Sensory Strategies During Virtual Schooling

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • October 21, 2020

Written by: Kathryn Ring, OTR/L & Tiffany Thomsen, OTR/L. Edited by: Tara Ghorbani, OTR/L.

Why are sensory breaks beneficial? 

  • Increases attention to school-based and everyday activities
  • Improves organizational skills and organization of behavior 
  • Helps with learning comprehension by allowing a child’s neurological system to be at an optimal state for learning
  • Allows a child to build a sense of self and body awareness through moving their bodies. 
  • Improves a child’s motor planning abilities which carryover into learning especially during handwriting
  • Promotes a calming response and helps children to remain emotionally regulated

How can I provide sensory breaks throughout the school day?

A young boy wearing headphones and glasses is using a computer.

During the virtual school day, teachers will be providing “brain breaks” and students will be participating in classes such as PE and music that will incorporate movement into your child’s day. However, some children may need additional movement breaks or a sensory diet incorporated into their school day  at scheduled intervals in order to remain emotionally regulated and/or be able to focus on learning opportunities. Progressive Pediatric therapist’s can provide individualized sensory break ideas based on your child’s needs. See below for more suggestions:

Movement Sensory Break Ideas:

  • Animal walks 
  • Wheelbarrow walks 
  • Wall push ups or wall sits
  • Stretch break-touch toes and touch sky 10 times
  • Head, neck, and shoulder rolls while taking deep breaths 
  • Push a heavy cardboard box around the room 
  • Play exercise Simon Says: “Simon says do 10 jumping jacks. Simon says do 5 frog jumps.” 
  • Have a dance party 
  • Pillow jumps- spread out pillows and jump as far as you can from pillow to pillow
  • Yoga- Cosmic Kids Yoga on Youtube has great yoga videos for kids
  • Toss or bounce a ball
  • 30 seconds of high knee marching 
  • Do the Hokey Pokey
A little girl is doing a handstand on a blue mat.
Above you will see one of our PPT kids bear walking. Bear walks provide proprioceptive input, which is great for sensory regulation throughout the virtual school day!

Sensory Mouth Tools to Enhance Focus:

  • Chew gum, a straw, or twizzlers 
  • Suck on hard candy,  lollipops, or mints
  • Eat crunchy foods such as carrots and pretzels 
  • Drink thick smoothie/milkshake with a straw

A man and a boy are sitting at a table playing with lego blocks.

Have you tried any of these sensory strategies at home? Share in the comments below!

By Aimee Brueck October 22, 2025
Continuing education is essential for pediatric therapists to stay current with best practices, support licensure renewal, and deliver the best outcomes for their young clients. But with so many CEU options online, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time, and your budget.
By Aimee Brueck October 10, 2025
At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we know that every child’s feeding journey is unique. Some children may struggle with sensory issues, oral motor delays, or behavioral challenges that affect how they eat. That’s why feeding therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, instead it involves a blend of specialized approaches tailored to each child’s specific needs.
By Aimee Brueck September 18, 2025
Choosing the right pair of shoes for your child isn’t just about style, it’s about supporting their growing feet with the stability, comfort, and structure they need. Whether your child has orthotic needs, sensory sensitivities, or simply needs reliable footwear for school and play, finding pediatric therapist-recommended shoes can make all the difference.
By Aimee Brueck August 25, 2025
This is a lesser-known eating disorder compared to anorexia or bulimia. It is known by its English acronym ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). ARFID is characterized by very limited eating, either due to avoidance of certain tastes, textures, colors, smells, or an intense fear of the consequences of eating (such as choking or vomiting). ARFID is not related to body image or a desire to lose weight. ARFID affects the child’s social life—it’s not simply a phase of being a “picky eater.”
By Aimee Brueck August 25, 2025
Esto es un trastorno menos conocido como la anorexia o la bulimia. Esto es conocido por sus siglas en inglés como ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). El ARFID es caracterizado por una alimentación muy limitada, ya sea por la evitación de ciertos sabores, texturas, colores, olores o por un miedo intenso a las consecuencias de comer (como atragantarse o vomitar). ARFID no está relacionado con la imagen corporal ni el deseo de adelgazar. EL ARFID afecta la vida social del niño, no es simplemente una etapa de "comer selectivo"
By Aimee Brueck August 7, 2025
Children grow quickly, and with that growth come unique physical needs. Whether it’s posture, mobility, or muscle support, some children benefit from an extra layer of help to move, play, and thrive confidently. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we offer Turtle Bracing : a lightweight, flexible orthotic solution designed to support growing bodies in motion
A child is sitting at a table drawing with a marker.
July 31, 2025
July brings warm days, end-of-summer excitement, and for many families, the first signs of back-to-school prep. If your child is heading to kindergarten this fall, now is the perfect time to start building their confidence with handwriting. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we use the Handwriting Without Tears program to support early writers in a fun, low-pressure way that’s grounded in child development and occupational therapy expertise.
By Aimee Brueck July 18, 2025
A new school year means fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils and a renewed focus on writing. But for many kids, handwriting isn’t just a subject, it’s a foundational skill that impacts how they learn, express ideas, and feel about school.
Two little girls are running on a basketball court.
July 3, 2025
July brings long sunny days, school-free schedules, and endless opportunities for play, but for many families, it’s also a chance to focus on something essential: physical development through movement. Summer play isn’t just fun; it’s foundational. It helps children build strength, coordination, and confidence especially when it supports gross motor development .
A family is laying on a blanket in the grass reading a book.
June 19, 2025
As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, summer invites children to explore, play, and grow. But with screens so easily accessible, it can be tempting to turn to tablets or TVs for entertainment. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we believe summer is a golden opportunity to engage kids in meaningful, screen-free activities that support their development —in both body and mind.