Everyday Games for Sensory Processing Disorder: 100 Playful Activities to Empower Children with Sensory Differences

by Barbara Sher

Award-winning author and occupational therapist Barbara Sher has over 45 years experience helping children with sensory processing disorder, autism and Asperger's learn and thrive. In this new solutions-based guide, she's collected 100 sensory-rich games that make working with your child a joy.

Whimsy and wisdom pour forth from this wonderful book. The fun and functional sensory-motor ideas are easily adaptable to suit all environments, all abilities, all kids and all their grown-ups. —Carol Stock Kranowitz, Author of The Out-of-Sync Child and The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun

If you're looking for new strategies to manage your child's sensory processing disorder, this book is a perfect companion to classics such as The Out-of-Sync Child and Raising a Sensory Smart Child.

Everyday Games for Sensory Processing Disorder advocates play as the most effective approach for children with sensory processing disorder, and illustrates the many ways that play can lead to significant breakthroughs,

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder

268 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Barbara "The Games Lady" Sher is an internationally popular occupational therapist specializing in developing children's natural love of play to enhance sensory, motor and social skills.

Source: Amazon.com

Reviews

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I've learned about life sciences is that you can learn a lot about how to do right by looking at what went from. This is why we've been reading many books on play therapy and occupational therapy to be able to notice when and where intervention is needed and how to mitigate the issues at home before or even without the extra professional help. There definitely needs to be way more research done on SPDs. I personally find that all young kids have some sort of minor sensory issues that can follow them their whole life. This book provided very simple games and activities that require little to no equipment, that require you to think on the fly, to help your kid learn to tolerate or properly react to certain sensory sensations. There is so much to learn and read about SPDs. We loved this book because it covered ten kinds of sensory disorders and play therapy for children who feel too much or too little. I learned a ton

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate finding a book that actually has *ideas* of things to help kids. A few thoughts:

*The cover says ages 1-12, but this book really has the best stuff for that toddler-preK range. There's not a lot in here for an actual 12-year-old. Or even eight-year-old.

*Reading through the games and ideas really just made me think...yup, playing outside in nature covers all of the sensory stuff here. But I'm going to hold onto some ideas for rainy days.

*The author seems to have a weird thing against ADHD diagnoses. It comes up more than once. They warn that movement-seeking kids who "have an almost insatiable desire for sensory input, and [are] constantly moving, crashing, bumping, or jumping" might get labeled as ADHD...like ADHD-hyperactive folks are moving around for some mysterious reason not related to an increased need for sensory stimulation? It was strange.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Play based therapy?! YES PLEASE!

This book not only gives parents a tangible understanding of what Sensory Processing Disorder is, but it also gives HOPE! It offers 100 games that anyone can do at their own home with very little prep work and without needing to buy a bunch of stuff. It's super user friendly because it's broken down into sections to address each of the 7 individual senses.

While obviously this book was written to address the needs of kids that are neurodivergent, these games would be beneficial to neurotypical kids as well.

Will be recommending to a few friends.

[Ainara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This is a great book, well organised and with tons of ideas/activities. I would definitely recommend this book to any parent.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and so so helpful as a mom who has a SPD child. So many fun game ideas that I’d never think of and others are so simple we practically do them everyday.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

As an OT, I am always looking for new ideas for my kids and their families, and this book fits the bill. It provides a nice overview of SPD, followed by 100 games to play that are appropriate for kids with sensory processing dysfunction and even their typically developing siblings. When I saw the pages on playing with food, I knew Barbara Sher’s ideas would be perfect for several of my patients!

This book seems to be focused toward families more than therapists, and I like how it can grow with their child from early intervention up through the elementary school years, keeping everyone happy and regulated.

[Donna Hutt Stapfer Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Window targeted to very young children

Games simple, available but not always appropriate for older kids, only kids. Not a bad start, but still...just a start.

[Shannon Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what i was searching for!

This book is practical, researched, and very applicable! The games can be used with all kids...1-92. I can't wait to share with others!