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| Sam crawling through the sensory tunnel. |
The term "sensory" is becoming more mainstream, but I know it is still a foreign concept to many people. So, before I dive into what the sensory tunnel is, let me explain a little about "sensory" play, and I do mean a little, this is a very broad topic that I could devote an entire blog to. Sensory play/integration/processing (a variety of terms are used depending on who you are talking to) refers to our ability to take in sensations throughout our environment. I am talking about the five senses (get it sensory) we all learned about in school: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. In addition, we also receive input about where we are in space (i.e.: my hand is holding up the phone), which is called proprioception. The receptors for proprioception are located within the joints throughout our body, as our receptor for sight is our eyes. Vestibular input provides our brain with information about our body's movement, such as when we are driving on a car or riding a swing. The receptors for vestibular input are located in our inner ear. Our brains are constantly taking information or input in from these various senses and processing it. Providing kids with sensory-rich activities helps to organize their systems and may improve their motor planning and attention to tasks.
The sensory tunnel is a "sensory-rich" play idea that is great for kids 3 and up, although a 2 year old can do it with encouragement and help. I have done this with kids as old as 14 and they really enjoy it. There really is no limit on age. Basically, a sensory tunnel is a large, stretchy, tube shaped piece of fabric that you can crawl through.
They are available for purchase, but can be "made" at your local fabric store for a fraction of the price. The most important feature of this tunnel is that the fabric is stretchy. The fabric clings to the kids while they are climbing through, which gives them lots of tactile and proprioceptive feedback. I purchased a 4 yard piece of tubing fabric for 12$ several years ago. Tubing fabric is just what it sounds like, a piece of fabric already in the shape of a tube (or tunnel, as I am using it). I suppose some people use it to make dresses without a seam? I never even hemmed it, this type of stretchy jersey knit doesn't fray. If you can't find tubing fabric (make sure you ask at the store), then simply sew up a seam to make your own tube, which can even be done by hand if you don't own a sewing machine. Unless you are making it for a very large child or adults, I would keep the opening to a 20" diameter or less.
Another child or adult will need to hold one end open so that your kid can climb through. Also, this provides some resistance for your kid while they are climbing through. Younger children may get frightened if they can't see out the other side. Have another person hold open the other end so they can see the light at the other end of the tunnel, literally. You may even need to bunch it up or fold it inside of itself to make it shorter, until they get the hang of it. One other thing you could try is placing one opening of the tunnel around a pop up tunnel . This helps keeps an opening and makes the tunnel longer for more crawling. Here are some other play ideas for the sensory tunnel:
Hide objects in the middle of tunnel and have your kid go through to find them. This particular task helps improve tactile discrimination, which is the ability to discern what an object is through touch, not sight. Kids really enjoy looking for hidden objects and figuring out what they are in the dark.
Wrap the tunnel around your kid tightly, like a burrito, if they tolerate it. Some kids may not like this activity, but if your kid is cuddly or likes climbing in tight spaces they may really enjoy this. Sam didn't like his arms wrapped inside, but you could certainly wrap them up mummy style, which would give even more proprioceptive input. In the picture above, I am pulling the wrap off so that Sam spins quickly- great for vestibular input. With sensory activities, you always want to follow your child's lead and watch for any cues that they may be uncomfortable. Be quick to stop immediately if they seem unsure at any point. Vestibular input can be very strong and can cause nausea. Never force a sensory activity. Encourage, but don't force.
Wrapping a child tightly in the stretchy tunnel or a blanket can be very calming. Try this at times when you need your kid to be slowing down a bit, like before a nap or bedtime. Of course, the spinning part can be pretty alerting, so skip it if calming is the goal.
If you are working with a therapist or a teacher that has recommended a sensory diet for your kid, this tunnel would be a great addition. There is a lot of fantastic sensory equipment out there, but unfortunately it is usually very pricey. This DIY sensory tunnel is easy, cheap, and most importantly a lot of fun!
If you are looking for more sensory play ideas check out my boards on pinterest and my facebook page where I frequently share great ideas from other sites.
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