Balancing the Bucket with Cold and Water Play

Many children seek to play in water and explore colder objects and with good reason. Think of all of the ways we use water to calm and balance our own sensory buckets or talk about needing to cool down. We soak our feet or our whole body in an Epsom salt bath. We swim to unwind and relieve stress. We enjoy a cold ice cream or Popsicle on a hot day. Here are some ways exploring cold and water can provide calming input for your child.

Cold Play

Many children with sensory processing differences also have differences in their internal body temperatures. They frequently experience temperature changes with greater difficulty than others. You can try having your child play with ice cubes on a high chair tray or in a plastic bin or offering a cold snack like a popsicle or frozen yogurt tube. Teethers that are stored in the refrigerator can also be helpful. Allowing children to place their hands or feet in colder areas can help calm them by bringing down their temperature a bit. Even adding a small personal fan, like this bladeless version, can help with cooling off. Remember to watch for signs they might be too cold, such as blue or purple tint to fingers, toes or around the mouth.

Water Play

Bathtub play or playing in swimming pool or water table can also help them cool down and redirect. Swimming in a larger pool provides a lot of calming input to muscles and joints which in turn helps a child understand more about where his or her body is in space. Scooping and pouring water can elicit a calming response even if you are the one who initiates the activity. Sometimes it will help the child calm to just watch the water fall. You can use stacking cups, measuring cups or even empty containers. These splash pads are also very popular and offer another fun way to explore water. As always, safety first, please make sure you stay with your child in and around water.

Adding in some activities like these can help decrease playing in water in less desirable ways such as dropping toys in the toilet or spilling cups in order to explore water more. Does your child seem to seek out ways to play with water? Are you concerned about his or her ability to balance out sensory experiences? Contact us to find out more about how we can help your child.