5 Sensory Must Haves for Any Counseling Office

That kids of all ages will love!

Sensory manipulatives are a staple of my office and come in handy countless times throughout any given day! The ​ones I have included in this list are my favorite because they that have been big hits with students as young as 4 all ​the way up to seniors in high school.

First let’s look at how sensory tools can help different students ​depending on their needs...

The tactile stimulation provided by different fidgets or stress balls can help reduce ​stress and anxiety levels and being able to manipulative things like kinetic sand can ​give your kids a sense of control over their immediate environment.

I’ll never forget my first day as a high school social worker, fresh out of grad school and ​excited to meet the kids on my caseload. When the bell rang, I went to pull my first student, ​“Sam”, a junior that had experienced more trauma in 16 short years than anyone should ​have to endure in a lifetime. I approached her in the hallway during passing time, introduced ​myself, and asked her to come to my office. Sam snickered and walked away with her right ​arm raised high in the air proudly displaying a one finger salute. When Sam eventually ​came to my office (days later and solely to avoid a non-preferred class), she became very ​engaged with the sensory manipulatives on my desk. Over the next few weeks those fidgets ​helped her feel comfortable and were a great foot in the door as I earned her trust!

When a student is highly dysregulated, distraction can be half the battle! It is not ​helpful (or productive) trying to process or discuss a situation that has occurred when a ​student is still exceptionally heightened. Sensory manipulatives can help to redirect the ​student’s focus and the tactile stimulation can help to calm them down to the point that ​they can engage in a meaningful interaction. With that said, at the elementary level I ​have found it helpful to be mindful of what has occurred prior to the dysregulation and ​make sure that the sensory tool is not reinforcing negative behavior. For example, if ​Johnny is heightened because he has a consequence for flipping his desk in class, I do ​not let him use his favorite activity, kinetic sand, as a tool for calming down. Finger ​tracing can be a great way to redirect a student’s attention, and help them calm down. ​Print and laminate this freebie, to keep in your office, to use as a quick and easy tool for ​dysregulated kids.

We advocate for students to have access to sensory manipulatives in class, ​so it only makes sense to have them available while they are in our offices. ​Sensory manipulatives can be great tools for keeping students with extra ​energy engaged and focused. The tactile and kinesthetic stimulation ​provided by these tools can serve as a sensory anchor, helping to keep your ​kids’ minds engaged.

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