For Children with Autism, Asperger's & Sensory Processing Disorders — by Tara Delaney
It’s 5pm. The afternoon has been long. Someone is melting down, someone is climbing the furniture, and you’re standing in the kitchen wondering if there’s a single thing you can do right now — without buying anything, without planning anything, without needing a degree in occupational therapy — that might actually help.
This book is that thing.
101 Games & Activities by Tara Delaney is the book you reach for on the hard afternoons. Not because it promises to fix anything, but because it gives you something calm, doable, and ready to go — right now, with whatever you already have in the house.
Who it’s for
This isn’t a book written for one type of person. It works for parents craving a calm, doable “let’s try this” after a big-feelings afternoon. It works for teachers and aides building brain-break moments into a busy classroom. And it works for OTs and therapists wanting ready-to-go ideas that fit into any session.
If you support a child with sensory processing differences, autism, or ADHD — this book was written with you in mind.
The big idea
Play is the language kids use to make sense of their bodies, feelings, and the world — so the right game at the right moment can regulate, teach, and connect all at once.
That’s the thread that runs through every single one of the 101 activities. They’re not just “things to do.” They’re sensory experiences designed to help a child’s nervous system find its balance — wrapped in play so it feels safe, fun, and connected rather than clinical or forced.
The sensory menu
What makes this book so usable is the way it’s organised. Delaney structures everything around the sensory systems — eight of them, one giant toolkit.
Proprioception: push, pull, carry, crash. Vestibular: swing, spin, rock, roll. Tactile: squish, brush, texture. Auditory: calm tones, silly sounds. Visual: lights, bubbles, focus. Oral-motor: chew, blow, sip, crunch. And woven through every chapter — interoception and social play.
You don’t need to know what all of those words mean to use this book. But by the time you’ve flipped through it a few times, you’ll start to intuitively understand why your child craves certain types of input — and which activities give them exactly what their body is asking for.
Every game, four beats
One of the things we love most about this book is the template. Every single activity follows the same four-beat structure, which makes it incredibly easy to pick up and use — even when your brain is as fried as your child’s.
Why it works — the sensory and skill angle explained in one plain line. What you need — stuff already in your cupboard, no kits required. How to play — simple steps, written like a friend would say them. Make it easier / harder — two gentle tweaks for any kid, any day.
That last one is gold. Every activity has a built-in “make it easier / make it bigger” option, so you’re never stuck re-planning if the game is too much or not enough. You just adjust on the fly.
One to try tonight: The Swinging Crane
A five-minute proprioception and focus reset you can do right now.
You need: a soft toy or cushion, a laundry basket, one calm grown-up, and two wiggly arms.
How to play: Stand with feet wide, arms dangling like a crane hook. Swing your arms in slow arcs — scoop up the toy from the floor. Carry the “load” across the room and release it into the basket. Count out loud: how many trips in two minutes? Finish with one deep breath and a gentle “all done.”
Why it works: Swinging the “crane” arms gives big, slow proprioceptive input — the kind that settles a busy nervous system and sharpens focus for what comes next.
Why we love it
Strengths-first language. Every page assumes your kid is already brilliant — it’s the environment we’re tweaking, not them. There’s no deficit language here. No “fixing.” Just meeting a child where they are and giving their body what it needs.
Zero shopping list. Pillows, pegs, masking tape, a spoon. Nothing you need to order. Everything in this book uses things you already have at home, which means the barrier to trying something is basically zero.
Tiny tweak menus. Every activity has a “make it easier / make it bigger” option built in — no re-planning required. This is especially helpful on the days when you’re already running on empty and just need something that works right now.
Therapist-approved, parent-friendly. Tara Delaney is an OT, and it shows. The why behind each activity is rigorous and grounded in sensory science. But the how is written in plain English, like a friend handing you an idea over the fence.
When to reach for it
The 5pm meltdown hour — pick one proprioception game and set a two-minute timer. Transition wobbles — use a vestibular warm-up before leaving the house or school. Waiting-room boredom — oral-motor and tactile quickies that fit in a tote bag. Bedtime won’t settle — deep-pressure and slow rocking from the tactile chapter. Playdate prep — a social-play game to rehearse turn-taking in a low-stakes way.
The bottom line
Save this one for the hard afternoons.
This isn’t a book you read cover to cover and put back on the shelf. It’s a book you dog-ear, leave on the coffee table, and grab when you need it most. It won’t ask you to be a therapist. It won’t ask you to buy a kit. It will simply hand you a game — one that’s grounded in science, built for real life, and designed to help your child feel regulated, connected, and understood. 🤍