I thought I would make this blog post personal and share why I am passionate about discussing all things related to sensory experiences. Long before I obtained my M.Ed in Early Childhood Education and spent over two decades working in the field as a special education inclusion aide, classroom teacher, and Developmental Specialist for an Early Intervention program, I was a parent.
My second-born, my little baby boy (who’s now 25 but will always be my baby – boy moms, you know what I mean!), had a penchant for jumping, crashing, running (and fleeing!), and making an uproar. I initially chalked it up to typical boy behavior. After all, his older sister was calm, quiet, and could sit at the table and color for hours. In contrast, my son couldn’t sit still for more than a second; he was always on the move. At the time, I knew next to nothing about sensory issues in toddlers and children.
In hindsight, I now realize that his climbing, jumping, and crashing were his ways of seeking the sensory input his body craved and needed. If I had possessed the knowledge then that I do now, I would have provided him with safer ways to fulfill those needs. For instance, I could have given him a box filled with a heap of books to carry from one end of the house to the other. Or, I might have packed a pint-sized backpack with heavy objects and had him wear it for 10-20 minutes, helping his body feel calm and regulated. Another option would have been placing him between two couch cushions and pretending he was a sandwich I was about to “eat,” making sure to press down on the top cushion so he felt the weight.
As he grew older, he gravitated towards all things sports (and excelled!). Today, as an adult, he works out all the time and loves weightlifting and mountain biking. No surprise there!
I could have also prevented some challenging situations by preparing him for different sensory experiences. For example, when he was two years old, he once fled an extremely loud and busy restaurant, darting right into the parking lot. I could have talked to him about the upcoming outing, maybe read him a social story about going to a restaurant to help him anticipate and cope with the sounds, smells, and visual stimuli. The same approach could have been applied to our mall visits, like the time a “code blue” (or whatever it’s called when security locks the doors, sounds the alarms, and organizes a toddler-hunt) went into effect because he hid under a clothes rack and refused to respond to our calls. He felt safe amidst women’s winter coats and had no intention of coming out.
During boisterous playdates or parties, he’d yell, scream, find things to bang on the floor, and zero in on the loudest toy or musical instrument, making quite a ruckus. I now understand that this was his way of drowning out environmental noises that he couldn’t tolerate. The noises he created were within his control, and he felt comfortable with them. In hindsight, I could have prepared him for these situations by discussing what to expect, perhaps providing headphones or a hat to cover his ears, or taking him outside away from the noise for short breaks.
Now, the purpose of this blog post is not to dwell on my mom guilt, but rather to shed light on what different sensory sensitivities can look like through real-life examples. If you notice your toddler or young child exhibiting some of the behaviors my son did as a little guy, consider trying some of these strategies and let me know how they work for you!
Understanding and addressing sensory sensitivities can make a world of difference in helping children thrive and navigate the sensory-rich world around them. By sharing our experiences and insights, we can support one another in providing the best possible environment for our little ones.
If you have any questions or would like more information on this topic, please feel free to reach out. Your child’s sensory journey is unique, and I’m here to help you every step of the way.