At Toucan, we believe that education should be shaped around the child rather than expecting the child to bend themselves to fit the system. This philosophy underpins everything we do, and one of the most practical ways it comes to life is through sensory circuits. These structured routines of physical and sensory activities help children regulate their bodies and minds so they are ready to learn. They may look simple with movements such as jumping, balancing, crawling, stretching and squeezing, but the impact they have on children’s ability to focus, engage and thrive in the classroom is profound.
What Are Sensory Circuits?
A sensory circuit typically follows three stages:
Alerting
This stage uses activities that wake up the body and brain, such as skipping, bouncing or star jumps. These movements stimulate the vestibular system (responsible for balance and spatial orientation) and the proprioceptive system (which helps us understand where our body is in space). By increasing arousal levels, alerting activities help children transition from a sluggish or under-responsive state to one where they are energised and ready to engage. This is especially important for children who struggle to maintain attention or need a boost in sensory input to feel ‘switched on’.
Organising
Organising activities involve tasks that require coordination, sequencing, and balance, like navigating an obstacle course or walking along a beam. These exercises challenge the brain to plan movements, follow steps in order and integrate multiple sensory inputs at once. This strengthens motor planning and executive function skills, which are essential for classroom tasks such as writing, problem-solving and following instructions. As in all aspects of learning, these tasks can be graded to match a child’s ability and allow them to progress. By promoting sensory integration, where the brain processes and combines information from different senses, organising activities help children develop the ability to focus and manage complex tasks.
Calming
The calming stage brings the nervous system back to a settled state with activities such as yoga poses, deep breathing or slow rocking. These exercises provide deep pressure input and rhythmic movement, which activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s natural calming mechanism. This reduces stress hormones, lowers heart rate and helps children achieve emotional regulation.
Deep pressure therapy is particularly effective in providing proprioceptive input, which helps regulate the nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety. This can be delivered manually by a therapist using an exercise ball to gently roll over the child’s body, or through self-directed strategies such as hugging and squeezing a peanut therapy ball. These activities give the body strong, consistent feedback that promotes a sense of security and calm.
Other options include weighted blankets, which offer continuous deep pressure to help children feel grounded and more strenuous exercises like the plank position, which engages core muscles and provides intense proprioceptive input. These strategies not only calm the body but also teach children practical tools for self-regulation that they can use throughout life.
A calm and regulated state is critical for learning because it allows the brain to shift from ‘fight or flight’ into a mode where attention, memory and reasoning can flourish.
This sequence is designed to move children into the ‘just right’ state, neither overstimulated nor under-aroused, but balanced and ready to learn.
Why Sensory Circuits Matter at Toucan
The benefits of sensory circuits extend across a wide range of needs and at Toucan we see these benefits every day in the children we support.
For Children with Autism
Many autistic children experience sensory overload in busy environments, which can lead to anxiety, meltdowns or withdrawal. Sensory circuits provide a safe and predictable way to regulate sensory input. The calming stage is particularly valuable, giving children strategies to settle themselves after periods of stress. By embedding these routines into the school day, we create smoother transitions into learning and reduce the likelihood of overwhelm.
For Children with ADHD
Children with ADHD often have high energy levels and without an outlet this energy can spill into restlessness or impulsivity. Alerting activities channel that energy productively, allowing children to expend it in a safe and structured way. Once they have moved through the circuit, they are better able to sit, listen and concentrate. The organising stage also supports executive function skills, which are often areas of difficulty for children with ADHD.
For Children with Dyslexia
Dyslexia is not simply about difficulty with letters; it often involves challenges with working memory, sequencing and processing speed. The rhythm and sequencing of sensory circuit activities strengthen neural pathways that support reading and writing. Organising activities that demand coordination and order reinforce the very skills that underpin literacy. Movement also aids concentration and memory, making it easier for dyslexic learners to hold onto information and apply it in the classroom.
For Children with Anxiety
For children who experience heightened stress or worry, the calming stage provides tools to reduce physiological arousal. Deep breathing, stretching or slow rhythmic movements help to lower heart rate and bring the body into a state of calm. This not only prepares children for learning but also teaches lifelong strategies for managing anxiety.
Adaptability Is Key
What makes sensory circuits so powerful is their adaptability. They are not one-size-fits-all routines but flexible frameworks that can be tailored to the needs of individual children or groups. An alerting circuit might be emphasised for children who arrive at school sluggish and disengaged, while a calming circuit might be prioritised for those who are overstimulated. Organising circuits can be particularly useful for children with dyslexia or dyspraxia, who benefit from activities that strengthen sequencing and coordination.
Why Schools Should Embrace Sensory Circuits
The progress schools see when they adopt sensory circuits is tangible. Children are calmer and more settled, they have improved attention spans, smoother transitions between lessons and experience greater readiness to learn. Over time, schools notice reductions in behavioural incidents, improvements in literacy and numeracy outcomes and a more inclusive atmosphere where neurodiverse children feel supported. Sensory circuits are not an ‘extra’, they are a foundation for effective teaching and learning.
Toucan in Action
At Toucan, we are fortunate to work across a wide range of settings, which means we see the benefits of sensory circuits in different environments. From mainstream classrooms to specialist provisions and even in outdoor learning spaces such as forest school, circuits prove their worth.
In forest school, for example, the natural environment itself becomes part of the circuit. Climbing logs, balancing on uneven ground, forest bathing and engaging with the sensory richness of the outdoors provide a multisensory experience that feels less like a structured session and more like play. This natural approach reduces stress and anxiety, making regulation feel organic rather than imposed.
Our Multisensory Approach
We always strive to use a multisensory environment that creates a more natural approach rather than relying solely on rigidly structured sessions. While structure has its place, too much can cause stress and anxiety, particularly for children who already feel overwhelmed. By blending sensory circuits with multisensory experiences, whether indoors with tactile resources or outdoors in nature, we create opportunities for regulation that feel enjoyable and intuitive. This approach respects the individuality of each child and ensures that circuits are not just exercises but meaningful experiences that support wellbeing and learning.
Practical Tips for Parents: Bringing Sensory Circuits Home
Sensory circuits aren’t just for schools; they can be a powerful tool at home too. Here are some simple ways to integrate them into your child’s daily routine:
1. Start Small and Keep It Fun
You don’t need specialist equipment. Use what you have at home:
Alerting activities: Jumping jacks, dancing to upbeat music or running on the spot.
Organising activities: Crawling under chairs, balancing on a taped line or tossing rolled-up socks into a basket.
Calming activities: Deep breathing, gentle yoga stretches or lying under a soft blanket.
2. Create a Sensory Corner
Set up a quiet space with cushions, a soft blanket and calming visuals. Add items like stress balls or fidget toys for tactile input. This gives your child a safe place to regulate when they feel overwhelmed.
3. Use Transitions Wisely
Sensory circuits work best before challenging transitions, such as moving from play to mealtime or readying to exit the home. A quick 10-minute circuit can make these moments smoother.
4. Observe and Adapt
Every child is different. Notice which activities help your child feel calm and focused and adjust the circuit accordingly. Some may need more alerting activities, while others benefit from extra calming time.
5. Make It Part of the Routine
Consistency is key. Try adding a short circuit in the morning before school or in the evening to wind down. Over time, these routines become familiar and comforting.
At Toucan, sensory circuits are more than a tool, they are an expression of our belief that education should adapt to the child, not the other way around. By combining structured movement with sensory-rich environments, we help ND children find balance, confidence and readiness to learn. These strategies don’t just improve classroom engagement, they build lifelong skills for emotional regulation, resilience, and independence.
Useful reading list:
Sensory Circuits: A Sensory Motor Skills Programme for Children – Jane Horwood
Aimed at helping children with sensory processing difficulties.
The Out-of-Sync Child – Carol Stock Kranowitz
A foundational book on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Explains how sensory issues affect behaviour and learning.
The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun – Carol Stock Kranowitz
Companion to the above book.
Packed with fun, sensory-rich activities for children with SPD.
Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration – Ellen Yack, Shirley Sutton, Paula Aquilla
Practical strategies for children with autism and other developmental disorders.
Includes checklists, activity ideas and case studies.
Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder – Lucy Jane Miller
Offers insights into diagnosis, treatment, and support strategies.