Nurturing Sensory Sensitivity

Parenting comes with its unique challenges, and for some children, sensory sensitivity is a part of their everyday experience. Sensory sensitivity, also known as sensory over-responsiveness or hypersensitivity, means that your child perceives sensory inputs like touch, sound, taste, or movement more intensely than others. In this blog post, we'll explore how to support your sensory-sensitive child by validating their feelings, accommodating their needs, preparing them for sensory experiences, educating them about their neurodiversity, regulating their sensory inputs, and providing opportunities for practice.

Understanding Sensory Sensitivity:

Sensory sensitivity means that your child may react strongly to sensory inputs that others may hardly notice. Here's a breakdown of different sensory inputs and how they can affect your child:

Touch: For some children, even subtle sensations like seams on socks can be uncomfortable or painful.

Sound: Loud noises, unexpected sounds, or even everyday sounds that most people don't pay attention to can be overwhelming.

Taste: Certain tastes or textures of food may be intolerable for your child.

Movement: Even gentle movements can be disconcerting for some sensory-sensitive children.

Smell: Strong odors or subtle scents that others ignore might bother your child.

Accommodate Their Needs:

It's essential to accommodate your child's sensory sensitivities. This might involve:

Providing noise-cancelling headphones to help them cope with loud environments.

Tailoring schedules to leave events before potentially distressing situations, like birthday party singing.

Selecting clothing with no tags or seams and offering familiar foods at family gatherings.

Preparing for Sensory Experiences:

Sensory-sensitive children often struggle with routine changes. Preparing them for sensory experiences can be helpful: Use a countdown before potentially distressing events like running the vacuum. Explain the day's plans and any changes in routine in advance.

Educate and Destigmatize:

Help your child understand their neurodiversity. Encourage them to embrace their uniqueness: Teach them that neurodiversity is beautiful and empower them to self-advocate.

Educate family members and caregivers about your child's sensory sensitivities.

Regulate Their Environment:

Observe and identify what sensory inputs regulate your child's nervous system: Incorporate these regulating activities into their daily schedule to prevent overstimulation and meltdowns.

Practice and Exposure: While it's important to accommodate sensitivities, don't completely avoid triggers; Allow them to explore sensory triggers in a safe and controlled environment. Gradually expose them to sensory inputs they struggle with, like swings or loud appliances.

Supporting a sensory-sensitive child is a journey that involves validation, accommodation, preparation, education, regulation, and practice. By understanding their sensory sensitivities and implementing these strategies, you can help your child navigate the world more comfortably while embracing their unique neurodiversity.