At-Home Activities for Kids to Boost Focus and Regulation

By Mary Winfield We chose to homeschool because we believed it was the best option for our family—especially for our child with special needs. One of the biggest reasons many of us make this choice is to allow our children to learn in the way that works best for them. And for many children, movement is a key ingredient in successful learning. You may have heard of the DIR/Floortime method, which focuses on developmental levels, individual preferences and needs, and relationship-based learning. Today, I want to highlight the "I"—individual preferences and needs—and explore how incorporating movement into learning can make a difference. Everyone learns differently, but one thing remains the same: we learn best when we engage our whole body and multiple senses. Using Movement as Motivation When I worked at a private school that followed the DIR method to teach children on the autism spectrum, movement was an essential part of our classroom. Each student had unique sensory needs, but two children in particular stand out. Cody loved riding his scooter. He would often bring one to school and ride it whenever we had gym or outdoor time. To help him stay engaged in learning, we incorporated his passion into math lessons. When working on simple addition, he would answer a problem, and if he got it right, he could ride his scooter around the gym that many times. This kept him focused and eager to participate, making math much more engaging than simply completing a worksheet. Nick preferred swinging. We had a sensory swing in our classroom, and often, he would learn best while using it. One day, we had a challenging testing session ahead, and he was struggling to stay engaged. Once we allowed him to take the test while swinging, he completed it faster than expected. The movement helped him focus and regulate his emotions, making the process much smoother. In my own homeschool, I’ve seen similar results. My son is currently learning fractions, and using a play dough pizza set has made a huge difference. The ability to touch, squish, and engage his senses while working with fractions helped him grasp the concept much faster than if he had only used a workbook. Using Movement Breaks to Improve Learning Each child has a unique sensory profile. Some love spinning in circles, while others avoid fast movement. Some seek out bright lights, while others find them overwhelming. Understanding your child’s sensory preferences is crucial to creating a learning environment that works for them. Homeschooling provides the flexibility to schedule learning at times when your child is most regulated. If running outside helps your child stay calm, consider scheduling lessons immediately afterward. If physical activity tends to energize rather than calm them, it may be better to do lessons before active play. Providing movement breaks at the right times can help your child stay engaged and prevent frustration. Using Movement in Therapy Movement isn’t just for physical or occupational therapy—it can also enhance communication and emotional regulation. I once worked with a nonverbal 10-year-old girl who was struggling to use PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). She loved swinging, so we took the learning outside. Using "yes" and "no" picture cards, I would stop the swing and ask, "Do you want to swing?" She quickly learned to select the "yes" card to communicate her desire. By integrating movement with learning, the concept clicked for her, and she was able to apply it in other areas as well. Another student struggled with meltdowns when people didn’t finish their sentences. Once calm, we played a "what if" game in a sensory swing. I would start a sentence, pause, and ask him to guess how it might end. Over time, this game helped him develop coping strategies and guess what others might say instead of panicking when he didn’t hear a sentence completed. Finding What Works for Your Family Every homeschool looks different, just like every child has different learning and sensory needs. By paying attention to what your child’s body needs, you can create an environment that fosters both learning and self-regulation. How do you already incorporate movement into learning in your homeschool? What strategies do you think would be a great addition? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!

By Mary Winfield We have all chosen to homeschool because it felt like the best option for our family, especially for our child with special needs. While there may be many reasons for this choice, a significant one for many of us is the desire to provide our children with the ability to learn in a way that suits them best. For many, this means incorporating movement into learning. I’ve spoken before about the DIR/Floortime method (developmental levels, individual preferences and needs, and relationship-based learning), but today I want to focus on the “I”—individual preferences and needs—and how we can use these to integrate movement and interests into our learning environments. Everyone learns differently, but one commonality is that we often learn best when our whole body and multiple senses are engaged. Incorporating Movement into Learning as Motivation When I worked at a private school that used the DIR Method for teaching children on the Autism Spectrum, we incorporated movement into the classroom as much as possible. Each student had different sensory needs, but two examples stand out when I think about movement-based learning. Cody loved riding scooters. He brought one to school almost every day, using it outside or in the gym. To encourage his learning, we used his passion for scootering as motivation. While working on simple addition, Cody would ride the scooter around the gym after getting a problem right—one ride for each correct answer. This approach kept him engaged far longer than traditional methods and helped him focus, knowing a reward was coming after each problem. Nick, another boy who loved movement, preferred swinging. We had a sensory swing in our classroom, and sometimes Nick would complete lessons while in the swing. When testing became a challenge, we tried again with Nick in the swing. The results were remarkable, allowing us to finish much faster than expected. With my own son, incorporating movement into learning has been invaluable. Recently, we’ve been working on fractions, and using a play dough pizza set to explore concepts has made a huge difference. The sensory input from touching and manipulating the play dough helped him grasp fractions much faster than he would have without that engagement. Incorporating Movement into Learning with Breaks Every child has a unique sensory profile. Some love spinning in circles, while others can’t stand fast movement. Some are captivated by lights, while others avoid them. Recognizing these preferences is crucial for your child's success. Homeschooling offers the flexibility to adapt learning schedules to fit your child’s sensory needs and peak times for focus. You may notice certain activities or times of day when your child needs more sensory input or is more regulated. For example, if running outside helps calm your child, plan lessons right after outdoor play. If physical activity winds them up, schedule learning before playtime. Tailoring movement breaks to your child’s needs will make learning smoother and more effective. Incorporating Movement into Learning with Therapy Incorporating movement into learning isn’t just limited to physical and occupational therapies; it can be integrated into other areas too. For instance, I once worked with a nonverbal 10-year-old girl who struggled with PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). She loved swinging, so we used that activity to reinforce communication. By asking her if she wanted to swing and offering "yes" and "no" response cards, she quickly learned to choose "yes." This approach helped her grasp the concept, which we could later apply in different contexts. Another example involved a boy who would have meltdowns if a sentence wasn’t completed. We used a calming swing and a “what if” game, where I would start a sentence and ask him to guess the ending. Over time, he learned to use this guessing game as a tool to manage situations that might otherwise trigger a meltdown. Conclusion: Tailoring Movement for Your Homeschool Every family is unique, and so is every homeschool experience. By paying attention to your child's sensory needs, you can create a learning environment that supports both their education and regulation. What are some ways you already incorporate movement into your homeschool? What new ideas could you try?