Did you ever have a slumber party and spent the night having pillow fights with your friends? Sooo much fun!  And it’s a great game to play with your kids to get proprioceptive input (deep pressure to the joints and muscles which helps muscle control as well as regulating the brain chemistry for a relaxed and focused learning state) …. But wait! Here are a couple more sensory ideas you can get out of a little ol’ pillow…..

Jumping- ready, set go! There are few things more fun than having a race in a pillow case sack…..Vestibular- then use the pillow cases again and roll sideways down a hill inside them.

Deep Pressure- For those of us who can sew…why not create a personal homemade weighted blanket out of pillowcases for a

fraction of the price of a manufactured one?

Heavy Work-fill a pillow case with “potatoes” (or heavy toys) and sling the “sack” on your shoulder…

Oral- throwing out an old down pillow? Before you do…open it up and save a few feathers… place the feather on the floor or table and using a straw have a contest – who ever can blow the feather to the finish line first wins!

Tactile- synthetic feathers from a craft store and white cotton balls are great way to fill a sensory tube for a “sleepy night time theme…

Shani Hirsh and Malky Shapira

Pediatric Occupational Therapists