THE ‘CURE’ TO YOUR SENSORY SEEKING CHILD

I
was talking with one of my neighbours, and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice:

“It’s just so embarrassing. Everywhere we go, my 4-year-old is the worst behaved kid in the
room. No matter what I do, he is yelling, running around, and melts down when it’s time
to go. What should I do?”

As an OT, I was deeply familiar with this feeling, having attended to many kids who are sensory
seekers, I wanted to give her a hug, but even more I wanted to tell her that there was much
more to her “wild child” than meets the eye.

I often see kids with sensory seeking behaviours called “bad,” “wild,” and “difficult.”

But the truth is, these kids are wired differently, and these behaviours often show that they are
dysregulated- meaning their brains aren’t processing sensory input correctly, causing them to
seek out sensations of deep pressure, movement and more.

I immediately started talking to this mom about sensory activities that she could strategically
use to calm and regulate her child. These activities were things her kid was already interested
in: jumping, climbing, and getting messy.

But that keyword, strategically, meant that she would use these activities to her advantage
instead of allowing her child to run wild, further dysregulating this behaviour.

This idea of using sensory activities may seem confusing or even overwhelming, but these

8 Activities for Sensory Seekers will help you know how to do it.

Sensory processing is a powerful thing, and knowing which activities your kid needs can be the
difference between a dysregulated or “wild” child, and a regulated, calm one.

What is a sensory seeker

O
ne of the most common ways that parents describes a sensory seeking child is: WILD

Children who are sensory seekers are often seeking out or craving more sensations.
It’s as if they can’t get enough. Most commonly they love the sensations from
movement, but they may seek out different sensations instead of movements or in addition to
it.
Signs of a Sensory Seeking Behaviour

S
ensory seekers are often in constant motion and may have a hard time playing with other
kids because they are so rough or preoccupied with seeking sensory input. They also may
have difficulty sitting down to focus whether it’s to eat dinner or do their homework.

Kids who are sensory seekers may even be unaware of dangers other kids seem to notice. They
may run into the street or a parking lot without a second thought or participate in some really
scary behaviours like trying to climb the refrigerator, jumping from the first-floor balcony. All
because they have this insatiable need for experiencing more of the sensation they seek.

Here are some signs of sensory seeking behaviour:

• Jumping, running, and crashing into other people of furniture

• Spinning around constantly
• Climbing furniture and other high points in the environment unsafely
• Hanging upside down all the time
• Licking inappropriate objects like the window, their hand, or toys they are playing with
• Touching everything and everyone
• Loves getting messy and will enjoy putting mud, finger-paint, or lotion all over their
body
• Jump from high places
• Makes or enjoys loud noises
• Stares at spinning objects or highly coloured and flashing lights

Why is my child a sensory Seeker?

Why are some kids big sensory seekers?

It’s all related to their Sensory Processing, that’s the function of the brain that’s
responsible for registering, sorting, and interpreting the multitude of sensations it
receives.

However, some kids have trouble focusing or sitting still for other reasons such as
ADHD, food sensitivities, or other neurological difficulties. Although, ADHD and
sensory issues like sensory seeking are closely linked.
Sensory seeking kids are often closely linked to the sense of proprioception, or body
awareness, and the vestibular senses, or movement. These senses allow our body to move
through the environment effectively and stay balanced.

Sensory seeking kids are often not processing the sensations they receive to stimulate
those sensory systems throughout the day well, as a result they seek it out more.
Meaning they want activities that give them lots of proprioceptive and vestibular input.

Running, jumping, squeezing, climbing all gives LOTS of this type of input, and that’s
why sensory seekers are always engaged in these behaviours.

Of course, kids can also seek sensations from their vision, hearing, tasting and smelling
senses too.
In which case, you will see sensory seekers staring at spinning objects or flapping their
hand in front of their face for vision. Or, making lots of noise for their hearing sense.

Taste seekers will like big bold flavours and may lick a lot of objects in their
environment. Smell seekers will smell everything all the time.

Does My Sensory Seeker Have Sensory Processing Disorder?

Each child has sensory preferences, preferring and disliking some sensations. That is
typical development, and something they will continue to experience into adulthood.

When a child has sensory processing difficulties that affect their daily life, which is the
case for some sensory seekers, they may qualify for a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
diagnosis. Some sensory seekers are able to contain themselves and stop seeking in social
settings or at school. In this way, they may not qualify for SPD.

But, when sensory seekers do receive an SPD diagnosis is when the sensory seeking
behaviour causes them to struggle to learn, socialize, or pay attention.

It’s common for kids with Autism, ADHD, and anxiety to also have SPD or sensory
needs. Although many kids have some sensory processing issues though and don’t have
any other diagnosis.
How to Help Kids with Sensory Seeking Behaviour

The good news is that you can help your child with their sensory seeking behaviour and
improve their attention, focus, and ability to calm down with opportunities to participate
in sensory seeking activities.

For kids seeking sensory input, they tend to need a chance to move their bodies. A
targeted sensory activity can then be a productive or safe outlet at challenging times of
the day, whether that’s mealtime, homework, or bedtime, or during transitions for
example.

Setting up sensory activities (sensory diet) may be helpful. What’s important is that you
offer sensory activities when they need them, and watch to make sure those activities
have helped them.
Here are sensory seeking activities:

1. Jumping
Any jumping activity is great for sensory seekers because it is loaded
with tons of proprioceptive and vestibular input. You can let your child jump on the
couch, bed or a trampoline.

2. Climbing
Climbing also stimulates proprioception and vestibular input. Using monkey bars and
stairs in the home are great activities.

3. Vibrating toys
Vibrating gives a lot of proprioceptive input and some vestibular too.

4. Pressure
Squeezing into tight spaces like a designated cool down spot or behind the couch can
achieve this, as well as big bear hugs.

Joint compressions will give your child pressure too. Joint compressions don’t require
any tools and are quick. If you are not familiar with how to do it, your therapist will
always show you.
5. Get Messy in a Sensory Bin
If your child loves to touch everything, you can stimulate their tactile sense by giving
them a large bin of a texture to play in.

This could be in an empty bath tab, a basin, or an empty plastic container. Tactile
sensory seekers often love dry rice, sand or beans.

You can also think outside of the sensory bin and focus on messy play in general.
Some messy play ideas for seekers are making mud pies in the backyard, finger
painting, or modeling with clay.

6. Bouncing
An exercise ball is an inexpensive and indispensible sensory toy for sensory seekers.
They can roll on it over their bellies. They can bounce up and down, and you can roll
them on top and bounce them on top with their feet totally off the ground- they often
love it.

7. Scooter Board
Scooter boards are simple toy and easy to store away, but they give powerful sensory
input when a child rides one, especially on their bellies. It’s often used in occupational
therapy, but works great at home too.

Anytime you give your child sensory input, always make sure you are watching their
reaction and stop anytime they seem uncomfortable or have had enough.

8. Obstacle Course
Want to keep your sensory seeker occupied while their sensory system is getting what
they need, combine all of these sensory seeking activities above into one. Here’s one
example, but there are countless options:
1. Jump on the trampoline
2. Bounce on the yoga ball 10 times
3. Look for 3 hidden objects in a sensory bin full of dry ice
4. Crawl through a tunnel
5. Use vibrating toy on their arms and legs
6. Start over.
These sensory activities are do-able. Try implementing some of these sensory seeking activities
and see how your wild child responds to them, truly it can make all the difference for you and
them. You can always consult with your child’s occupational therapist if need be.

The Sensory Breakthrough Therapy: our therapy sessions incorporate sensory activities that
promotes self-regulation and calmness in children with autism and related diagnoses, to
overcome various problems in order to live more independent lives.

For any inquiries, please contact us on;

Phone 0718 924 867

Email thesensorybreakthroughtherapy@gmail.com

‘All children are great children’