Sensory Health: My Top 10 Tips

A sensory lifestyle is a concept that we all have sensory needs. The idea is important for all people. It is doubly important for a child with a Sensory Processing Disorder. So what can you do to create good “Sensory Health?”

Here are my top 10 tips to keep in mind when implementing a sensory healthy lifestyle.

CONNECT with your child

Keep it interesting to both you and your child. Engagement is the most difficult idea to get a grasp on when it comes to sensory health activities. Find the “gleam” in your child’s eye. Connect. Hook them in. It’s that moment when you feel like you’re sharing an activity together. You’re in the flow. You’re enjoying each other’s company.

FIND A MATCH!

Your sensory system is different than your child’s. You need to keep this in mind! It is important to realize that your sensory tools are different from your child’s. You love a bubble bath. Your child hates big smells. Your sensory sensitive child finds a bubble bath to be just terrible. That is OK. You need to dig down deep. What are your child’s individual sensory needs? Now try to match them. This is Sensory Health.

ASK PERMISSION

Never force a sensory activity on anyone. This goes along with do no harm to others. Your child may not want to touch messy things. He doesn’t like finding toys in a dry rice bin. He hates the sand. She cries when you put her feet in water. Do not force it! There are ways of breaking down sensory activities, so that children find them acceptable and enjoyable! Your occupational therapist can help all your child’s sensory health needs.

BE A DETECTIVE

Children do the best they can. I have never met a kid who is it trying to be “bad”. I’m not saying that every behavior is sensory-based. Behaviors can be rooted in a lot of different things. It can be due to trauma, not feeling accepted, or physiological issues, such as being hungry or tired. it can be also be a sensory issue. It is important for us to be detectives and figure out what is going on and not assume bad behavior.

EYE GAZE not EYE CONTACT

Eye contact is not the end all be all. Although it feels nice to you when your child looks at your face, it does not necessarily mean that they’re enjoying your company. Actually, I find children often look at me when I have gone too far. Do you look at everybody in the eye when you speak to them? Start monitoring that in  yourself. An eye gaze is brief, but you know your connected. It’s a feeling of enjoyment together.

NO TICKLE

Use light touch with caution. Some children find it pleasant, but many do not.

HEAVY WORK IS KING

Use proprioception. Proprioception is calming and organizing.  You cannot give proprioception to someone else. Pushing, pulling, dragging, lifting crashing. These are all actions that activate proprioceptors on the body and help relax an overstimulated sensory system.

LONG LASTING

Vestibular input can have a 6-8 hour impact on the brain. Try a vestibular activity. Learn more about the Vestibular System here!

UPSIDE DOWN

Inverting the head is good for your brain!! Did you know that inverting the head can be calming or alerting depending on how it is applied?

FIRM TOUCH for the WIN!!

Deep pressure touch (DPT) is awesome! Applying deep pressure touch to a child’s body with permission can be very organizing and calming. Children thrive when they can apply this deep pressure touch to themselves. They might do this well if they are provided with the tools to allow for this. 

As you can see, there are many ways you can support Sensory Health in yourself and your child. If you’re in the Bay area or Mountain View, California you can reach me for a free consultation. If not, find a great pediatric Occupational Therapist near you!