding rhythm to the activity

Vibration-toy massager, vibrating pillow,

wiggle pen

“Heavy work” tasks to include hanging,

pushing, pulling or carrying heavy objects



Similarly:

To organize

-Swinging on a swing or climbing
-Rhythmical sustained movement: marching, washing a table, or bouncing
-Rocking in a rocking chair
-"Squeezie" toys (koosh balls, balloons or rubber gloves filled with flour or
cream, soft balls, gak, silly putty)
-Hanging by the arms on the monkey bars (20-30 seconds)
-Pushing/carrying heavy objects
-Carrying back packs weighted with books or bags of dried beans (this should
only be worn for 15-20 minutes with an hour or two between)
-A reading corner with a bean bag chair makes a wonderful place for escape
when there is too much stimulation. Some students may like the bean bag on top
of them.
-Play dough
-Tactile Bins (cornmeal, oatmeal, water, sand, rice, beans)
-Kitchen time (mixing, tasting, smelling, washing up)
-Finger painting

Some children also need extra sensory input in their mouths and hands in
order to organize their behavior:
-Drinking from a water bottle
-Chewing (you can use a straw, rubber tubing or coffee stir stick)

To calm
-Being brushed with a corn de-silking brush (in one direction approximately
10 times with pressure brush their arms, back (but not over the spin), legs (on
the top, outer parts and underneath, avoid the inner thigh area), top of the
feet and the hands)
-Sucking on hard candy, frozen fruit bar, or spoonful of peanut butter or
marshmallow fluff
-Licorice tug-of-war, blow pin wheels or various types of blow toys, bubbles
and whistles
-Pushing against walls with the hands, shoulders, back, buttocks and head
-Cuddling or back rubbing
-Taking a bath
-Being rolled tightly like a hot dog in a blanket
-Being squished under a therapy ball, mat or couch cushion
-Tug-of-war
-Wheelbarrow walking, jumping games like hop scotch
-Crashing games-run and dive into boxes, bean bags and couch cushions
-Pulling a wagon, carrying a heavy book bag, digging in the yard or carrying
groceries
-Sports such as wrestling and football
-Deep pressure (giving a massage) and joint compressions (holding above one
joint and under one joint then doing a quick 10 repetitions of compressions,
pushing and pulling)

Hope this helps.
Mary J


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Penn Acres

Mary J suggested....

A mini trampoline. ......
Thank you -So Much...
as soon as I read through the list I realized how much Stephanie (our most volotile one) likes a lot of these things.Kara does as well. but Stephanie seems to "need" the feel of some of them more.

I just printed out the whole list and put it where I can see it in the kitchen

We just got them a mini-trampoline from Sears (canada) on Friday- one of the best $40 we have spent in a while.
It is a few feet behind the new playstation...We were seeing so much bickering and tears over whose turn is is to play games-etc. lately and they dont like going outside much in the cold weather unless friends are over.
They have just been gravitating to it every once in a while and bouncing and singing and then back to whatever they were doing.

grace
in the BC Rockies-snowing again and getting colder.



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