Sensory Activities to Improve Joint Attention
Tug-o-War- Tie a ribbon that hangs vertically from a rope. Mark the floor with two lines (painter’s tape or masking tape works well) about 1 to 2 feet apart. When the ribbon crosses the mark on the floor the game is over. You could also use a timer if that works for the child or just count tugs – Make sure that the child can predict when the game is over.
Foot Wrestling – This game is similar to tug-o-war but you play it with your feet and you push instead of pull. First remove your shoes and sit on the floor facing each other. Mark a line on the floor with tape. Bend your knees and put your heals on the tape line. Put your feet up against your opponents and push back and forth. The first person to get the heel of their foot across the line and their opponents knee bent wins. It may work best just to push back and forth for a set number of times.
Moving High Fives –Have the child give you a high five and then move your hand to a different area: up high, down low, on the side etc. This is a great way to have the child work on crossing midline (reaching to the left side with the right hand and to the right side with the left hand).
Push the child on a swing - Make sure that the child somehow indicates that they want you to push them each time. Encourage interaction. This may be easiest when you can stand in front of the child and push or pull their feet to swing them once they give you eye contact or another means of communication.
See-saw – This is the same thing as pushing on a swing – Have the child interact with you before you move the see-saw. Only do this activity if the child can sit on the see-saw safely.
Blowing a ping-pong ball or cotton ball with a straw – This game is best played on a table. Blow the cotton or ping-pong ball back and forth. This game could also be played like soccer, where you are trying to get the ball into a marked goal.
Pop-up – This game can be played behind a couch or blanket that is held up. The child or adult take turns “popping up” from behind the couch or blanket similar to “Peek a boo”.
Catch – Play catch with a large ball. Toss, bounce or roll the ball when the child interacts
Have a “snow ball” fight with paper “snow balls” that the child scrunches up.
In all of these activities safety must be the top priority. If these activities are too challenging for the child or the child is not safe using the equipment needed do NOT do that activity. In all activities make sure that it is set up so that there is a set ending point and the child knows this. It is best to do this where something tells the child when the activity is done.Examples are: having the child put a coin or bean bag in a bucket or cup after each push on the swing or movement on the see-saw.