How to Include Occupational and Sensory Therapy into Your Homeschool Routine

Occupational therapy (OT) and sensory-based activities play a vital role in many special education students' lives. In a homeschool setting, you naturally have the flexibility to weave these supports throughout the day, rather than squeezing them into scheduled sessions. Rather than viewing therapy as separate from “real” learning, integrating OT can actually make daily life and academics more accessible and enjoyable.

If your child works with an occupational therapist, ask for a list of suggested home activities. Many OTs are happy to provide routines, exercises, or “sensory diets” for families to use outside the clinic. Virtual check-ins or parent coaching sessions can also help you feel confident adapting activities for the home environment.

Sensory and OT Activities at Home:

• Fine Motor Skills: Incorporate puzzles, beads, buttons, or cutting with scissors into craft or academic projects. Let your child help with meal prep—measuring, stirring, and pouring all develop coordination.

• Gross Motor Skills and Regulation: Set up simple obstacle courses in the living room (cushions for jumping, tunnels made from chairs and blankets). Regular “brain breaks” for dancing, bouncing, or wheelbarrow walks help reset focus and prevent overload.

• Daily Living Skills: Folding laundry, gardening, or setting the table provide natural opportunities for motor development and independence—plus, many children enjoy these real-life tasks!

• Heavy Work: Carrying books, pushing a full laundry basket, or pulling a wagon outside can help organize and calm the sensory system.

  
  

Rather than making OT feel like a chore, embed it into activities your child already enjoys—chalk drawing outside, kneading bread, or simple yoga poses. Even five-minute sensory breaks between lessons (stretching, wall pushes, or using a therapy putty) can have a big impact on alertness and regulation. Keep a simple journal or checklist of which activities seem to help your child focus or relax. Every child’s sensory system is different—what’s calming one day may be overstimulating the next. Rotate activities, and allow your child input on what feels best.

Including occupational and sensory therapy in your homeschool is about quality, not quantity. When integrated naturally and playfully, therapy becomes less about “fixing” and more about empowering your child—increasing participation, independence, and joy.