How to Provide Sensory Processing Support in Your Practice

Sensory processing is how our nervous system receives, organizes, and responds to sensory information from our environment and our bodies. It involves all eight senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movement (vestibular), body awareness (proprioception), and interoception (internal body signals like hunger, pain, and emotions). When sensory processing works smoothly, children can regulate their emotions, focus on tasks, participate in activities, and navigate their world with confidence. When it doesn’t, everyday experiences can feel overwhelming, uncomfortable, or confusing. Read more on how to provide sensory processing support to share your expertise, support the whole child, and expand your business.

Challenges in this area might look like:

• Extreme reactions to clothing tags, seams, or certain fabrics—morning meltdowns over getting dressed
• Covering ears at normal sounds (vacuum, hand dryers, school bells) or seeming oblivious to loud noises
• Avoiding messy play (paint, sand, playdough) or seeking intense sensory input constantly (crashing, spinning, chewing)
• Difficulty tolerating haircuts, nail trimming, toothbrushing, or face washing
• Picky eating beyond typical preferences—gagging at textures, limited food repertoire, anxiety around new foods
• Appearing clumsy or uncoordinated—frequent falls, bumping into things, difficulty with stairs
• Difficulty sitting still or constant movement—can’t stay seated for meals or circle time
• Overwhelm in busy environments like grocery stores, parties, or assemblies
• Avoiding playground equipment or being fearful of movement activities

If your child needs help in the area of sensory processing, search the directory for a provider near you.

When sensory processing improves, you’ll see:

• Children tolerating previously avoided sensations with less distress
• Better emotional regulation during challenging sensory experiences
• Increased participation in daily routines (dressing, bathing, mealtimes)
• More confident engagement in play, school activities, and social situations
• Expanded food repertoire and less mealtime stress
• Improved attention and focus when sensory needs are met
• Better body awareness and coordination
• Families understanding their child’s behavior as sensory-based, not defiance
• Reduced anxiety for both children and parents

Possible Services to Support This Skill

Professionals can build various offerings around sensory processing, depending on their setting, training, and audience. Choose one or more of the following models:

1. Parent Education Workshop (Virtual or In-Person)
2. Parent-Child Group or Play Session
3. Individual Session (Private Coaching, Consultation, or Insurance-Based)
4. Professional Development Training for Staff or Teams

Each version below includes structure, pricing, and implementation guidance.

Sensory Processing Session Format and Structure

1. Parent Education Workshop – “Understanding Your Child’s Sensory World: Practical Strategies for Home and School”

Length: 60–75 minutes
Audience: Parents and caregivers
Setting: Community center, clinic, school, or virtual

How to provide sensory processing support to share your expertise and support children.

Structure Example:

Welcome & Icebreaker (5–10 min)
Greet parents and introduce the topic. Ask: “What’s one sensory challenge your child experiences that puzzles or frustrates you?”
Common answers: clothing battles, picky eating, avoiding messy play, covering ears, constant movement, meltdowns in public places.

Foundations & Science (10–15 min)
Explain how sensory processing works:

• The eight sensory systems (not just five—include vestibular, proprioception, and interoception)
• Sensory modulation (how the nervous system regulates responses: some kids over-respond, some under-respond, some seek input)
• Sensory discrimination (accurately perceiving and interpreting sensory information)
• Sensory-based motor skills (how sensory input affects coordination and body awareness)
• The sensory threshold continuum (high vs. low threshold, passive vs. active response patterns)
• How sensory processing affects behavior, learning, and relationships

Share that sensory differences are neurological, not behavioral choices. Children aren’t being difficult, their nervous systems are wired differently.

Practical Strategies (15–20 min)
Demonstrate 3 home-ready strategies:

1. “Sensory Diet Basics” – Explain how strategic sensory input throughout the day helps regulation. Show examples: heavy work before transitions (pushing a laundry basket, carrying groceries), calming input before bed (dim lights, gentle pressure, quiet activities), alerting input when sluggish (jumping jacks, upbeat music, cold water on face).
2. “Environmental Modifications” – Demonstrate simple changes: tagless clothing and seamless socks, noise-canceling headphones or earplugs, fidget tools for focus, weighted lap pad for sitting, adjusted lighting, designated “calm down corner” with sensory tools.
3. “The Sensory Toolbox” – Show a variety of tools and explain when to use each: chewable jewelry for oral input, therapy putty for hand strengthening, mini trampoline for movement breaks, compression clothing for body awareness, visual timers for transitions, sensory bins for exploration.

Parent Reflection & Q&A (15–20 min)
Facilitate discussion:

• “What sensory strategies have you accidentally discovered that work?”
• “What’s your biggest barrier—cost of tools, partner skepticism, school resistance?”
• Address common concerns: “Is this just spoiling them?” or “Will they always need accommodations?”

Wrap-Up & Takeaway (10 min)
Provide a “Sensory Processing Starter Guide” handout with:

• Sensory preferences checklist (signs of over-responsivity, under-responsivity, and sensory seeking)
• DIY sensory activities using household items
• Sample sensory strategies schedule
• Handout on helpful sensory strategies at home
• When to seek occupational therapy evaluation

Suggested Price:

• $25–35 per parent (virtual or community event)
• $200–300 flat rate for school or therapy clinic-hosted events

Value Add: Include downloadable sensory preferences checklist, sensory processing visual supports template, and links to recommended products.

2. Parent-Child Playgroup or Group Session – “Sensory Explorers: Fun Activities for All Types of Bodies”

Length: 45–60 minutes
Audience: Small group of 4–6 children (ages 3–10) with parent participation
Setting: Clinic gym, community center, or sensory-friendly space

Structure Example:

Welcome Circle (5 min)
Use a predictable sensory-based greeting: ring a chime, pass around a textured ball while saying names, or do a quick movement song.
Preview the session with a visual schedule: “First heavy work, then messy play, then calming activities.”

Model the Skill (5–10 min)
Introduce today’s focus (e.g., “Trying New Textures” or “Safe Movement Exploration”) through:

• A social story about a character trying something new and using strategies
• Brief discussion: “Everyone’s body likes different things. We’re going to explore and find what YOUR body likes.”
• Establish consent language: “You can say ‘no thank you’ and try something else. Your body, your choice.”

Interactive Play Stations (20–25 min)
Rotate through 3–4 stations targeting different sensory systems:

Station 1: Heavy Work Challenge
Activities like wall pushes, animal walks (bear crawl, crab walk), pushing weighted boxes, carrying bean bags, or pulling resistance bands. Parents coach: “This is called ‘heavy work’—it helps our bodies feel calm and organized.”

Station 2: Tactile Exploration
Provide bins with various textures: kinetic sand, water beads, shaving cream, dry rice, slime, or playdough. Offer tools (scoops, brushes) for kids who don’t want direct contact. Parents narrate: “You’re trying something new! That’s brave!”

Station 3: Movement and Vestibular Input
Set up a simple obstacle course with crash mat, balance beam, tunnel, scooter board, or therapy ball. Focus on safe, graded challenges. Parents spot and encourage body awareness.

Station 4: Calming Corner
Create a quiet space with dim lighting, soft textures, weighted stuffed animals, gentle music, and breathing visuals. Model how to use it: “When our bodies feel too much, we can come here to calm down.”

Parent Coaching Moment (During Play)
Circulate and coach parents:

• “Notice how you followed their lead—that builds trust with new sensations.”
• “Great job naming what they’re experiencing: ‘That feels bumpy!’ helps them understand their body.”
• Point out signs of regulation and dysregulation in real time.

Reflection & Goodbye Routine (5–10 min)
Circle back together. Ask each child: “What was your favorite activity today? What did your body like?”
Give each child a “Sensory Explorer Card” with one activity to try at home this week.

Suggested Price:

• $20–25 per child per session
• $75–100 for a 4-week series (“Heavy Work & Movement,” “Tactile Play,” “Sound & Sight,” “Building a Sensory Routine”)

Value Add: Include take-home sensory activity cards, small sensory tools (therapy putty, fidget), or recipe cards for DIY sensory play.

3. Individual Session – “Personalized Sensory Assessment and Strategy Development”

(Private Coaching, Consultation, or Insurance-Based Therapy)

Length: 45–60 minutes
Audience: Individual child with parent involvement
Setting: Clinic, home visit, or telehealth (with limitations)

Structure Example:

Connection & Observation (10–15 min)
Begin with informal play-based observation:

• Watch how the child moves, explores, and responds to the environment
• Notice sensory preferences and aversions
• Assess gross motor coordination, fine motor skills, and body awareness
• Use standardized tools if appropriate (Sensory Profile, SPM-2)

Targeted Sensory Activities (20–25 min)
Engage the child in activities that assess and address specific sensory needs:

• For a child who is over-responsive to touch: Gradually introduce different textures through play (brushing a stuffed animal first, then child’s arm with their permission). Use firm pressure rather than light touch. Practice with preferred textures first.
• For a child who seeks intense movement: Provide safe, heavy proprioceptive and vestibular input—therapy swing, crash pad, resistance activities. Teach child to recognize when their body needs movement and how to ask for it appropriately.
• For a child with poor body awareness: Use activities that provide clear feedback—obstacle courses, yoga poses, resistance exercises, joint compressions. Practice body part identification and spatial concepts.
• For a child with oral sensory sensitivities: Introduce oral motor activities gradually—blowing bubbles, whistles, chewy tubes. Address food aversions through non-threatening sensory food exploration (smelling, touching, licking before eating).

Parent Education & Strategy Development (10–15 min)
Connect observations to daily life:

• “Here’s what I noticed about how your child processes sensory information…”
• Develop specific strategies for home challenges (morning routine, meals, bedtime, transitions)
• Create a personalized sensory diet schedule
• Discuss environmental modifications and helpful tools
• Address school accommodations if needed

Wrap-Up (5 min)
Provide written recommendations and demonstrate 2-3 specific activities to practice at home.
Set one concrete goal: “This week, try 5 minutes of heavy work before homework and track how focus improves.”

Suggested Price:

• Private pay or consultation: $100–150 per session
• Insurance-based OT session: Bill according to CPT codes (97165–97168 for evaluation; 97110 for therapeutic activities; 97530 for therapeutic activities focusing on ADLs)

Value Add: Offer written assessment summaries, personalized sensory diet plans, school accommodation letters, and video demonstrations of activities.

4. Professional Development Training – “Supporting Sensory Processing Differences in Educational Settings”

Length: 60–90 minutes
Audience: Teachers, paraprofessionals, childcare providers, therapy teams
Setting: School, childcare center, or virtual in-service

Structure Example:

Introduction (5–10 min)
Share why sensory processing matters in educational settings:

• Many behavioral challenges have sensory roots
• Students can’t learn when dysregulated
• Simple environmental changes can transform classroom participation
• Understanding sensory needs reduces power struggles and improves relationships

The Research & Whole Child Lens (10–15 min)
Present brief evidence:

• Prevalence of sensory processing differences (estimates suggest 5-16% of children)
• Connection to ADHD, autism, anxiety, and trauma
• Impact on learning, behavior, and social participation
• Difference between sensory processing disorder and sensory preferences
• When sensory differences warrant OT evaluation

Hands-On Demonstration (20–25 min)
Lead 5 practical strategies educators can implement immediately:

1. Sensory-Friendly Classroom Setup – Show examples: flexible seating options (wobble cushions, therapy balls, standing desks), fidget baskets, quiet corners, visual schedules, adjusted lighting, reduced visual clutter.
2. Movement Breaks and Transitions – Demonstrate quick sensory breaks: wall pushes, chair push-ups, animal walks, stretching, breathing exercises. Show how to embed movement into academic tasks (act out vocabulary words, stand during read-alouds).
3. Sensory Tools for Focus – Introduce fidgets, chewable pencil toppers, resistance bands on chair legs, weighted lap pads, noise-canceling headphones. Discuss appropriate use and teaching tool management.
4. Recognizing Dysregulation – Teach educators to spot signs of sensory overload (covering ears, hiding under desk, aggression, withdrawal) vs. sensory seeking (constant movement, touching everything, invading space). Provide appropriate responses for each.
5. Sensory-Based Calm-Down Strategies – Show how to create and teach use of a calm-down corner with sensory tools. Demonstrate deep pressure, heavy work, and breathing techniques students can use independently.

Collaborative Discussion (15–20 min)
Brainstorm applications:

• “Which students in your classroom might benefit from sensory supports?”
• “What barriers exist—budget, space, time, administrative support?”
• “How can you introduce accommodations without singling students out?”

Action Plan & Reflection (10–15 min)
Provide templates:

• Sensory-friendly classroom checklist
• Movement break activity cards
• Student observation form for tracking sensory patterns
• Parent communication letter about classroom sensory supports
• Referral guidelines for OT evaluation

Suggested Price:

• $300–600 per 60–90 minute training
• $800–1,000 for half-day workshop (include handouts and slide deck)

Value Add: Provide PD certificates, slide handouts, sensory activity cards, product recommendations, and digital resource bundle.

What to Include in Any Sensory Processing Support Session

Multi-sensory activities that provide varied input and honor different sensory preferences (heavy work, tactile play, movement, calming strategies)

Visuals and hands-on tools for consistency and carryover (sensory diet charts, activity cards, picture schedules, actual sensory tools to demonstrate)

Permission-based approach that honors body autonomy and teaches children to recognize and communicate their sensory needs

Simple take-home materials (one-page handouts, DIY sensory activity instructions, sensory profile checklists)

Follow-up opportunities (email support, progress tracking, booster sessions, or lending library of sensory tools)

Marketing and Promotion Tips

Focus messaging on outcomes:

• “Help your child feel comfortable in their own body”
• “End morning meltdowns and clothing battles”
• “Support your sensory-sensitive child with confidence”
• “Transform challenging behaviors by understanding sensory needs”

Advertise through:

• Occupational therapy clinics and pediatric practices
• Listing your services on Whole Child Guide.
• Special needs parent groups and autism support organizations
• Schools, early intervention programs, and childcare centers
• Social media groups for parents of sensory kids
• Partnerships with feeding therapists, speech pathologists, and developmental specialists

Create short videos or reels demonstrating:

• A 60-second video of sensory strategies in action
• How to create a DIY sensory bin
• Three calming strategies kids can do anywhere
• Before/after of a sensory-friendly space setup

Promote a clear call to action:

• “Register Now for Sensory Solutions Workshop”
• “Join Our Sensory Play Group – Limited Spots!”
• “Finally Understand Your Child’s Sensory Needs”
• “Early Bird Pricing Ends Friday”

Offer early registration or sibling discounts.

Sample Caption:
“Does your child struggle with clothing textures, avoid messy play, or constantly seek movement? These aren’t behavioral issues—they’re sensory processing differences. Join our workshop and learn practical strategies to support your child’s unique sensory needs at home and school. Register today!”

Pricing Summary for Sensory Processing Support Sessions

Add-on opportunities:

• Sensory toolkit bundle (physical tools or shopping list) ($25–50)
• Personalized sensory diet creation ($75–100)
• Mini-course recordings ($40–75)
• Home or classroom consultation ($150–250)

More Opportunities

• Turn one session into a 4-week progressive series: “Understanding Sensory Processing” → “Heavy Work & Movement” → “Tactile & Oral Sensory Play” → “Building Your Sensory Routine”
• Offer age-specific programs: “Sensory Play for Toddlers,” “Sensory Strategies for School Success,” “Sensory Support for Teens”
• Bundle related skills: “Sensory Processing + Emotional Regulation” or “Sensory Processing + Picky Eating Support”
• Create sensory-friendly family events: monthly sensory playdates, seasonal sensory activities, parent-child sensory gym time
• Partner with other professionals for co-led workshops: OT + feeding therapist, OT + speech pathologist, OT + mental health counselor
• Develop sensory tool lending library as a membership benefit or add-on service
• Create digital versions (recorded workshops, online courses, subscription-based sensory activity ideas)
• Offer home or classroom consultations for families or teachers needing individualized environmental modifications

Final Tips for Success

• Lead with neurodiversity-affirming language – avoid “fixing” language; focus on support, understanding, and accommodation
• Honor the child’s experience – sensory discomfort is real and valid, not manipulation or attention-seeking
• Emphasize progress over perfection – small steps toward tolerance or new strategies are meaningful wins
• Teach parents to become “sensory detectives” – help them observe patterns and understand their child’s unique profile
• Normalize sensory differences – everyone has sensory preferences; some children just have more intense or atypical responses
• Provide graded exposure – never force sensory experiences; use gentle, child-led progression
• Address the whole family system – siblings, partners, and extended family need education too
• Connect with medical providers when appropriate – some sensory symptoms warrant evaluation for underlying medical issues

Ready to launch your sensory processing support program? Families are seeking professionals who truly understand sensory challenges and can provide practical, compassionate guidance. Start with one format, build your confidence, and expand as you see the powerful impact this work creates.

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