Body Socks

Do you hope your child will relax more effortlessly? A sensory body sock could be an excellent sensory activity to soothe your child.

What Is a Body Sock?

A body sock is a sensory instrument or toy that resembles a large pillowcase. However, the opening of the pillowcase has a slit in the middle, and the fabric is elastic. Body socks were devised for a child to climb inside and extend their arms and legs. In doing so, the fabric offers a considerable amount of resistance.
The Body Sock is designed with autism and sensory matters in mind. Your child will adore playing, stretching, or relaxing in our sensory sock! It also provides tactile advantages for seekers, as it is soft and stretchy. The body sock simultaneously provides calming and organizing input to the entire body.

Why Are Body Socks Advantageous for Kids?

(1)Sensory Input

The resistance generated by the tight fabric provides vestibular and proprioceptive input. This is an awareness of our body in space—its movement, balance, and coordination.
This deep pressure input from the sock helps calm the sensory systems and avert sensory meltdown.
Proprioception is one of our eight senses, with receptors throughout our joints and muscles. Whenever they are squeezed or activated by pressure, those receptors transmit signals to the brain. Many kids who are sensory seekers relish proprioceptive input, which they obtain when they climb, jump, run, squeeze into a confined space, or hug someone.
The sensory body sock is a direct means to supply the proprioceptive input that seekers desire.
Some kids who seek proprioceptive input don’t seem to process it well. Our proprioceptive sense gives us body awareness. Body awareness is understanding where our arm or leg is without looking. It enables us to walk across a room full of furniture without bumping into anything.
If a child lacks a good sense of body awareness, they are often described as clumsy. A sensory body sock intensifies the proprioceptive feedback and may assist in enhancing the child’s sense of body and spatial awareness, too!

(2)Motor Skills

Body socks are outstanding for developing motor planning skills as your child explores diverse movements with their arms, legs, and core.

Material of Body Sock

Lycra is often the selected material for a sensory body sock. Others use spandex, polyester, or a mixed fabric blend. Children have different sensory preferences, and choosing a material they find comfortable is crucial. If you’re uncertain which material suits your child’s requirements, consider consulting their occupational therapist.

What Do I Need to Know When I’m Using a Body Sock?

When we offer an opportunity for children to go ‘inside’ something, we need to ensure that the ‘outside’ is safe. This means;
(1) Physically safe – no sharp edges, nothing they might stand on, bump into, or damage – so they don’t harm themselves or anyone else or feel embarrassed if they bump into something.
(2) Emotionally safe – this implies that a Key Adult is available to ensure they have everything they need. This might include making sure other children or adults nearby are kept at a safe distance, that no one enters or leaves the room without the child’s knowledge, that no one touches them unexpectedly, and that they can get out when necessary. Climbing into something (significantly when your vision is obstructed!) can make you very emotionally vulnerable, so it is essential to consider all of these things in advance.
(3) Your child might prefer to position themselves ‘backward’ – so the opening is behind them. Others might like to stand in it ‘forwards’ – perhaps even with their heads protruding. Whichever way they choose is acceptable and will help them feel secure.
Never ‘coax’ someone into going into a body sock – if their body is not organized, they might not feel safe – and might even feel trapped. Timing is really crucial with play – using games and toys at times when it feels appropriate for the child.
Essentially, having fun is the main element for any play to be organized and regulated. Explore, experiment, and enjoy!