50 Ideas for Sensory Input

"The way [any two autistic people] feel is different,
so they play differently.
Their world perspective is different,
so their system is different."

~With The Light, volume 1

Sometimes your regular methods of stimming just aren't enough, and you need more ideas as to how to regulate sensory input. This is often referred to as a "sensory diet," and can be beneficial for sensory seekers (people who don't get enough or the right kind of input from daily life) as well as sensory avoiders (people who get too much of that input). Here's a list of 50 ideas for anyone who isn't sure where to start.

Disclaimer: Don't expect any and all of these to work for any given autistic person. What works wonderfully for one person might be torturous for another. Finding the most helpful sensory experiences usually requires a bit of trial and error.

1. Jump rope.
2. Bounce on a trampoline...
3. ...or exercise ball.
4. Hit a punching bag.
5. Set up appropriate lighting and make shadow puppets.
6. Play flashlight tag with a group.
7. Use a straw to blow bubbles in milk or another drink.
8. Build a snug fort out of blankets or couch cushions.
9. Chew gum.
10. Eat sticky or hard to chew foods, like peanut butter or caramel.
11. Lie under a weighted blanket. (If you don't have one, try layering blankets on top of each other.)
12. Play with kinetic sand, Play-Doh, or "slime" made by mixing cornstarch and water.
13. Go swimming.
14. Take a bath. Bubble baths provide an extra sensory experience.
15. Climb a rope ladder.
16. Experiment with yoga poses that put pressure on different areas of the body. (Here's a list of ideas to get you started.)
17. Be massaged.
18. Carry a stack of books or other heavy items. (Make sure not to make it heavy enough that it could injure you. The recommended limit is 10% of your body weight.)
19. Rock in a rocking chair.
20. Play in a ball pit.
21. Use a foam roller to exercise...
22. ...or have another person roll it over you. If you don't have someone able or willing to do this, see if you can get access to a squeeze machine (sometimes called a hug machine).
23. Lie or swing in a hammock.
24. Bang on a drum.
25. Play the xylophone.
26. Put on a body sock.
27. Finger-paint.
28. Dance. Switch up the music if it isn't meeting the level of stimulation you need.
29. Ride a bicycle...
30. ...or skateboard.
31. Do jumping jacks or donkey kicks.
32. Play tug-of-war.
33. Sing.
34. Turn on a lava lamp and watch. Being in a dark room heightens the effect.
35. Play in a sink or large bowl of soapy water.
36. Shake a snow globe or glitter jar. (If you don't have one, you can find instructions on how to make a glitter jar here.)
37. Bury your hands in a container of uncooked rice, dried beans, or flour.
38. Spin on an office chair, or use a toy that provides the same movement (like Sit 'n' Spin).
39. Do wall push-ups.
40. Apply or spray strong fragrances, like essential oils.
41. Give or receive a tight hug.
42. Turn somersaults...
43. ...or cartwheels.
44. Ride or be pulled along on a scooter board.
45. Push someone in a wagon.
46. Lift weights.
47. Do a handstand.
48. Try wheelbarrow walking.
49. Drink soda or carbonated water. Anything that fizzes in your mouth will do.
50. Bounce a ball against the wall.

This isn't a complete list by any means - there are a huge number of ways to regulate sensory processing. If it feels right to you and isn't harmful, that's all that matters.