Our Senior Brand Manager for Giant Leaps™ Diana H. is back with more ways to integrate kids into educational, therapeutic and recreational activities. This time she speaks to us about Sensory Processing: "That's the process by which your brain interprets the things you see, feel, smell, hear and taste; and then instructs your body to behave," she explains. "Pretty much any activity that you do in a day requires you to process sensory information.

"A Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a challenge to one's ability to experience and react to surroundings appropriately," she continues. "Some people struggle with being under-responsive to stimuli, experiencing urges such as wanting to hug others without invitation, while others struggle with being over-responsive to sensory stimulation and often avoid interaction with their peers.

"Many of us can tune out noise and distractions; but some kids cannot and their resulting frustration can sometimes be misinterpreted as intentional misbehavior," Diana says. "There can be social and emotional side effects to SPDs such as loneliness, anxiety and depression, which can affect success in school; but Sensory Integration Therapy can help."

At Flaghouse, our selection of Sensory Integration Products has been assembled with kids and adults in mind, age 5 and up. "SPDs can affect people of all ages" Diana says. "While most of the equipment looks kid-friendly, adults can also benefit from sensory processing treatments."

Sensory Integration equipment includes Swings, Vestibular Frames, Deep Pressure tools and activities, Weighted Products and more. Our FlagHouse Brand Sensory Integration Products offer a 2-year guarantee on parts and a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects.

"Different activities provide different feedback," Diana explains adding that bouncing, spinning, climbing, swinging and touching textured surfaces are activities that people experiencing SPDs can do every day as part of a balanced sensory diet.

One of the most exciting Sensory Integration systems on the market is the FlagHouse Climb N Move Gym (#W40149). This adjustable apparatus can be customized for use in the classroom or during therapy. "Climbing is a great way to become aware of your body and its position in space. A child's weight combined with gravity offers proprioceptive feedback; that is to say that climbing enhances his or her ability to sense and process information from muscles and joints."

The FlagHouse Scooter Ramp (#W40150) adjusts in width to accommodate virtually all scooter sizes and it folds flat so it's easy to put away. "Flying down the ramp gives kids vestibular stimulation and pulling their body weight up the ramp gives them proprioceptive feedback."

Something as straightforward as the FlagHouse Platform Swing (#W40146) - a Sensory Integration staple - is a versatile piece. "Because it's open, a therapist can work with a person on the swing," Diana explains. FlagHouse SensiMats, sold separately, can be attached to this swing's base and provide tactile and visual sensory experiences. "SensiMats take your platform swings to the next level."

The platform swing can be combined with the Safety Rotational Device (#W40153) for a spinning experience or the Vertical Bouncer Kit (#W40151) for a vestibular motion experience. Another swing with that same versatility is the FlagHouse Giant Leaps Swing (#W40143). "You can swing, you can spin and you can bounce in this apparatus," Diana says. "By putting the Ball Pool Balls inside, users experience proprioceptive feedback. Additionally, the base of this swing has a removable wooden board which provides a sense of security for users."

The FlagHouse Sensory Integration Support System (SISS), which suspends our swings and can accommodate low ceilings and small classrooms, comes in four standard sizes. But we can also custom manufacture an SISS to suit the size of your facility. Give us a call for more information at 800-265-6900.

"Sensory Integration therapies are implemented by occupational therapists trained in the Sensory Integration approach," Diana states. "Do not attempt to utilize this equipment without proper supervision."

With that proper supervision in place, Sensory Integration products and activities bring helpful stimulation to children and adults with SPDs, alleviating frustration and increasing social abilities such as self-expression and communication.

Browse Our Sensory Integration Collection Today