Sensory Play

​Have you ever noticed how some young children love to roll in the mud and others refuse to finger paint?  Some children are terrified of loud noises like fireworks and others do not seem to be affected by them.  Does your child love to receive bear hugs or does she refuse to let you touch her?  All of these reactions stem from how the child takes in sensory information.  Jean Piaget, a developmental theorist, believed that young children learn by exploring and taking in sensory information.  You can see this in action when you watch a young toddler chew on a toy or touch everything that he can reach.  We know that our five basic senses are vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch.  In sensory processing, the brain takes that information and interprets it to help the body react.  Research has shown us that there are three other supplementary sense systems:

• The tactile sense – This sense takes in information from the surface of our skin from head to toe (not just on our hands).  It can actively or passively take in information about texture, shape, and size.  It also lets us know if we are in danger or in a safe environment.
• The vestibular sense – This sense helps us to be aware of where our body is in space.  In cooperation with the inner ear, this sense allows us to identify gravity, balance, and body position in relationship to where everything else in the environment is.
• The proprioceptive sense – This sense gives the body information through our muscles and joints about what the body is doing.

Every child responds different to sensory information.  Some children constantly crave this type of input.  These are the children that love to finger paint, splash in the bathtub, get bear hugs, play in the sandbox, or eat lots of sour/spicy foods.  These children are considered sensory-seeking.  Other children may be afraid or apprehensive of sensory experiences.  These children may not like the texture of certain foods, may not like light touches, or may be afraid of loud sounds.  These children may be considered sensory-defensive.  Since every child looks different, some children may seek sensory experiences related to touch and tactile senses, but the same child may be sensory-defensive to flavorful foods.  If you look at your own preferences as an adult, you can probably find some sensory behaviors that you prefer and others that you try to avoid.  It is very typical for everyone to have some of these tendencies.
                  Although everyone shows some of these sensory preferences, there can be a concern if a child’s sensory-seeking behaviors or sensory-defensive behaviors begin to limit his or her ability to participate in normal childhood activities.  Some children may significantly struggle with loud noises, the feeling of a type of clothing, changes in routine, or someone accidently brushing up against them in the classroom.  If a child’s sensory preferences does not allow him or her to participate in normal childhood activities, then it may be time to speak with your pediatrician or seek an evaluation from an occupational therapist.  Occupational therapists can work with the child to keep these impulses under control so that he or she can participate in normal home and classroom activities just like other children the same age.