A sensory diet is a personalized activity plan—developed by occupational therapists—that provides specific sensory input throughout the day to help children with sensory processing challenges stay focused, organized, and regulated.
What is a Sensory Diet?
A sensory diet is a carefully designed, individualized activity plan that provides the sensory input a person needs to function at their best throughout the day. The term was coined by occupational therapist Patricia Wilbarger in 1991. Just as a nutritional diet provides essential nutrients for the body, a sensory diet offers necessary sensory input for the nervous system. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with food—it's a treatment strategy using scheduled sensory-motor activities tailored to each individual's needs. The OT Toolbox describes it as a treatment approach that helps manage sensory processing difficulties.
Key Takeaways
- A sensory diet provides scheduled sensory input to help with focus and regulation
- Typically designed by occupational therapists for children with SPD, autism, or ADHD
- Activities include heavy work, movement, deep pressure, and tactile input
- Sensory breaks should occur every 90 minutes to 2 hours throughout the day
Who Benefits from a Sensory Diet
Sensory diets are particularly helpful for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), who struggle to perceive and respond to sensory input appropriately. They also benefit children with autism spectrum disorder—research shows sensory diets can reduce anxiety and improve behavior in these children. Kids with ADHD often find sensory diets help with focus and self-regulation. That said, SPD frequently co-occurs with autism and ADHD, and symptoms can vary substantially. Any child who seems to need more movement, touch, or sensory input than typical—or who becomes easily overwhelmed by sensory experiences—may benefit from a thoughtfully designed sensory diet.
Types of Sensory Diet Activities
Implementing Sensory Breaks at Home
Homeschooling offers unique flexibility for sensory diets. Plan sensory input every 90 minutes to 2 hours, starting when your child wakes until bedtime. Build sensory breaks between academic subjects or before challenging transitions. Keep tools accessible: indoor trampolines, sensory swings, wobble stools, fidgets. Match input to your child's current state—overstimulated children need calming input (deep pressure, slow movements) while sluggish children need alerting input (jumping, crunchy foods). Never force activities; sensory work is most effective when the child is motivated to participate. If they refuse, the activity may be overwhelming to their unique system.
The Bottom Line
A sensory diet isn't about restriction—it's about providing your child's nervous system with the input it needs to function well. For homeschool families, the flexibility to build sensory breaks throughout the day is a significant advantage. While ideally an occupational therapist should design your child's sensory diet, parents can implement general sensory strategies at home. The key is observation: learn what calms your child, what alerts them, and build those activities into your daily rhythm.
