Sensory Smart Child Therapies

17/07/2025

We still have some spots in the following Summer groups:
* Fun with Food (ages 5-9) on 28th July 10-12pm
* Eco adventures (ages 10-12) on 30th July 10-12pm
* Sensory Sprouts (ages 3-5) on 6th August 10-12pm
* Dungeons and Dragons (ages 9-12) on 11th & 12th August
* Lego club (ages 10-12) on 20th August 10-12pm

Please visit our website for details and bookings:
https://www.thesensorysmartchild.com/treatment-services/clinic/holiday-groups/

16/07/2025

Sibling dynamics and sensory needs!
Navigating sibling dynamics where sensory needs vary can be challenging but it’s also an opportunity to build a family culture of acceptance, communication, and emotional intelligence.

Supporting siblings when one has sensory processing challenges and the other does not can be a delicate balancing act but with understanding, structure, and empathy, you can create a home where both children feel seen, supported, and included.

Educate the neurotypical sibling (Age-Appropriately) and help them understand that their sibling’s brain processes the world differently not better or worse, just different.

Use simple language: "Loud sounds feel louder to them," or "Certain clothes feel itchy even if they don’t to you."

Build in family activities that both can enjoy, but offer opt-in choices to avoid stress.

Encourage compassion, not responsibility and let them know it’s okay to feel frustrated sometimes and that their feelings matter too.

Avoid making the neurotypical child feel like a caretaker or peacemaker.

Over time, many siblings of neurodivergent children grow into empathetic, adaptable, and compassionate adults with your steady guidance along the way.

There are a lot of books, videos, and sensory-friendly analogies which can be helpful.

➡️Do share in the comments anything which has helped you.

16/07/2025

Anyone who has accessed the ASGSF please fill out this survey to help continue the fight for reverse of the funding cuts!

PARENT/CARER SURVEY

https://forms.gle/sSKwqjeDEmVXQksv9

How have the delays, changes and cuts to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) impacted your children and your family? What does the future hold?

This is a chance to have your say.

Deadline is Monday 21st July but the sooner you complete it the better as it will inform ongoing discussions between our campaign and the sector.

We will be feeding these results back across the sector and of course to you all.

The more of you that complete it, the more meaningful the data. It should take you 5-10 minutes to complete and it could really inform the way forward.

Please do share with any parent/carer what’s app groups, Facebook and social media groups. Email it to those you know have been affected but don’t use social media etc etc.

PROVIDERS: It would also be great if you can share this with all of the families you see, via newsletters, websites, mailing lists and so on.

09/07/2025

For children with sensory processing challenges, sand play may trigger tactile defensiveness, a sensitivity or aversion to certain textures. However, with the right support and gradual exposure, sand can become a powerful and enjoyable tool for sensory integration and development.

Sand can be a challenge due to it's unpredictable texture. Dry sand is gritty and can stick to the skin, which may feel irritating or even painful to a sensory-sensitive child. Wet sand changes texture and temperature quickly, which can cause discomfort or distress.

Sand moves unpredictably and can get under nails, in clothes, or eyes, something that can be overwhelming for children who need a high level of sensory control.

The combination of touch, sound (scraping or pouring sand), and visual input can lead to overstimulation, especially in noisy or busy environments like playgrounds leading to sensory overload.

If a child has previously had a meltdown or strong discomfort related to sand, they may be anxious or avoidant in future situations involving it.

To make sand play more accessible start with tools such as scoops, rakes, or spoons to interact with sand indirectly. Offer dry and wet options as some children prefer one over the other. Provide a tray or station which reduces the mess!
Always have hand wipes or water nearby.

Observe what the child is comfortable with and never force contact. Gradual exposure is key. Sand play does have many benefits and helps with fine motor skills, tactile processing, emotional regulation and it encourages creative play so it worth persevering.

02/07/2025

Water play is an ideal outdoor activity in your garden during the warm weather.

Here are some ideas specially designed for children with sensory processing challenges, focusing on activities that can be calming, stimulating, and developmentally supportive, depending on each child’s needs.
All you need is a large washing up bowl or plastic baby bath.

➡️Create gentle pouring stations using jugs, funnels, cups, and spoons. Everyday household objects are fine. This activity focusses on repetition and rhythm for calming input.

➡️Use safe objects like rubber toys, sponges and stones to encourage curiosity about which objects float and which sink!

➡️Play a game of 'Warm vs. Cool' by offering bowls of water at different safe temperatures to help your child become more comfortable with tactile variations.

➡️Another fun activity involves using food colouring or bath-safe colour tabs. Children love stirring and watching colour changes, this can be soothing and visually engaging

➡️Water beads or sponges offer squishy textures for tactile exploration and encourage squeezing, sorting, or transferring for fine motor practice

➡️Try also adding in sounds by having gentle music playing or wind chimes. This combines sensory inputs to create a calm, immersive environment.

Involve your child in setting up and tidying as this help to build routine and confidence. And of course remember to supervise the activity!

Does your child enjoy water play?
What activities do they enjoy?

30/06/2025

Parents, don't miss out — our Summer Groups are filling up!

Spots are limited so sign up today to secure your child’s place. Small groups (maximum 6 children with 2 therapists).

https://sensorysmartchildtherapies.jotform.com/251334001310333

25/06/2025

With all the wonderful weather lately it is so nice to get outdoors with your children.
Picnics can be a magical summer experience for children but for those with sensory processing challenges, they can also be overstimulating.

With a few thoughtful adjustments, picnics can become a safe, fun, and nourishing space for all children to enjoy so we thought we would share a a few tips for a sensory-friendly picnic:

✅ Avoid crowds and choose a quiet location. A park with a quieter corner or under a tree can be ideal.

✅ When packing your picnic involve your child if you can. Stick to safe, preferred textures and flavours to reduce stress. Familiar containers or cutlery can also help. Try to eat similar foods to what you would at home.

✅ Noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, a game they will enjoy and a favourite blanket can provide grounding.

✅ If your child is old enough, discuss where you will go and share the schedule, this can help children know what to expect.

✅ Plan your exit and make sure there is a safe space to retreat to, like a nearby car or tent, this offers reassurance.

Picnics don’t need to be loud or busy to be meaningful. With planning and patience, they can be peaceful, positive memory-makers for the whole family.

Do you have any go-to tips for creating inclusive outdoor experiences?

18/06/2025

The theme for Learning Disability Week 2025 is “Do You Hear Me?”
It is a powerful reminder to truly listen to and understand children with learning disabilities and sensory processing challenges not just with our ears, but with empathy and awareness.

At Sensory Smart Child, we hear our children not only through their words (or lack of them), but through their behaviour, their movement, and their sensory needs. Many of the children we support struggle to make sense of the world around them and that struggle is their voice.

Our Occupational Therapists work closely with families to help children communicate their needs, build confidence, and thrive in sensory-friendly environments. Through tactile play, movement-based therapy, and sensory regulation strategies, we help children feel seen, heard, and understood.

This week, and every week, let’s commit to listening better, supporting more, and building a world where every child is heard.

11/06/2025

Tactile toys are great for children with sensory processing challenges and can really assist their development and help them to thrive. Tactile toys are designed to stimulate the sense of touch, helping kids regulate emotions, build focus, and feel more secure.

Some popular and effective tactile toys include:

🖐️ Therapy Putty – great for building hand strength and calming anxiety
🌾 Kinetic Sand – soft and moldable, offering soothing feedback
🧽 Textured Sensory Balls – with bumps and ridges for tactile exploration
🌈 Chewable Necklaces – safe and discreet oral sensory support
🌀 Fidget Cubes and Spinners – ideal for focus and stress relief
🧸 Weighted Plush Toys – comforting for children who seek deep pressure
🪵 Wooden Sensory Boards– encourage exploration of textures and fine motor skills

Having a selection of tactile toys can support children in navigating their world with greater ease and confidence, they can be a real game changer.

Is their a toy your child loves or one that you have found useful?
Do share in the comments.

07/06/2025

☕ Parent Coffee Morning – You're Invited! 🍰

📅 Friday 20th June
🕤 9:30 – 11:00am
📍 Sensory Smart Child Therapies, Walton-on-Thames

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming coffee morning at our clinic! Enjoy a cup of coffee and some cake while chatting with our Director and other parents. It’s a great opportunity to:

👶 Ask questions about your child’s development
💬 Share any niggles or concerns
🧠 Discuss sensory strategies and support

There’s no charge – just come along, connect, and feel supported.

👉 Please click the link to register so we know you're coming:
https://sensorysmartchildtherapies.jotform.com/251384426340352

We’d love to see you there!

05/06/2025

"If you don’t look, you don’t see"

That’s something I’ve said for a long time, and sadly, it’s never been more relevant.

Local authority occupational therapists often aren’t trained to assess children’s sensory processing needs. So they don’t assess them. And because they don’t assess them, they don’t see them. That means no recognition, no support, no strategies, and no therapy.

Now, government officials are openly saying they want to reduce reliance on specialist assessments and interventions for adopted and care-experienced children. In other words, they’re planning to stop looking.

Because if they don’t look, they don’t have to see.
If they don’t see, they don’t have to act.
If they don’t act, they don’t have to provide support.

And today, we heard something even more concerning. Sarah Johal suggested that adoptive families have become “over-reliant” on specialist support, claiming that the Adoption Support Fund has “almost created [an idea] that families feel they are entitled to therapeutic support, no matter whether the children need it or not.”

Let’s be clear: adoptive parents are not asking for therapy because it’s a luxury. They are asking for it because children have experienced significant trauma, loss, and often early-life adversity. Many of their needs appear invisible unless you 'look'. Children hide their true selves through fear and for survival. Specialist assessments are often the only way true needs are properly identified.

To imply that families are demanding unnecessary support is not only dismissive, it’s dangerous. It fuels a narrative that children’s struggles are exaggerated, when in truth, they are often underestimated, unseen, and unsupported.

Our parents deserve respect. They are not asking for handouts -they are asking for healing. They fight every day for the children they love, often in the face of immense misunderstanding and systemic neglect.
Our children deserve to be seen. They deserve to be heard. And they deserve a system that doesn’t turn a blind eye simply because looking too closely might come with a cost.
Because if we choose not to look, we choose not to care. And our children, all of them - deserve better than that."

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04/06/2025

🎉 Drop-In Stay & Play – Tomorrow Morning! 🎉

Looking for something fun to do with the little ones?

Come and join our Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists in our incredible sensory rooms, spend time with your little one exploring sensory skills and ways to develop motor skills and communication.

Join us tomorrow morning from 9:30am to 11:00am!

🌟 No need to book – just drop in!
👶 Suitable for toddlers and pre-schoolers
💷 Just £5 per child

A great chance for children to explore, play, and make new friends – while you enjoy a relaxed morning with other parents and carers.

We’d love to see you there! 💛