Fun & Function Blog - Our Experts Discuss Everything Sensory

Summer Activities for Kids with Autism

Splashdown! Camp is in full swing and homework is long forgotten. For children with special needs...
Tips for Sensory-Friendly Bath Time

Tips for Sensory-Friendly Bath Time

As the end of the day draws near and it’s time to take a bath, many parents find that their...
The Best Games to Improve Visual Perceptual Skills

The Best Games to Improve Visual Perceptual Skills

You’ve probably never given any thought to the fact that you can see words on a billboard and...
5 Tips For Mealtime Success

5 Tips For Mealtime Success

Feeding and mealtimes are often stressful for a variety of reasons. Your toddler might be going...
So You Think You Stim?

So You Think You Stim?

Stimming is most commonly associated with autism. However, we all engage in some sort of...
Object Attachment and Autism

Object Attachment and Autism

What Is Object Attachment?Object attachment is when someone is emotionally attached to an...
Heel First! Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Toe Walking

Heel First! Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Toe Walking

Does your child walk on the toes or balls of the feet? Toe walking can lead to falling, and may...
Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder in a 3-Year-Old

Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder in a 3-Year-Old

Are you troubled by some behaviors that you are seeing in your 3-year old? Chances are they may be...
Resources for Student Wellness

Resources for Student Wellness

Today’s students face increasingly more challenges each year. Students are expected to achieve...
Four Strategies to Improve Toileting Through Interoception

Four Strategies to Improve Toileting Through Interoception

What Is Interoception?Interoception, otherwise known as the eighth sense, is the awareness of how...
How to Establish a Healthy Sleep Routine

How to Establish a Healthy Sleep Routine

Is your child sleeping enough? The  American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that 6-12...
Are Sensory Spaces for Adults?

Are Sensory Spaces for Adults?

A sensory processing disorder is not something you simply outgrow, the way you would an old...
The Four Most Popular Skill-Building OT Tools

The Four Most Popular Skill-Building OT Tools

If your child is receiving occupational therapy, you know firsthand that your therapist is an...
Sensory Hallways Help Refocus Attention and Learning

Sensory Hallways Help Refocus Attention and Learning

For many kids, having to sit still and be quiet through an entire school day can seem like an...
Making Air Travel a Sensory-Friendly Experience

Making Air Travel a Sensory-Friendly Experience

Jump To:Aren’t Airports Already AccessibleInclusive Solutions from Door to DoorThe airport...
How to  Build Your Own Sensory Break

How to Build Your Own Sensory Break

Incorporating sensory breaks throughout the day can make a huge difference for your child. If you...
What Is a Sensory Deficit?

What Is a Sensory Deficit?

A sensory deficit is when someone’s senses do not function properly. It happens when the sensory...
Flapping or Jumping? How to Cope with Sensory Overload

Flapping or Jumping? How to Cope with Sensory Overload

When your body receives sensory information, your brain processes it and determines the...
Four Ways to Practice Using Utensils

Four Ways to Practice Using Utensils

People often take the skill of eating with utensils for granted, but it is actually not an...
How to Balance Types of Play

How to Balance Types of Play

“You can play after you finish your homework.” “Eat dinner and then go play.” “Let’s...
How to Choose Flexible Classroom Seating

How to Choose Flexible Classroom Seating

Do you struggle with sitting still? Movement can help students learn better, making flexible...
Does Handwriting Matter?

Does Handwriting Matter?

In our modern digital age, handwriting seems like a thing of the past. When typing is faster,...
What is a Sensory Seeker?

What is a Sensory Seeker?

Sensory seekers under-respond to sensory input, so they generally crave extra input. This is...
Not Just Vests: 6 Compression Strategies

Not Just Vests: 6 Compression Strategies

Does your child have sensory integration disorder (SPD)? If so, you may be familiar with the...
What is Visual Perceptual Delay?

What is Visual Perceptual Delay?

Visual perception is the ability to process information that you see. It’s common to have a...
Time to Swing!

Time to Swing!

Make time to swing regardless of the weather! You can set up a sensory swing system indoors or...
6 Benefits of Jumping

6 Benefits of Jumping

Can you jump six inches or a foot high? Can you land on a specific spot? Jump over a log or off a...
6 Strategies for Executive Function Disorder

6 Strategies for Executive Function Disorder

Are you familiar with Executive Function Disorder (EFD)? In layman's terms, it's a chronic pattern...
2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Shop by Sensory Type

2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Shop by Sensory Type

Good things come in different packages! Find the perfect gift for playful activities, calming or...
Holiday 2021: New & Popular Gifts

Holiday 2021: New & Popular Gifts

It’s that time of year again! Whether you’re a sensory pro or new to the game, finding that...
Autism and Thanksgiving

Autism and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! If you have a family member with special needs, then...
How to Advocate for Real Inclusion

How to Advocate for Real Inclusion

In celebration of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Fun and Function interviewed Jodi Samuels, known...
What is Tactile Defensiveness?

What is Tactile Defensiveness?

Touch allows us to process information from our surroundings through receptors on our skin. Some...
What is Fine Motor Delay?

What is Fine Motor Delay?

Fine motor skills depend on the use of the small muscle groups in your hands. By coordinating...
What is Sensory Play?

What is Sensory Play?

Any activity that engages our senses is a type of sensory play. Along with the five commonly...
What is Oral Motor Delay?

What is Oral Motor Delay?

Oral motor skills refer to controlling the mouth muscles for speech, eating, and forming...
What is ADHD?

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological disorder. Typically...
What is Cerebral Palsy?

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor disability caused by abnormal brain...
What is Hypotonia?

What is Hypotonia?

Also known as “low muscle tone,” hypotonia refers to a decrease in the amount of tension in...
Surpassing the Diagnosis

Surpassing the Diagnosis

Surpassing the DiagnosisIt’s not every day that a parent of a child with autism turns his...
What is a Sensory Bin?

What is a Sensory Bin?

Sensory bins are containers filled with a variety of sensory materials for kids to explore....
What is Social-Emotional Learning?

What is Social-Emotional Learning?

Social-emotional learning, or SEL, is the continuous process of learning and developing skills...
What is Sensory Integration?

What is Sensory Integration?

The nervous system sends sensory input to the brain, where it all needs to be processed,...
What is Stimming?

What is Stimming?

What is Stimming?“Stimming” is short for “self-stimulation.” These repetitive behaviors...
What is Sensory Overload?

What is Sensory Overload?

Sensory overload  is when your brain is receiving more input from your senses than it can...
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) means that you have trouble processing input from your senses...
How to Ease the Transition to Kindergarten

How to Ease the Transition to Kindergarten

Change, no matter when it happens, can be hard. As parents we often wonder what we can do to make...
The History of Fidget Toys

The History of Fidget Toys

As humans, we have an innate need to self-soothe. According to Dr. Karlesky of the University of...
How Sensory Spaces Promote Social-Emotional Learning

How Sensory Spaces Promote Social-Emotional Learning

Jump to:How do you teach kids to visually identify emotions? How do you provide emotional...
Sensory Survival For Teens

Sensory Survival For Teens

This post was originally posted on 06/19/2017. It was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness...
Constipation and Sensory Processing Disorder

Constipation and Sensory Processing Disorder

This post was originally posted on 01/5/2008. It was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness...
Key Components of a Successful Sensory Corner

Key Components of a Successful Sensory Corner

Key Components of a Successful Sensory CornerGood things come in all shapes and sizes. While...
Library Sensory Rooms

Library Sensory Rooms

For a parent of a child with autism or a sensory processing disorder, visiting a library with your...
Vest On, Vest Off? Wearing Times for Weighted Vests

Vest On, Vest Off? Wearing Times for Weighted Vests

We are frequently asked: "How long should my child wear the weighted vest?" "How much weight does...

Autism Awareness Month

There’s an energy that emerges with the Spring season, and it seems that the darker and longer...
5 Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs

5 Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs

Bean bag chairs may not be your first choice for seating. But should they be? Studies show that...
6 Common Household Items that Sensory Seekers Love

6 Common Household Items that Sensory Seekers Love

Is your child a sensory seeker? If they seem to be constantly on the lookout for more sensory...
Building Social Skills While Social Distancing

Building Social Skills While Social Distancing

As lockdowns, school closures, and changing restrictions continue, a question many parents...
Do Fidgets Help Kids Transition?

Do Fidgets Help Kids Transition?

Transitions always have their challenges. Kids find comfort in familiarity and routine, meaning...
How to Create a Sensory Room: A Complete Guide

How to Create a Sensory Room: A Complete Guide

You may have heard the term “sensory room” mentioned but did you know exactly what it...
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