Sensory Integration Education

Book Review: Sensory Motor Activities for Early Development: A Practical Resource Paperback

Authors: Chia Swee Hong and Heidi Rumford

Publisher: Taylor & Francis LtdISBN: 9780367281205. Number of pages: 238

Reviewed: by Dr. Greg Kelly

This is the second, revised edition of a collection of tried-and-tested sensory motor activities for children first published in 1997. It aims to develop gross and fine motor skills in children and features plenty of creative activities designed to stimulate sensory and body awareness, encourage basic movement, promote hand skills and enhance spatial/perceptual skills. It is aimed at those working with children with movement difficulties, or who need help to engage in purposeful movement, and those who need activities that provide sensory stimulation. Photocopiable handouts are included.

It has been influenced by experts such as A Jean Ayres, Winnie Dunn and Eadaoin Bhreathnach. The authors have also drawn on a wealth of professional experience. Chia Swee Hong has extensive knowledge and experience in working with children who have disabilities and/or special needs. He was a lecturer in occupational therapy and is currently a special mentor for students in higher education and was an external examiner for the Sensory Integration programme at the University of Ulster. Heidi Rumford is a Practice Consultant Occupational Therapist specialising in children with a wide range of physical, neurological and learning disabilities, including children on the autistic spectrum. She is a qualified Sensory Integration Practitioner, holding a post graduate certificate in Sensory Integration and has attended a number of additional post graduate training in Sensory Integration.

The authors offer an overview of the sensory systems along with practical strategies for parents, carers and practitioners to link knowledge to practice when working with children. In this new edition, there is more emphasis on understanding the sensory systems and how they link to the activities. Several of the ideas presented may already be familiar to readers but there so many that there should be something new for every reader. However, although the sensory motor activities are based on Ayres Sensory Integration®, the authors make it clear that they do not meet the criteria of Ayres Sensory Integration Fidelity Measure© (which is explained in chapter 3). There is also a new chapter on interoception including mindfulness techniques used to increase interoceptive awareness. 

Recording methods have been updated to include Goal Attainment Scaling as an outcome tool and the list of activities has been expanded.

The first edition of this book was reviewed in SensorNet and a quote from the review is given in this one: “The idea for the manual is excellent and it is a useful book to have in any department…”. The idea for the book, or manual if you prefer, remains excellent and it still be a useful book to have in any department.

At the time of writing, it was available at a discounted price of £27.99 from the publisher. Good value considering it can be photocopied.