Tips for Helping Your Child With Sensory Issues

There is a lot to experience in the world. For children, so many new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, colors, and textures can be overwhelming, especially if they have sensory issues. Stimuli can be difficult to organize and process and can quickly result in overstimulation and panic. But there are plenty of ways you can help your child manage their sensory issues.

Pay Attention

This point may seem obvious because every parent needs to pay attention to their child, and you’re likely already doing some version of this. But through observation, you can discover which sensations are hard for your child to work with, which sensations calm them, and what sort of fidgets they find comfort in. Each child is different, and not everyone has the same sensory issues. Through careful observation, you can find the patterns that your child struggles with, and you can then take the next step to help them cope.

Seek Professional Help

When your child has trouble with the “norms” of the world, you should always consider talking to a professional. Professionals can help children with sensory issues develop coping mechanisms to avoid overstimulation and create techniques for managing those feelings.

One technique that has gained a lot of success is sensory gyms. They help acclimate your child to be successful in a world full of wildly different stimuli. These gyms are full of new sensations and allow children to explore independently to lower their stress and prepare them for encountering unpredictable stimuli. These gyms are great by themselves, but when a child can explore under the supervision of a professional, they can grow in their ability to confront the world around them.

Create Smart Sensory Environments

After getting professional help and recognizing your child’s specific sensory preferences, take that knowledge and curate their space for their needs. For example, many children become overwhelmed by visual distractions. To accommodate this, eliminate excessive lights, simplify decorations and work areas, and reduce clutter. These changes can make existing in their everyday areas much easier. When their home spaces are peaceful, children can better confront the challenges they’ll face throughout the day, such as social interactions, homework, or recreational activities.

Stay Transparent

Be sure to include your child throughout the whole process of learning more about their sensitivities. You should know what makes them unique, but you must also loop them in. They have their preferences, but they may not always be able to articulate them. Additionally, continue to be transparent as your child grows and their preferences change. Set a clear daily schedule so they know what they will face in a day and can avoid as many surprises as possible.

Sensory issues can be challenging to manage, but with these tips, you and your children will have a much easier time going through this world of stimulation. Of course, none of these tips are intended to be a “solution”—because it is not something to fix! Instead, sensory sensitivities are a unique part of your child, and you must learn to accommodate them and their different needs.