What Happens Between Therapy Sessions? Simple Ways Parents Can Keep Sensory Support Going

In the calm of a therapy office, things can look manageable.

The lights are soft. The room is structured. Your child has a trusted adult guiding them through sensory strategies step by step. But what about the other 167 hours of the week?

The time between therapy sessions is where real progress takes root or where regulation strategies get lost in the noise of everyday life.

As a parent, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to “carry over” what your child is learning in therapy. You’re not a clinician. You’re managing work, school drop-offs, and possibly siblings with different needs, yet you play one of the most important roles in your child’s emotional regulation journey.

This guide is designed to help you do just that. Whether your child is working with an OT, a child psychologist, or a behavioral therapist, here are simple, low-effort ways to create a sensory-supportive environment at home and beyond.

Why Between-Session Support Matters

Regulation is not just about what happens in the moment of a meltdown. It’s about building a baseline of calm, a body and brain that are prepared to handle stimulation, surprises, or stress when they come.

Between-session strategies do three critical things:

  1. Reinforce therapeutic gains (so tools become second nature)

  2. Reduce dysregulation triggers (by supporting the nervous system proactively)

  3. Build child confidence (they learn they can feel in control)

Therapists can introduce tools, but it is through daily repetition that those tools become habits.

1. Make a "Sensory Map" of Your Child’s Day

Before adding new supports, take inventory of what’s already happening. Sit down and think through your child’s day from the moment they wake up to bedtime and identify:

  • When are they most regulated? (e.g., after bath time? after swinging?)

  • When do meltdowns or shutdowns most often occur?

  • What transitions or activities are hardest (e.g., getting dressed, going to school, noisy mealtimes)?

This provides you with a roadmap to place sensory supports where they matter most, not just when things have already gone off the rails.

2. Start Small: Anchor with One Daily Regulation Ritual

One powerful way to keep support going is to anchor a sensory strategy to a consistent part of the day.

For example:

  • Morning: Put on a sensory hoodie that offers gentle deep pressure to calm the nervous system before school.

  • After school: Jumping on a mini-trampoline or a five-minute “squeeze & stretch” break to decompress.

  • Evening: A warm bath with calming music and lotion massage to help the body wind down.

This doesn’t require creating a rigid schedule. It simply builds in regulation where it’s already needed.

Pro tip from therapists: Tie regulation tools to sensory needs your child already seeks (movement, pressure, tactile, etc.) so it feels natural, not like a chore.

3. Bring Sensory Tools into Daily Routines

Some of the best between-session support comes from tools that integrate into your family’s normal rhythm, especially things your child wears, touches, or interacts with daily.

Here are a few OT-approved ideas:

In the morning:

  • Let your child squeeze a stress ball or putty while waiting for breakfast.

  • Use a hoodie with built-in sensory features, like the Cloud9 Hoodie, to offer calming pressure and hand compression before a stimulating school day. The hidden fidget balls in the sleeves give the hands something rhythmic to do great for kids who tend to chew, pick, or bounce.

During homework:

  • Try a wobble cushion on their chair or a lap weight across the legs to keep the body grounded.

  • Keep a fidget box nearby with silent tools they can use while working (twist bands, fidget stones, squishies).

At bedtime:

  • Use weighted blankets or compression sheets to support body awareness and promote melatonin production.

  • Try “heavy work” tasks like wall pushes or carrying laundry to activate the proprioceptive system.

Remember: you don’t have to do everything. Pick the two or three strategies that feel sustainable, and stick with them.

4. Normalize Coping Tools Don’t “Other” Them

One of the biggest challenges parents face is the fear that their child will feel “different” or singled out for needing extra tools. The good news is: many of today’s sensory supports are designed to blend in beautifully.

The Cloud9 Hoodie, for instance, looks like any other hoodie until you realize it quietly includes:

  • Built-in stress-relief cuffs (hidden fidget balls in sleeves)

  • Weighted shoulder and hood panels

  • Soft, sensory-friendly fabrics that reduce itch and discomfort

Because it looks like “just clothes,” it’s easier for kids to wear it proudly, whether they’re at school, on a playdate, or traveling. The more tools feel like part of normal life, the more likely kids are to use them.

5. Talk About the Body, Not the “Behavior”

This one’s subtle, but powerful.

Instead of saying:
“Why are you throwing things?”
Try:
“Hmm, I wonder if your body’s feeling too buzzy or tight right now.”

Instead of:
“You need to calm down!”
 Try:
 “Let’s help your body feel safe and quiet again.”

This helps your child learn the connection between their sensory state and their emotions, which makes them more likely to reach for their regulation tools (like that hoodie, or that squishy, or a calming swing) before a full meltdown hits.

6. Keep the Therapist Loop Open

Finally, don’t feel like you have to guess what supports to use or how to use them. Your child’s occupational therapist or clinician likely has tons of insight into what your child responds to and can even help you problem-solve at home.

Here are a few questions you might bring to your next session:

  • “Which sensory strategies are working well in therapy that we can bring home?”

  • “What tools can we use in the car/school transition?”

  • “Are there sensory red flags I should be watching for this week?”

And if your therapist recommends a specific product, don’t be afraid to try it out. Many, like the Cloud9 Hoodie, offer trial periods or satisfaction guarantees so families can see what actually works.

Calm Isn’t a Switch. It’s a System.

Helping a child regulate their sensory world isn’t about “fixing” behaviors; it’s about building a system of support that makes their body feel safe, connected, and ready for the world.

That system doesn’t start and stop in the therapy room. It happens in the ordinary moments: getting dressed, packing lunches, walking to the bus stop.

And with the right tools like a wearable comfort item, a five-minute squeeze break, or a shift in language, you can make those everyday moments the most powerful part of their growth.