It may sound like the start of a witty joke. However, today we are going to use these three to understand the Sensory Processing Disorder. So ... Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore are playing in the yard. Tigger is jumping from one thing to the next; kicking a ball, then playing jacks and interrupting Pooh’s explanation of how to play hop scotch. Eeyore is sitting by himself, watching the action. But he doesn’t move to join in. Pooh is trying to explain directions but also trying to see if he can maybe play jacks too.
Our three lovable friends are a perfect example of the Sensory Processing Disorder spectrum. Tigger is extremely hyper and bouncy. He has zero safety awareness and is easily distracted. He is overstimulated and rarely can focus on any one task. Eeyore is under stimulated. His pace is slower. He’s hesitant about basic activities and doesn’t like new things. He needs lots and lots of encouragement. And then Pooh is our medium - not quite hyper active but no quite under stimulated either.
In order for these three to grow and learn, they need to be as regulated as possible. You may see some of these behaviors or tendencies in your own child. So how do you regulate the behavior and make it possible to learn? How can you, as a parent or educator, best help our little ones to grow and succeed?
A quick five ways that we at Five Senses try and implement when meeting any new kiddos AND in helping our very own little ones.
EDUCATE YOURSELF. The more that you learn about this disorder the better equipped you will be to make informed decisions when it comes to your child and their learning path. Oftentimes, these behaviors can be mistaken as misbehaving or acting out. But really, these behaviors are symptoms of this disorder. When you have the flu, you may have symptoms like a runny nose or coughing but the actual diagnosis is the flu. The same is true with SPD. Your child’s symptoms may present themselves as meltdowns, not tolerating textures or long sounds - and these may seem behavioral at first glance, but with a little digging and reading you may come to find out that your child is struggling with this disorder.
TRIGGERS. Learn your child’s triggers. Forcing them to do things that they find triggering, will not help the overall problem and will lead to a lot more frustration and tantrums. It takes time, consistency and/or professional therapy. Identifying those triggers is key to how you can properly introduce them to their triggers, in a constructive and gentle way.
TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN. Your child’s doctor can help with a lot of your questions as well as lead you in the right direction for an Occupational Therapist. Getting a team of informed health professionals is key to helping you and your child. Ideally both your child’s doctor and occupational therapist should be able to offer helpful guidelines and help you to implement a sensory diet, if needed. And if you are worried about the cost, don’t be. It varies by state, but a lot of states are on board with early intervention (birth to three year olds to preschool) and so many times you can get a therapist, at no additional cost to you.
ENVIRONMENT. Set up a sensory-rich environment in your home. Children with sensory disorders need to be exposed to a multitude of experiences, textures and sounds. Give them the opportunity to do so, in a safe environment (their own home) so that their bodies can experience it and learn to regulate.
TALK to your child. They are not alone and it is a very common disorder we are seeing from children all the way to adult hood. Communication with your child, at an appropriate level, will help normalize what they are going through so they don’t feel odd, uncomfortable or left out.
These five steps will help you to get your little one started on a road of understanding and desensitization. This will definitely impact the social and learning paths for your little one. And for you? Remember to BREATHE. YOU are not alone in this and you are doing a great job!
Have specific sensory questions? Email us today!
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