Walking in circles is a way to describe futility.
But walking in an infinity loop is a super beneficial activity.
Check out this classic occupational therapy activity that you can do in your own home.
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Set Up:
Use painter’s tape to create a figure 8 on the floor roughly 6-12 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
(Optional, place two large objects within the loops of the figure eight, to help a beginner follow the pattern.)
Have a visual you want your child to focus on. This could be anything from sight words, to colored sheets, to your own fingers for them to count.
Directions:
Have the child walk the infinity loop pattern in a smooth motion. Some kids, especially those with sensory processing disorder may struggle at the intersection of the lines. Encourage them to continue on the same trajectory, not making an sharp angled turns.
Position yourself a couple feet to the side of the intersection of the infinity loop. As the child walks the figure eight, have them look at the visual in your hands, calling out what they see. Encourage them to keep their eyes trained on the visual as they travel the loop. This will force them to rotate their heads and coordinate their body movements.
It seems simple, but this activity actually is great at increasing communication between the two sides of the brain. It also enhances coordination by building muscle memory via trunk rotation.
So the next time your child needs to practice number recognition, watch TV, or memorize their spelling words, write those words down and have them follow the infinity loop for an extra dose of occupational therapy!
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Julie is a frazzled mom of three tornadoes. As a dorky second-generation homeschooler, she writes about learning and play, natural living, special needs parenting and matters of the heart. She serves an astounding God that radically saved her.
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Crystal says
Ill give the infinity loop a try I just found your sight tonight Im a adult with autism spectrum disorder with a lot of sensory related issues food issues being the worst. I did not get diagnosed until I was an adult and was never tested for sensory processing disorder so may or may not have it as well ( I suspect I do) so Im looking to try some sensory processing activities to see if they help me. Thank tou for your blog it is helpful.
Julie says
So glad you found us! Yes, the overwhelming majority of people with autism deal with difficult sensory needs. But really, everyone has sensory needs! Let me know how it goes!