Sensory Backpack

If you follow us on social media you saw the recent post about sensory backpacks available at the Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford. If you didn’t see this, make sure you and Sid are friends on ​Facebook​ and ​Instagram​!

What is a sensory backpack?

A sensory backpack is a collection of sensory tools designed to help an individual regulate their systems when visiting a place or participating in an activity that might be overwhelming.

The backpack is the vessel to collect sensory tools. (You could use anything, a bag, a fanny pack, a bucket, whatever works!)

What is in a Sensory Backpack?

There are many sensory tools out there, and any of them could be included in a sensory backpack. Those available from businesses usually include headphones, fidgets, or sensory toys.

But why not create a sensory backpack for your kid? Having a sensory backpack, packed and ready to grab when you’re heading out is an easy way to always know you are prepared.

How to build a Sensory Backpack?

First, it is important to know what tools work for your child. After you know this it will help guide your choices of what to include in their sensory backpack.

If you need some help identifying what areas they are struggling with, check out our blog talking about the different ​sensory systems​.

Observe your child and see how they respond to different input, which ones are calming, which ones are alerting.

Once you have a better idea of what type of input or environment is challenging for your child and what type of sensory input is calming, you can then select items that will help them stay regulated.

Sensory Backpack tools

• Noise-cancelling headphones. These are great for kids who struggle with the stimulus of a noisy or busy environment.
• Textured toys. For kids who struggle to keep their hands to themselves because they want to touch and feel everything (tactile seeking). A bumpy, rough, or otherwise textured toy gives a nice fidget for their hands. This can also be soothing to someone who seeks more tactile input.
• ​Pop it fidget​. A quiet tool to keep hands busy. This toy also provides tactile input and a mild proprioceptive input while popping back and forth. For some, the repetition of popping the toy can be soothing also.
• Stress ball. For those kids who seek more heavy work/deep input, a squeeze toy or stress ball can be an easy tool to have in a sensory backpack.
• Sunglasses and/or hat. Often, the lights in certain stores/businesses are very bright. For kids sensitive to visual stimulus having a hat or sunglasses to put on can help reduce the brightness.
• Chewy tube, water bottle with straw, chewy/crunchy food. For the oral seekers out there, having the right tool can make a difference. A chewy tube provides a safe object to chew, and sucking on a straw or chewy/crunchy foods can provide ‘heavy work’ to the mouth, giving your kid the oral input they might need.
• Visual timer. Some children do better knowing how much longer. Providing a timer they can hold onto, allowing them to check, can be helpful. Maybe even setting the timer for the different activities or areas you are in. Look around, many child-friendly timers are out there, which allow them to visually see how much time remains.

These are just a handful of ideas that could be included in a sensory backpack. The most important thing is being prepared and having it with you.

You might also find your child wants to get involved in loading up their backpack or picking what goes in. This is a great way to help them raise their awareness of what tools help them regulate.

Re-Evaluate

Now and then, you should reassess what is in the backpack. Sensory needs change and you want to make sure you are providing the best tools you can for where your child is at.

You might also find that having a wider variety of tools/toys is helpful, so they have more choices. Or, you might find that this is overwhelming to your child and providing 2-3 options is better for them.

There is no wrong way to put together a sensory backpack. Try it out, see what works, see what doesn’t work, adjust, and then go from there!.

Have you tried a sensory backpack for your child? What did you put in it? Let us know in the comments below.