Good Old Summertime Sensory

By Kimberly Grandal, CTRS,ACC/EDU


Summer is here and many elderly have enjoyed family vacations at the beach. Here is a sample Beach Sensory Planning guide to help you create a stimulating and meaningful sensory program for your residents.

Recommended Music:
“In the Good Old Summertime”, “Under the Boardwalk”, music by the Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet

Recommended supplies, props and techniques for the following senses:

• Olfactory (smell): different kinds of suntan lotion, wet sand, baby oil, summer flowers (daises, roses)

• Kinesthetic (Movement): roll/toss beach ball, sorting shells, raking sand with a child’s sand rake, an ocean drum

• Tactile (Touch): shells, beach towel, sand, sunglasses, beach toy (pail, shovel), bathing suits, starfish, dipping hands and feet in a small pool or tub of water, ice cubes, rocks

• Visual (Sight): pictures of-(the beach and ocean, sand dunes, boats, light house), beach chair, beach hat, sensory waves, kite, cooler, thermos

• Auditory (Sound): Summer music, nature sounds (waves), sound of the ocean in a seashell, seagulls, ocean drum

• Gustatory (Taste): Ice cream, snowcones, summer fruits (plums, watermelon, peaches) , lemonade, iced tea , fruity drinks with an umbrella, smoothies

Sample Questions:
• Did you ever go to the beach? If so, where?
• Do you enjoy going in the ocean? Or do you prefer a swimming pool?
• Do you enjoy sunbathing? Do you tan or burn?
• What kind of food would you eat at the beach?
• What is your favorite part about being at the beach?
• What types of activities did you do at the beach?
• Would you bring your whole family to the beach?

Quotes about the beach:
• “I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.” Anonymous
• “Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” Anonymous
• “As the ocean is never full of water, so is the heart never full of love” Unknown
• "On the beach, you can live in bliss." Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys
• “The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach” Henry Beston
• “You never know how many friends you have until you rent a house on the beach” Unknown