Is Your Child a Sensory Seeker? Signs and Solutions
“Sensory-seeking children often have a strong desire to explore the world around them; they learn through movement and hands-on experiences.”
—Julia M. Wilkins
Imagine a world where your body feels uneasy when it doesn’t get enough touch, sounds, or other inputs. When it does, it feels calm and grounded. This is the life of a sensory seeker. Sensory seeking behavior is a common manifestation of sensory processing differences, where someone actively crave sensory input to regulate their nervous system. These children may engage in behaviors that seem unusual or excessive, driven by a need for intense stimulation.
I’m well immersed in this world, as here are some of my daughter’s favorite activities:
Playing with running water
Playing in the sand
Swinging
Hanging from anything
Snuggling
Jumping
Going barefoot
Playing with her food
Getting spun around
Showering our cats with affection
In other words, she’s a classic sensory seeker.
By understanding the underlying causes of sensory seeking behavior, parents and caregivers can provide the appropriate support and create a nurturing environment for these children to thrive.
In this article, I’ll provide a checklist to help determine if your child is a sensory seeker, the science behind this, and practical strategies to implement that I’ve learned as both an occupational therapist and a dad of a girl who just needs a little more.
What Is a Sensory Seeker?
Sensory processing refers to how the brain receives, interprets, and responds to sensory information from our environment—everything from sights and sounds to touch, movement, and more. For most people, the brain processes this information smoothly, but for some, the way the brain handles these inputs can be out of balance, leading to sensory differences called sensory processing disorders. One such difference is sensory seeking behavior.
Sensory seeking, also known as hyposensitivity, occurs when a child craves more intense sensory input than their peers. They may actively seek out sensations that stimulate their senses in order to feel regulated and calm. This behavior can look like an endless need for movement, such as jumping, running, or spinning. They may also enjoy deep pressure, like tight hugs or rough play, or gravitate toward loud, busy environments.
For example, my daughter is a classic sensory seeker. She thrives on activities that involve fast or spinning input through her feet, and tactile stimulation—from jumping on the trampoline to rough-and-tumble play. Sensory seekers like her are not simply energetic or spirited; their nervous systems are under-responsive to typical sensory input, prompting them to seek out more intense experiences to feel balanced.
Checklist: Is Your Child a Sensory Seeker?
Use this checklist to determine if your child might be showing signs of sensory-seeking behavior. If you check off several of these, your child may benefit from additional support or evaluation by an occupational therapist.
Craves Constant Movement
Frequently runs, jumps, or spins without tiring
Loves climbing or swinging on playground equipment
Constantly fidgets or bounces when sitting
Seeks Physical Contact
Enjoys rough play (wrestling, tackling, squeezing)
Prefers tight hugs or being squeezed rather than light touches
Often bumps into things or people intentionally
Loves Loud Noises and Bright Lights
Frequently turns the volume up high on devices
Enjoys noisy environments (e.g., loud music, crowded places)
Stares at or enjoys flashing lights and bright colors
Touches Everything
Constantly touches surfaces, objects, or people
Likes to explore with hands or mouth, even beyond toddler age
Enjoys messy play with things like sand, mud, or finger paint
Seeks Oral Stimulation
Chews on clothes, pencils, or non-food objects
Enjoys crunchy, chewy, or strong-flavored foods
Often talks, sings, or hums loudly
Has a High Energy Level
Needs very little rest or downtime throughout the day
Frequently seems restless or "on the go"
May struggle to calm down for naps or bedtime
Enjoys Deep Pressure
Prefers heavy blankets or sleeping under layers
Likes being wrapped tightly (e.g., swaddled or hugged)
Enjoys deep tissue massages or pressing against furniture or walls
Seeks Risky or High-Impact Activities
Enjoys jumping off furniture or high places
Frequently takes physical risks, like climbing too high or running fast
Likes activities that provide a "rush" (e.g., roller coasters, fast spinning)
Struggles to Regulate Sensory Input
Difficulty sitting still for calm activities (e.g., reading, eating meals)
Becomes overstimulated in low-energy environments (e.g., quiet settings)
Craves constant input and may struggle with boredom easily
Exhibits Strong Responses to Sensory Play
Engages deeply with sensory bins, water play, or slime
Seeks out textures, temperatures, or vibrations in toys and objects
Often wants more intense or longer sensory experiences than peers
If you’ve checked several of these behaviors, your child may be a sensory seeker. Consider seeking further evaluation or guidance from an occupational therapist trained in sensory processing to help your child regulate and meet their sensory needs effectively.
The Science Behind Sensory Seeking
To understand sensory seeking, it’s important to know how the sensory system works. Our brains are constantly receiving information from our senses (sight, sound, touch, movement, taste, and smell as well as other senses like the vestibular and proprioceptive systems) and integrating that input to help us make sense of the world. When this process works well, we can navigate our surroundings with ease. But for some children, this system is under-responsive, meaning their brains don’t get enough stimulation from typical levels of sensory input.
For sensory seekers, their brains are essentially saying, “I need more.” This under-responsiveness can lead them to seek out extra stimulation to help their bodies feel regulated. Neurologically, they are driven to engage in activities that flood their sensory system with input, whether that’s movement, pressure, or sound.
In these cases, the child’s nervous system craves additional sensory input to maintain balance. Sensory-seeking behaviors are the brain’s way of getting the necessary stimulation to function optimally. As an occupational therapist, I’ve seen this in action countless times, including with my daughter. Her constant need for movement and tactile input is her brain’s way of self-regulating, helping her find calm in an often overwhelming world.
How to Support a Sensory Seeker
Here’s a list of effective strategies for supporting sensory seekers from an occupational therapy perspective:
Sensory Diet: Develop a personalized sensory diet that includes activities tailored to the child's sensory preferences, such as swinging, jumping, or climbing.
Read this for a pretty thorough list of what we do with our sensory-seeking daughter: 19 Therapeutic Activities for Sensory Seeking Kids.
Structured Play: Incorporate structured play activities that provide intense sensory input, like obstacle courses, crash pads, or trampoline time.
Self-Regulation Skills: Teach techniques for self-regulation, including breathwork, mindfulness practices, and identifying sensory dysregulation signs. Managing behaviors when kids are dysregulated becomes very important. Check out this article for ideas on how to do that: Kids Behavior Management: 25 Parenting Tips and Tricks (Part 1).
Routine and Structure: Establish consistent daily routines to help sensory seekers predict and prepare for activities. This includes a structured meal routine (we have a whiteboard calendar indicating what we eat each morning for breakfast), bed routines, and play opportunities.
Chores: Give them heavy work like vacuuming, carrying trash, moving toys, and taking clothing out of the dryer. We give our daughter a cloth and spray bottle with a non-toxic cleaner and she goes to town for an hour cleaning everything from windows to floors to appliances.
Grocery shopping: Have your kid(s) push the cart, carry items to the cart, place them on the belt, and carry them into the house. On straightaways, in non-crowded areas, turn on the turbo boosters. Some stores have small carts for kids that they can push along with a typical cart too (ask customer service).
Meal prep: This will get messy. and that’s okay. Repeat after me: That. Is. Okay. Have them pick the ingredients, mix, pour, roll, and carry ingredients from the refrigerator, pantry, etc. Keep it age-appropriate, do it on the floor or consider a kitchen tower, and encourage cleaning up afterward.
Mealtime: The benefits of family dinners are astounding. Take advantage of this time with your sensory seeker by providing a variety of food textures (soft, chewy, crunchy), sitting on a wobbly seat, or having a fan in the room near her. We ditched the booster seat early too and just have our daughter kneel on her chair which helps. Check out this list of supplies that might help with mealtime.
Bath time: Encourage your child to do as much of the bathing by himself with a variety of textured-wash cloths and sponges, providing proprioceptive hand-over-hand assistance to guide them and improve their independence. Water naturally provides proprioceptive input and the contained environment is a great time to let them play with a variety of toys (opt for non-toxic options). It’s okay if things get messy; bath time is an ideal moment for them to engage in wet, playful exploration while bonding with you.
Bedtime: Calming (a.k.a. down-regulating) your sensory seeker before bed is essential for quality sleep. This downtime is also an ideal moment to incorporate sensory input into their routine. Start with simple activities, like reading together while they sit on your lap, giving them comforting deep pressure. Weighted blankets or weighted lap pads can work wonders for children who benefit from deep touch pressure and Compression bed sheets help once they’re in bed. White noise machines (preferably low-EMF ones), or even an air purifier, can provide soothing auditory input, while red lights provide an instant visual cue that it’s time to get ready for bed and provide enough light to read without disrupting melatonin production. Here are the lights we use:
Neporal amber lights (1,800K, flicker-free). This is what we use in our bedroom.
Bedtime Bulb (2,200K, unknown flicker). This is what we use in my son’s bedroom.
Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement to encourage participation in sensory activities and to promote appropriate behaviors during sensory-seeking moments.
Anticipate Needs: I’m convinced that my daughter has a minimum amount of hugs and snuggles that she needs each day. We start off the day with many of them to help avoid seeking behaviors later in the day. If you know your child is not getting enough input during the day such as a long car trip, long days sitting at school, or just staying inside with excessive screen time then encourage and provide opportunities for more sensory input which helps with their mood, sleep, and overall quality of life.
….But Avoid Over-Structuring, Catering, and Tiptoeing Around Your Child’s Sensitivities: While these strategies help manage everything that comes along with the issue of sensory seeking, remember that children are incredibly adaptable. Shielding them from all sensory challenges, or "snowplowing" every obstacle in their path, can hinder their growth and resilience.
The key is balance. Just like with any other aspect of childhood development, children need to be gently guided towards self-regulation and adaptability. Overindulging sensory-seeking behaviors may prevent your child from learning how to manage quieter or more structured environments, which are part of everyday life. For example, while it's great to let your child run and jump, it’s also crucial to teach them how to sit still and focus when needed, whether during a family meal or quiet time in the classroom.
Building resilience is key here. When your child learns how to manage both stimulation and stillness, they gain a powerful tool: the ability to self-regulate. Sensory-seeking tendencies don’t have to control their behavior or environment. By helping them tolerate less stimulating experiences, you’re teaching them to thrive in all kinds of situations, not just those filled with noise, movement, and excitement.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you suspect your child might be a sensory seeker, it’s important to seek out a professional evaluation. Occupational therapists with training in sensory integration can help evaluate and treat your child’s sensory profile and provide individualized strategies to support their needs. Talk to your primary healthcare provider about this and get a prescription for OT.
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