Sensory Walks

A sensory walk is a series of movement and/or sensory input activities laid out over a distance of as little as 6 feet (~2 meters) or longer than a 100 feet (~30 meters).

The activities usually involve doing a series of physical movements (jumping, hopping, squatting, etc.) while engaging and developing your:

  • Balance
  • Strength
  • Body awareness
  • Motor planning,
  • Visual motor
  • Touch Perception
  • Number/word recognition 

By attempting the movements and using these pathways you will not only strengthen your motor skills, but also regulate your sensory systems and improve attention to tasks when feeling unfocused.  Teachers and parents frequently use these strategies with children as a “brain break” to help refocus. 

Additionally, a sensory walk will provide more opportunities for physical activity and reduce the number of hours spent looking at a video screen in our video screen obsessed world. Frequently, sensory walks can be found in schools and are made using laminated stickers and/or tape that are applied to the floor and walls.  However, they can also be made with chalk/paint outside on asphalt, on long pieces of cloth that are rolled out on the floor, and with bins placed out in a line. 

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Some make home versions inside or on their driveway.  You can purchase a premade kit and get it applied to a waxed floor or make one using tape and adhesive vinyl that is cut into specific shapes with a machine (Silhouette or a Cricut) or scissors.