bluebetty-my son also has sensory integration disorder. I have started making a 5 senses garden for him. We made a zoo garden for my daughter a few years ago when he was younger. He wouldn't go near it at first. He didn't like the feel of sand or dirt on his hands or anything touching his feet. After we put that garden in and made it very kid friendly he is really starting to come around. I decided that i would make a sensory garden for him. He helped me pick out plants that he liked the look of from seed packets and we planted them by wintersowing. He is really looking forward to them growing. If you do a search on the net for 5 senses gardens you should get some neat ideas.
Here is a site that I use often on kids gardening. I included the link below. They have lots of great info including themed gardens. If you ever want to chat just email me. Maybe together we could all come up with ideas.~Heather Here is a list of some things we have gotten for his garden. He is almost 5. Touch-
-lamb's ear
-obediant plant
-wooly thyme
-red hot pokers
-echinops ritro
-butterflyweed(for pods when they go to seed to pull apart)
-hens and chicks and other sedums
-rose campion
-liatris
-chinese lanterns
Smell
-variety of mints and thymes and other herbs
Taste
we are having this flow into the smell
-we picked out smaller veggies like cherry toms, radish and pattypan squash. We also have strawberries, blackberries and blueberries
Sight
-these I let him pick out what he liked the looks of
-we also added in a gazing ball and spinners
Sound
-we put in a variety of grasses. We are also connecting that to site. The grasses have movemet when the wind blows for site, but also make a rustling noise for sound. We are also adding in lots of bells and windchimes. We have a post in there with different bells that he can pull or rattle on his own. We also put a butterfly net there. He really likes to move and chasing butterflies with his net gets that energy out.
Hope these ideas help a little for either of you. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Great kids gardening site
