How to Parent a Child With Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing disorder, previously called sensory integration disorder, can make it difficult for a child to regulate emotions, conduct daily activities and learn because of over- or under-sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Sound, smell, balance and touch may be impacted. Parenting a child with sensory processing disorder involves integrating home activities prescribed by an occupational therapist. Generally, they include creating a sensory-rich environment to help improve the child's sensory development and processing. Both over- and under-sensitive children can benefit from a sensory-rich environment.
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Things You'll Need
- Some combination of:
- Various textured toys and materials
- Swing, rocking chair or trampoline
- Weighted vest
- Whistles or straws
- Candles
- Noise machines
Instructions
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Present your child with multiple textures to address tactile defensiveness. Rough, smooth, lumpy and crinkly surfaces are especially important to children who resist touching certain surfaces. Provide rough textured fabrics, sand, water, and gooey and stiff clay and dough. Encourage creative activities using multiple textures.
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Provide movement activities. Swings, rocking chairs, seesaws, therapy balls and trampolines provide vestibular (sense of balance) stimulation. You might create a swing for a young child with a blanket. Your child lies in the middle and you and your spouse pick up an end and swing your child from side to side.
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Create heavy-work activities. Pushing, jumping, digging and pulling provide large-muscle input. Also, weighted vests and being squished or sandwiched between pillows or parents works to provide sensory input for joints and muscles.
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Develop oral sensory and oral motor control activities for your child. Whistles, straws, bubbles, and teething rings provide oral sensory input. Additionally, unusual textures and tastes are beneficial such as sour candies, gum, dried fruit or sucking yogurt through a straw.
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Provide aromatherapy opportunities. Use oils, infusers or candles to encourage aroma input or to cover up difficult scents.
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Encourage vibration input. Massage mats, vibrating toothbrushes and vibrating pillows provide sensory input.
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Experiment with pre-sleep activities. White noise machines, weighted blankets, aromatherapy machines and nature sounds may be helpful for aiding in sleep. For some children, heavy-work activities before bedtime provide needed sensory input to enable sleep.
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Tips & Warnings
The activities listed here are generally applicable to children with sensory processing disorder. An occupational therapist, however, will create a specialized plan to target your child's individual needs.
