This week we are moving on from focusing on our sense of touch, to think in more detail about our sense of smell (our olfactory sense). As I mentioned before, behaviour we observe in our children can often be linked to more than one sense (multi sensory), as all our senses are very closely linked. With some observation, thought and discussion we can begin to pin point the sensory needs of our children more accurately. This YouTube link to Sensory Spectacle focuses in on this point and explains its relation to the sense of smell:
Our sense of smell is really closely related to our emotions, as the information from this sense is taken to the same part of the brain that controls our emotions. I’m sure that makes perfect sense to you all…most of us will have experience of a smell can ‘transporting’ us to another place and time. This can produce overwhelming feelings of nostalgia, happiness, sadness and fear. We should always remember how powerful and emotive smell can be.
For individuals who are hypersensitive to smell (they avoid certain smells) you may see extreme responses to even faint smells, e.g. becoming very upset, running away, gagging. It is important to remember your perfume, shower gel, shampoo or even the smell of washing powder from your clothes, could elicit an extreme response from someone who is hypersensitive to smell.
On the other hand, people who are hyposensitive to smell might seek out very strong smells, even smells that might be dangerous or perceived as unpleasant such as petrol or faeces. By offering access to safer and more acceptable alternative strong smells it is possible to reduce the seeking of these less desirable ones.
I have included a couple of links to lovely, fun, olfactory sensory activities. You should only really work with around two or three smells per session as your nose becomes overpowered by too many smells at one time.
If you have any essential oils you could pop a couple of drops on a cotton wool ball and place it in an empty bottle and let your child smell. You could also use essence/oil used for baking, for example, peppermint or vanilla. Alternatively you could even use some ‘smells’ from around your house e.g. a spray of mummy’s perfume on cotton wool (or on a scarf), a lemon wedge, crushed garlic, cloves, some rosemary from the garden. An extension to this activity could be doubling the jars of scents and the child has to match like with like, or you could even have a visual for the child to match to the smell. This could be real object to smell or picture/symbol to smell matching. Start with the light smells first building to the stronger ones, giving the child time to register and process the smell. Watch carefully for responses to smells.
This activity below is not only a lovely olfactory activity, it will be visually stimulating and if you wish to get your hands in there it will be lovely and tactile too!
The final activity I have chosen this week would be fun, hassle and mess free for a day when you just want to escape the house and be at one with nature. Why not print the board below and go outside to the garden and explore some garden herbs…you could do this at the start or end of a lovely family walk. Explore the smells and if appropriate for your child, they could match the herb to the picture board.
I have again included some simple symbols your child will use at Hillside to express their likes and dislikes. If you would like any resources sent home in packs or hard copies of the Boardmaker symbols please email me lindsey.robertson1@eastayrshire.org.uk or phone the school.
Please share any pictures of your activities via our Facebook page. Have a great week and stay safe.
Lindsey
