Sensory Motor Activities & Resources for Winter Fun

By: Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley Occupational Therapy Department

Here are some ideas that are safe, fun, in and out of the home during the winter seasons!

Heavy work and movement play ideas:

1. Have a tug of war contest with your child/children using a blanket.
2. Have your child crawl across a “mountain” of pillows, and couch cushions.
3. Wall push-ups, chair push-ups, wheelbarrow walking, and donkey kicks.
4. Jumping in place, hopping or jumping jacks with the red light/green light game.
5. Animal walks such as crab walking, bear walking, frog hopping. Play red light/green light with these different walks.
6. Log rolling across the room, or over a pile of pillows and blankets.
7. Play the “roly poly” game where your child sits on the floor and curls up into a ball, and rocks back and up again.
8. Give your child a magic carpet ride. Have them sit or lie in a blanket and pull them around.  If you have more than one child, they can help you pull their sibling around.
9. Play catch with large, soft objects such as pillows or oversized stuffed animals.
10. Have turtle races where the kids are crawling on hands and knees using a large pillow or couch cushion on their backs as a shell.

Messy, Tactile Play Ideas:

Setting up a vinyl shower curtain or a paint tarp can minimize the mess and allow your child the freedom to fully explore textures.  If you have a young child, you can always have them explore textures in the tub. 

Here are some ideas:

1. Have a car wash with cars, sponges, soap suds and a spray bottle.
2. Shaving cream, finger paints and cornstarch mixed with water are all great textures. For more texture ideas click on this link.
3. A bin filled with dry tactile textures such as rice, beans, split peas, aquarium rocks and sand are all great options. Hide items for your child to find in the bin for a treasure hunt.

Sensory Motor Activities:

• SkyZones (Elmhurst, Westmont): Some offer "sensory jumps"; check local schedules.
• We Rock the Spectrum (Naperville, Franklin Park)
• Flying High Gym (Countryside)
  • Offers a special needs open gym time on the first Sunday of the month, siblings are welcome.
  • Little Tykes Times (Kindergarten and under)
  • Check schedule for other open gym times
• Jump Town (Addison)
• Altitude Trampoline Park (Lombard)
• Get Air Trampoline Park (Downers Grove)
• Fun Flatables (Lombard)
• Kids Empire (Villa Park)

Other Children Resources:

1. DuPage Children's Museum (Naperville)
   1. Adaptive Play Time, special hours for children with disabilities, autism, or sensory needs, featuring dimmed lights, reduced sounds, sensory kits, and respite rooms, requiring pre-registration for limited attendance.
   2. They also have Sensory Story Times for focused sensory exploration.
   3. Social Story for museum to watch beforehand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3U7D_6OkJw
2. Knoch Knolls Nature Center (Naperville)
3. Kidlist makes a recreational guide for western suburbs and offers a lot of options. Each entry includes information on accessibility. Here is their list of sensory friendly events: https://mykidlist.com/sensory-friendly-events/