Sensory Kits
Hi guys,
I was describing sensory kits to @DruidChild and @Bee, and I thought I'd love to hear about what people have done with theirs, or maybe if people hadn't made one before, they would like this idea. So, if you have made one, what did you put in it? Did you find that the process of making a sensory kit was helpful to you? Would you recommend this to others? Maybe we could share photos as well!
If you haven't made one before and you would like to hear more about it, then please keep reading. 
The idea is that when we feel bad or even when we're bored, we can stimulate our senses to 'self soothe' (kind of similar to mindfulness). So you make a box with things (or ideas of things) to stimulate your senses in ways that you like. Keep in mind, you may be more of a visual person, and so your box might have mainly visual things in it, and that's perfectly fine! It's YOUR kit.
Some suggestions:
Activity cards
These are cards with options of activities you could do. When you are bored or ruminating, you can pick a card, and then do the activity you listed. Some ideas:
- Have a bubble bath or a shower (touch)
- Light a scented candle or incense (smell)
- Go for a walk (visual)
- Listen to music (auditory) - include personalised suggestions
- Meditate (auditory and/or visual)
- Call a friend
- Watch a funny movie (visual) - include personalised suggestions
Objects
These are objects that you find pleasing in some way. Some ideas:
- Marbles of my favourite colour - visual
- Gemstones
- Stress balls
- CDs
- DVDs
For more suggestions/info:
http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/self-sooth.html
http://healthofmind.tumblr.com/post/22571448384/self-soothing-sensory-kit
Comments
@JanaG!
Thank you for posting about this!
I have to admit that even though I'm a psych student I've never heard of this! I'm so happy that I know about it now. I'm going to try it sometime
@missepI don't think it's strange that you haven't heard of it. 🙂 Let us know you go with it!
@JanaG yay a fellow psych student!
The more we know! It's definitely super beneficial to learn about all aspects of therapy isn't it?
@missep Definitely. Also beneficial to go through therapy yourself I think. 🙂
They also had pipe cleaners, kinetic sand, a string of beads, marbles and a bunch of other stuff.
They even had those little bubble bottles in them at one stage.
@JanaG I FINALLY made my sensory kit! It's got lots of cool tactile and visual stuff, as well as headphones, play dough, teabags for scent, a weighted lap pad thing (which is actually a packet of barley covered in duct tape lol) and activity cards with stuff like 'spin in circles' 'illustrate your favourite quote' 'rock back and forth' 'go outside' and other stuff I find soothing
Yay that's awesome @DruidChild 🙂 Good on you for trying something new.
Let us know if it's helpful.
@JanaG I've never heard of sensory kits before, but it sounds really intersting and a really great idea - thanks for sharing! I can definitely also think of ways this could be used with kids to help them learn to self-soothe or relax 
No worries @Nessa17, glad you think it's a good idea. 🙂
Defnitely useful for kids. In fact, I believe that's where the theory behind it comes from, based on what I've read. Very perceptive of you!
@JanaG I really really love this idea! I just realised I made something kinda similar a while back and I use it a lot! Doesn't have activity cards though so maybe I'll add some today 🙂
Basically I have two ziplock bags, and one's my green-and-blue bag and one's my orange-and-purple bag and I keep them in my backpack for using when I'm out.
In one I've got my headphones (for silence or music); peppermint and chamomile teabags; sanitary pads; tissues; and a cool lime green headspace bracelet that's really nice to fiddle with.
In the other one I have more tissues (I cry way too much!); a lil weighted lavender sachet thing; ginger and lemon teabags; a pretty Amethyst stone; a card with 24 hour helpline numbers; and hand sanitizer which is SENSORY HEAVEN.
Off to make some activity cards now 🙂
@DruidChild that sounds great! I've never thought of using teabags before for smell! I'd love to hear what you put on your cards.
