Sensory Seekers Explained: How to Spot the Signs and Help Your Child Thrive
Sensory processing is how the brain interprets and responds to sensory input, like sights, sounds, and touch. While most people process this information effortlessly, some experience sensory processing disorders, one of which is sensory seeking behavior. Sensory seeking, or hyposensitivity, occurs when a child craves more intense sensory input than their peers. They might engage in activities like jumping, running, or seeking deep pressure through hugs or rough play. My daughter, for example, thrives on sensory input like jumping on a trampoline or fast, spinning movements. For sensory seekers, their nervous systems are under-responsive to typical stimuli, leading them to seek more intense experiences to feel balanced.
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Read this for a pretty thorough list of what we do with our sensory-seeking daughter: 19 Therapeutic Activities for Sensory Seeking Kids.
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).
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.
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.
….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.
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