Senses |
Elements that calm/organize |
Tips for creating the garden |
Sample Photos |
Sight |
Use soft or muted colors
Keep visual items stable
Use dividers to prevent distractions |
Provide light colored florals
Use soft lights to accent plants
Divide with hedges or block off distracting areas |
 |
Sound |
Soft low humming
Slow rhythm song/speech
White noises |
To calm, use soft classical music with slow, steady beats
To arouse, play loud music with varying pitch or beats |
 |
Touch |
Light touch
Soft non-abrasive surfaces |
Plants that have furry leaves
Plants that have feather-like petals
Sand activities
Water activities |
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Smell |
Sweet scents
Mild and fresh scents
Smells found naturally |
Herbs like lavender, basil, pineapple basil, mint and thyme
Honeysuckle and other flowers that have a faint aroma |
 |
Proprioception |
Activities with resistance
Activities that are rhythmic in motion
Vertical movements |
Activities that require pushing, pulling, walking on hands, jumping, etc.
Have the child pull a wagon or carry pails of soil, water or sand. |
 |
Vestibular |
Rhythmic swinging
Slow rocking
Sustained head or body position |
Tree swings on steady limbs for hanging and swinging
Garden statues for climbing |
Video Clip
(AVI format, 20 seconds, 38mb) |
Chart adapted from M.E. Anzalone, OTR, Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation in Early Intervention and Preschool (2006).
