When it comes to helping children stay regulated and engaged at school and at home, two common approaches are movement breaks and sensory diets. Recently, we’ve noticed that these terms are often being used interchangeably, so we thought it would be a good idea to address the differences between the two.
Movement breaks and sensory diets actually serve very different purposes and are implemented in different ways. Understanding the differences can help parents, teachers, and therapists provide more targeted support to children, especially those with sensory processing needs or attention challenges.
What is a Movement Break?
A movement break is a short, structured pause from focused activities that allows a child to get up, move their body, and reset their energy. These breaks are commonly used in classrooms or during therapy sessions to help children refocus and regain attention after long periods of sitting or during mentally challenging tasks like testing. Movement breaks can include activities like stretching, jumping, running in place, or engaging in a quick game that involves physical activity.
Many teachers use platforms like GoNoodle to find fun movement breaks for the kids in their classrooms.
Key Characteristics of Movement Breaks:
Short and General: Movement breaks typically last for a few minutes and include simple activities that most children benefit from.
Focused on Energy: The primary goal is to increase physical activity and release pent-up energy, making it easier for the child to refocus on the next task.
Widely Applicable: These breaks can be implemented without the need for specialized equipment or a tailored plan.
Universal: Movement breaks are not usually personalized for individual children. Instead, they are generally used for all students or children in a group setting.
What is a Sensory Diet?
A sensory diet, on the other hand, is a customized plan developed for an individual by an occupational therapist to provide specific types of sensory input throughout the day. It is designed to meet a child’s unique sensory needs and help them maintain an optimal level of arousal and regulation. A sensory diet may involve different activities that provide calming or alerting input, depending on what the child needs at any given time. Sensory diets are tailored to the individual child.
Key Characteristics of Sensory Diets:
Personalized and Targeted: Sensory diets are created specifically for a child based on their sensory profile. The activities are chosen to address particular sensory needs, whether calming or alerting.
Sensory-Specific: Unlike movement breaks, which focus primarily on physical movement, sensory diets may include a wide range of sensory input. These could include tactile, auditory, visual, or vestibular activities.
Part of a Daily Plan: Sensory diets are scheduled throughout the day, at regular intervals, to help the child maintain regulation.
Therapist-Designed: Sensory diets are typically designed by occupational therapists who assess the child’s specific sensory challenges and needs. The therapist provides guidance to other caregivers on how to implement the sensory diet.
Key Differences Between Movement Breaks and Sensory Diets
Now that we’ve established the basic definitions, let’s look at the major differences between movement breaks and sensory diets.
Purpose:
Movement breaks are short physical activities designed to re-energize and refocus a child who has been sitting or working for an extended period.
Sensory diets are longer-term plans that can be changed and adapted over time and are tailored to meet a child’s specific sensory processing needs. Sensory diets are designed to help regulate a child’s nervous system throughout the day.
Customization:
Movement breaks are typically one-size-fits-all activities that can benefit most children.
Sensory diets are customized to the unique sensory profile of an individual child and are created by an occupational therapist.
Types of Input:
Movement breaks primarily focus on physical movement and gross motor activity, like running, jumping, or stretching.
Sensory diets include a broader range of sensory inputs, such as deep pressure, vestibular activities, tactile experiences, and visual or auditory stimuli.
Frequency and Timing:
Movement breaks are often used at various times of the day, like transitions between lessons or after long periods of focused work.
Sensory diets are more structured and occur at regular intervals throughout the day to keep a child regulated in a consistent manner.
Professional Guidance:
Movement breaks can be implemented by parents, teachers, or caregivers.
Sensory diets require an evaluation by a professional, who assesses the child’s sensory needs and creates a specific plan to help them maintain regulation.
The Importance of Both in Therapy and Classroom Settings
While movement breaks and sensory diets are different, both are incredibly valuable tools in various settings, including schools, therapy sessions, and home environments. For children who struggle with attention, sensory processing, or self-regulation, these strategies can help bridge the gap between overstimulation and focus, between anxiety and calm.
In conclusion, both movement breaks and sensory diets serve to support children’s regulation, they are distinct strategies with different goals. Movement breaks are short bursts of activity that can quickly re-energize children during sedentary tasks. Sensory diets are carefully structured plans designed to meet an individual child’s sensory needs and regulate their nervous system.
