How Sensory Supports Can Make Shared Reading More Accessible and Engaging

When “Just Reading” Isn’t Enough

You picked the book, prepped the materials and set up the environment and feel ready to start shared reading with your AAC user. But, when you get started, the learner keeps moving around, wants to stay on the same page, flip through pages quickly and closes the book again and again. 

Before you take this as a sign that the learner is “checked out”, not interested or that you need to revamp your entire lesson, take a moment to reflect and think about why they are doing those things. I can guarantee you that they are not doing those things to make the shared reading experience more difficult. They are showing you what they need in order to keep their body calm and regulated and allow themselves to focus on the AAC device and/or story. 

When we provide sensory supports for the learner during the shared reading experience, we not only help learners stay calm and regulated, we provide anchors that keep them present in the experience.

Proprioceptive & Vestibular Input (Moving while Reading)

For some learners, movement is a prerequisite for attention—they literally need to move their bodies to process what they hear. If your learner struggles to sit still, try these shifts:

• Adaptive Seating: Offer a bean bag, wiggle cushion, stool, or even a swing during storytime. 
• Action Modeling: Incorporate movement into the story itself (e.g., “The bear is jumping! Let’s jump!”). 
• Change of Scenery: Move to different parts of the room for different chapters or pages.

Remember: Just because a learner is moving doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. For many, the movement is exactly what allows them to stay tuned in.

Tactile Anchors (The “Touch-and-Feel” Beyond the Book)

Other learners may need or prefer additional tactile stimulation to get and keep them engaged during shared reading. Giving hands something to do often gives the brain more space to focus on language. Here are some ideas to increased tactile input during shared reading: 

• Story Bins: Create “literacy kits” with items representing the story, like soft fur for a bear or a small cup for tea time.
• Themed Fidgets: Provide fidgets that match the book’s theme to keep the learner’s tactile system engaged with the topic.

Sensory Minimalism: Reducing the Noise

While we are thinking about the different things we might need to add to help make shared reading more sensory friendly, there are also some things we might need to decrease. While some learners might seek out visual and auditory input, too much of this type of input can also be overwhelming for some. Knowing our learners and their sensory preferences, allows us to reduce the “sensory noise” so that the AAC voice and the book can be the stars. Here are some actionable ideas you can use to help decrease the auditory and visual distractions:

• Lighting: Use a reading lamp instead of harsh overhead lights.
• Auditory: Minimizing background noise
• Visual: Using a dedicated “reading rug” to define the space.

The “Low-Tech” Sensory Kit

Before you start thinking that you need to go out and buy a bunch of new things to revamp your room, area, etc. take a look around your home or classroom, you probably have a lot of items you can use to support sensory needs during shared reading. 

• • Comfort: Pillows, blankets, cushions
  • Movement: rocking chairs, wiggle seats, trampoline, swing
  • Tactile: Various textures and/or items that the learner can feel and interact with while reading – bonus if they are related to items within the story. 
  • Tactile: Preferred fidget items
  • Movement: Different areas that you can move to throughout the reading if needed or a specific place that is your “reading area’.

• Lighting: dimmable lights or light from lamps instead of overhead lights

• Auditory: quiet space, headphones

The possibilities are endless!

Once you get started seeing things from a “sensory lens” you will come up with many more ideas that are personalized to your learner than I can list here. You are the expert on your learner. These tools simply help their environment match their needs. 

If you are interested in learning even more about sensory supports and how they can make shared reading accessible and engaging and want to see some examples of sensory based literacy kits you can check them out in my store. 

Before you go

Share with us in the comments: “What is your learner’s favorite sensory support during storytime?”