Understanding Your Child’s Senses

What is sensory integration?

All the information your child takes in about the world is processed through sensory systems. Besides hearing, vision, smell, taste, and touch, children have senses that provide information about balance and body movement.

Your child’s brain acts like a traffic cop sorting, directing, and interpreting sensory information. When this information flows in a smooth well-organized manner, your child is better able to understand his world in a way that guides his behavior and provides a foundation for future social and academic skills. When the flow of sensory information is disorganized, life can be like a rush-hour traffic jam. When everything your child sees, feels, and hears makes sense, sensory integration is taking place. You can help your child integrate his/her sensory systems to their fullest by understanding what play activities and experiences best support it.

What activities best support sensory integration?

• Sensory materials such as sand, water, paint and play dough gives your child a chance to touch, hold, and squeeze various objects and textures. This will help your child develop the sense of touch.
• Your child needs daily opportunities to move his or her body. Playground equipment such as slides, swings, teeter-totters, and tricycles can provide these movement experiences. Going to the park is a fun way to “burn off” excess energy.
• Climbing, jumping, and throwing helps your child use his or her muscles and master movements. By playing games such as tug-a-war, hokey-pokey, simon-says, and twister, your child has the chance to develop this type of coordination. 
•  Older children may be ready for more complex motor activities such as hammering nails into wood, walking across balance beams, and playing catch with balls.

What do I need to keep in mind to support my child’s development?

• Remember all the senses. Touch and movement are important, children need to receive hugs, to move, and be physically active. These experiences will help young children master gravity, movement, body control, and body awareness.
• Be sensitive to your child’s reaction to certain sensory input. Be aware of how your child handles the sensory input he or she is receiving. Some children can tolerate more and are less fearful about movement than others. Know your child’s limit.