Many of us are familiar with the term Sensory Processing Disorder, and we usually think of this term as it relates to people who are highly sensitive to environmental factors such as noise, odors or proximity to other people. If you’ve ever seen a child having a meltdown in Wal-Mart, it might be that the florescent lights, the noise and movement of customers and the combination of many aromas has overloaded the child’s senses and compromised the child’s ability to self-regulate.
There is another side of Sensory Processing Disorder too. People who are under-responsive to sensory input are known as sensory cravers. These individuals respond to the environment by seeking out ways to ramp up their sensory experiences. Some of the behaviors you might notice in an individual on this spectrum of sensory processing disorder are:
• Using a loud voice, enjoying noisy environments
• Licking and chewing nonfood items and might prefer food that is spicy, sour or sweet
• Prefers flashing lights, TV and video games
• Loves spinning, running, roller coasters, being held upside down or tossed in the air
• Constantly jumping, crashing and pushing into things
• Often touching and feeling objects and enjoys messy play for long durations of time
Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion
That's my three year old boy!!! What to do? Please help!
ReplyDeleteMiss Bonhomme,
DeleteYour son might benefit from some constructive activities that address his need for sensory stimulation. Here are a few ideas:
- Find a tumbling or gymnastics class for him.
- A great game to play with him is to roll him up in a blanket and then unroll him.
- The rough and tumble play that Dads traditionally do with their children will also be a source of great enjoyment for your little guy.
Your son needs lots of opportunities for contact play, but when it's time to settle down, teach your son to take some deep, slow breathes with you. It will take a few times to teach him this breathing techniques, but once he has it, you both will find it to be very useful and effective.
Let me know how it goes,
Katherine