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The workshop begins by going over practical strategies to help caregivers set up sensory-based activities in the home. These strategies include creating a small work area within a larger work area for easy clean up. For example, setting a large sheet on the floor in the living room (your large area) and placing a small bin of beans and rice in the middle of the sheet (the small area). Gathering ahead of time simple & inexpensive support materials to help with set up and clean up. These items include such things as blue painter's tape, newspaper, slip proof mats and more. Then we will examine average messy items and suggest ways to make them easier to work with by containing them differently or adding more soap to make them easier to clean up.

During the second section of the workshop participants will be encouraged to take a close look at each area of their home: dinning room table, kitchen, bathroom, living room and back yard. Participants will be guided through the process of assessing the pros and cons of each area in terms of a setting for sensory experiences. Sample activities will be suggested for each area along with suggested times to integrate the activities throughout the day.

Finally, participants will discover three principals for extending activities. (There is nothing more frustrating than spending lots of time preparing and setting up an activity that only holds a child's interest for a minute.) We will talk about breaking an activity into steps. Adding components one at a time starting with the least interesting component first. Slightly changing the activity by changing the theme or focus. We will finish with a list of suggested activities that call for common household items and are easy to set up and clean up. All of the material is straightforward and easy to understand and we have a lot of fun along the way.