Sensory Stimulation Kit Example: Theme: Plane Ride
Supplies:
Kit Contents:
1. Visual: Photo of birds eye view from plane
2. Visual/Tactile: Plane Ticket
3. Tactile/Auditory: Headphones
4. Tactile: Pillow
5. Tactile: Blanket
6. Auditory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noE1YzvfA08
7. Auditory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPgLVhrkUsw
8. Taste/Tactile/Smell: Peanuts
9. Taste/Tactile/Smell: Pretzels
10. Taste/Tactile: Soda Bottle
11. Smell: K-Cup (Coffee)
12. Smell: Perfume
Optional Items: Passport, I.D., Pictures of suit cases, airports, something representing a life jacket such as a neon-orange piece of fabric , pictures of flight attendants, toy/model airplane. Eye mask for sleeping, a white paper bag (that planes have for people who throw up!), a flight attendant hat, a captain’s flight hat, gum, breath mints, motion sickness tablets, a camera (if people are taking a plane ride to a vacation spot) , and doll clothes to represent items that you would pack in a suitcase. Include something to represent clouds such as cotton balls glued together.
Container: Draw String Bag (easy to travel with), (could also put items in a suitcase)
Additional Equipment/ Supplies Required:
CD player or IPod to play music on headphones, computer to show clips on YouTube, cups, napkins, small bowls, Keurig, creamer, sugar, stirrers
Activities
Visual:
Show the picture of the birds eye view from the plane to client. Ask client of a time they went on a plane and what views they saw from the window. Discuss the process of going through security and the airport to get to the plane. Ask client to describe their first experience being on an airplane: Where were they traveling to? , Who were they traveling with? , What were their feelings about being on a plane for the first time? (fear, anxiety, joy, happiness), What views did they see from the window that they thought were amazing?, Did anything happen on the plane ride that upset them?, etc.
Ask clients how airports and security procedures were different from today, show clients pictures of old fashioned airplanes, show pictures of airplanes and airports today for younger clients that haven’t been on an airplane yet, ask clients places they would like to travel to that they haven’t seen yet.
Auditory:
Using YouTube and headphones, show client the videos of an airplane taking off and the stewardess explaining the safety procedures of the plane. Ask client the experience they had when the plane took off for the first time. Ask client if they remember any of the safety procedures the stewardess mentioned in the video and which one they thought was the most important. Have the subtitles on the video of the stewardess giving safety procedures,
Tactile:
Give client the plane ticket to hold have them describe it. Ask the client if they remember what their ticket looked like and how much it costed to travel. Next have client hold the pillow and blanket. Ask client if they brought a pillow and blanket on their flight depending on how long it was. Have the client describe what the pillow and blanket feels like and what type of fabric it is. Next have open bags of peanuts and pretzels and have client feel their texture. Have client describe the differences between the texture of the pretzel and peanut. Have client describe the difference in texture between the pretzel and peanut to the pillow and blanket.
Give the client additional time to feel the blanket and pillow. Let them feel the shape of the ticket, pretzel and peanut.
Smell:
Ask the client to describe the smells associated with a plane ride. Have client spray perfume into the air and smell it. Make the coffee in the Keurig and have client smell it.
Increase the number of olfactory items: have client smell soda (cream, orange, or root beer), Have client smell the pretzels and peanuts as well.
Taste:
Ask the client what snacks they ate on their previous plane rides. What were their favorites? Did it cost them money? Offer the client pretzels, peanuts, and soda (*diet and allergies permitting). Ask the client to describe the taste. Does it taste salty, buttery, smooth, crunchy, cold hot, fizzy, etc.
Select items that the client might be familiar with and can eat with allergies permitting.