What Are Sensory Seekers
Tips for Helping Children Who Are Craving Input and Movement
Sensory seeking is often used in pediatric therapy to describe children who strongly desire sensory experiences. These children seek out activities or stimuli that provide them with increased sensory input, such as touch, taste, movement, pressure, and sound. Understanding sensory-seeking behaviors is helpful for parents, educators, and therapists, as it can play a significant role in a child's development and learning processes.
Understanding Sensory Processing
Let's start with sensory processing to fully grasp sensory seekers. Sensory processing is the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into responses. For most of us, this process is automatic and efficient. However, for some children, sensory information doesn't get organized into appropriate responses, leading to sensory processing issues.
Children with sensory processing challenges may be classified into two broad categories: sensory seekers and sensory avoiders. Sensory seekers crave more sensory stimulation, while sensory avoiders are sensitive and may be easily overwhelmed by sensory information.
The Technical Side of Sensory Seeking in Therapy
In therapy, sensory seeking is addressed through a detailed understanding of the sensory systems:
Tactile System (Touch): Sensory seekers may crave different textures and pressures.
Proprioceptive System (Body Awareness): They often seek activities that involve heavy work or resistance, enhancing their sense of body awareness.
Vestibular System (Balance and Movement): These children might constantly move and enjoy spinning, swinging, or other activities that challenge their balance.
Auditory System (Hearing): They may prefer loud environments or create noise themselves.
Visual System (Sight): Bright or rapidly changing visuals, such as video games, can appeal to sensory seekers.
Olfactory (Smell) and Gustatory (Taste) Systems: They might have strong preferences or aversions to specific smells and tastes, seeking out intense flavors or scents.
Signs to Look For
Recognizing a sensory seeker is the first step in providing the proper support. Here are signs to look out for:
Constant Movement: They might be the child who can't seem to sit still, always jumping, spinning, or moving.
Seeking Intense Pressure: Preferring tight hugs, squeezing into tight spaces, or enjoying heavy blankets.
Loud or Repetitive Noises: Making noises for the sake of it or preferring the volume on devices to be high.
Craving Speed: Loving fast rides, running rather than walking, or enjoying being spun around.
Touching Everything: They may want to feel all textures and surfaces.
Taste Seeking: Desiring pungent, spicy, or sour foods more than others.
Actionable Advice to Help Sensory Seekers
Understanding and supporting a sensory seeker involves creating an environment that safely satisfies their sensory needs. Here are practical strategies:
Create a Sensory Diet: This planned and scheduled activity program is designed to meet a child's sensory needs. It may include jumping on a trampoline, chewing chewies, carrying heavy objects, or using a weighted vest. To create a tailored sensory diet, it's best to consult with an occupational therapist.
Incorporate Movement Breaks: Allow for frequent, short breaks throughout the day for movement. This can include stretching, jumping jacks, or even a quick walk.
Use Sensory Tools: Tools like stress balls, fidget spinners, or textured mats can provide the necessary sensory input in a controlled manner.
Engage in Heavy Work Activities: Activities that involve pushing, pulling, or lifting can be very beneficial. This could be as simple as helping carry groceries, doing wall push-ups, or playing tug-of-war.
Provide a Safe Space: Create an area where the child can retreat if they feel overwhelmed or need to engage in sensory-seeking behaviors. This could include a tent filled with pillows, a bean bag chair, or a corner with weighted blankets.
Structured Play: Engage in play that meets their sensory needs, like sandbox play, water tables, or play-doh, to provide tactile feedback in a structured setting.
Professional Guidance: Consulting with an occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration can provide personalized strategies and support for managing and understanding sensory-seeking behavior.
A Firm Hug
Recognizing and supporting sensory seekers means understanding the unique ways in which these children experience the world. It's about creating a balance that allows your sensory seeker to thrive, ensuring they receive the right amount of sensory input for their unique systems so they feel grounded and focused.
Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.
