Understanding My Child’s Sensory Needs

Special guest blogger Ashley – Mom to 10-year-old Nik

Before joining the TheraPeeps team, I worked as a pediatric nurse for 15 years. I knew how to manage big feelings, sleepless nights, and more than a few meltdowns. But it turns out, nothing teaches you quite like living it day in and day out with your own child—especially one with sensory needs.

My son Nik is a beautiful 10-year-old with the biggest heart and even bigger emotions. He was diagnosed with ADHD not too long ago, and while that gave us some helpful language, it didn’t solve everything. Transitions were still hard. Focus was a daily challenge. And when summer rolled around, with its long, unstructured days, I quickly realized we needed more tools.

We started occupational therapy a few months ago, and it’s been a game changer. Nik absolutely loves his OT. They’ve built such a sweet, trusting relationship, and he genuinely looks forward to his weekly sessions. But I didn’t expect that I would learn so much too.

Here are three of the biggest lessons this summer taught me about my child’s sensory needs:

1. Transitions Don’t Have to Be So Tough

One of the biggest lessons in understanding my child’s sensory needs has been learning that transitions, (like leaving the house, starting a new activity, ending screen time) do not have to lead to tears or outbursts.I used to feel like I was constantly bracing for the next meltdown. But one of the first things our OT taught us was how to prepare Nik in advance.

Now, we use a few simple tools that make a big difference:

• A visual schedule to lay out our day.
  
• Timers and verbal warnings to help him shift from one thing to another.
  
• Consistency (but not rigidity)—we keep the schedule predictable but flexible, always letting him know when something changes.
  

Just giving Nik a heads-up, even 5 or 10 minutes ahead, has lowered his anxiety and helped him feel more in control.Here’s the Time Tracker we love! He even uses it for everyday tasks like homework, cleaning his room, and taking showers to help keep track of time.

2. Big Emotions Need Big Support

Nik feels everything deeply (much like his Mama 😉) – joy, frustration, excitement, disappointment. Summer gave me a front-row seat to his emotional world, and it made me realize that he wasn’t “overreacting”—his body just needed help regulating.

Through OT, I learned how to support him in ways that actually work for his sensory system. Deep pressure touch has become one of our most powerful tools. We practice bear hugs and gentle squeezes on his arms or shoulders. These help ground him and bring his nervous system back to baseline.

It sounds simple, but it’s been transformational, for him and for me. Honestly, I even use these techniques myself when I’m feeling overstimulated by all the noise in the house (we’ve got anywhere from 1 to 7 kids on any given day!).

3. Evenings Are for Calming, Not Controlling

Sometimes Nik has a hard time winding down at bedtime—and honestly, so did I. You know, those “witching hours” between 5:00 and 8:00 PM. But we’ve learned that sensory input can make a big difference in helping the body get ready for sleep.

Now, we’ve built a calming nighttime routine that includes:

• A weighted blanket that helps his body feel secure.
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• Dim lights, nightly reading and minimal screen time in the hour before bed.

It doesn’t mean every night is perfect. But more often than not, we both end the day feeling more connected and less frazzled.We love the Bare Home Weighted Blanket. It comes in many different sizes, weights & colors.
A weighted blanket should be 10% of your child’s body weight +1-2 pounds.

This summer has been full of growth—for both of us. OT has shown me that parenting a child with sensory needs isn’t about controlling behavior. It’s about understanding what their body and brain are trying to tell you, and helping them feel safe, supported, and seen.

If you’re on this journey too, I hope our story encourages you. Understanding my child’s sensory needs has transformed the way we structure our days, support his emotions, and show up for each other with more patience and compassion. I only wish I had known sooner just how much OT could help, not just my child, but our whole family.