We all learned in school about the 5 senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. These are the external senses, and they are the most obvious to us. But did you know that there are actually 8 sensory systems in human beings? We also have a proprioceptive sense (body awareness), a vestibular sense (balance and movement), and an interoceptive sense (internal physiology awareness). These sensory systems provide the brain with information about the world and about our bodies within the world, and they are the only way that information can be delivered to the brain. They are incredibly important! And it is incredibly important to support the development of all 8 senses - not just the 5 external senses. Experts and therapists are seeing an increase in sensory problems, and some of this is due to the changing environment in which children are raised. More and more babies are spending more and more time indoors, entertained by media, and sitting in containers - such as infant carriers, swings, and exersaucers. They are spending less time moving, rolling, playing on their tummies, crawling, climbing, playing with their food, experiencing the outside world, and feeling wind and grass and rain on their skin. Developing babies and young children need these experiences in order to develop fully-integrated sensory systems. And there are so many things that parents can do to help! A special thank you to Cari Ebert, who provided much of this information to me in her wonderful seminar, Making Sense of Sensory.
* Avoid containerizing: Be careful about how much time your baby spends in a "container". Convenient gadgets like infant carriers, exersaucers, swings, and bouncy seats can be okay, but your baby should spend little time in them, and lots of time out of them. Babies need freedom of movement and the opportunity to develop strength and balance. Reclining for long periods of time does not allow them to do so. * Provide many types of experiences in many types of environments: Babies and young children should experience the outside world almost every single day. They should sense all different kinds of temperatures, weather conditions, sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and textures. Take them with you into the community, to the park, to the grocery store, to the library. to the zoo. Allow them to roll in grass, play in mud, and feel the texture of tree bark. Try the swings at the park, and allow them to walk on the mulch, on the concrete, on the dirt. Allow them to play with food - they have to accept a texture on their hands before they can accept a texture in their mouths! Allow them to sleep with the windows open on a nice day, so they can feel a breeze and hear natural sounds. Children need these experiences for their development, and too much time spent indoors with screen media is hurtful, rather than helpful to their development. * Allow them to be messy: If your child is covered in dirt by the end of the day, this is a good thing! That means they have had plenty of outdoor play and sensory experiences. It is okay for kids to get dirty, and many experts believe it helps them build immunity and resistance to allergens. It is okay for kids to play with their food as they are learning to eat. It is okay for them to finger paint, even if they get some on their clothes or hair. All of this is healthy and beneficial for your child. * Provide sensory play: Playing in a water table, sandbox, or a sensory bin filled with dry beans is not just fun for kids, it promotes healthy development! Try some of these ideas with supplies you probably have available at home! - "Paint" the sidewalk with water and paint brushes - Explore messy play with shaving cream, whipped cream, finger paint, or even yogurt. - Roll your child up in a blanket like a burrito. Then roll them out of it like a rolling log. Then grab a partner and swing them in it. Try swinging them in different position - like superman, then like a hammock, then while sitting. - Take your child on a piggy back ride, or a shoulder ride, or a horsey ride by climbing onto your back as your crawl. - Create a sensory bin using dry beans, water beads, or water and bubbles. Try hiding objects for them to find. Provide different cups, spoons, and bowls for them to pour and measure and fill. - Massage their legs, feet, arms, and hands with lotion. Bonus - let them do it to you too! - Take care of a pet, or visit a petting zoo. - Play marching games and songs, like "The Ants Go Marching". Dance and swing and twirl too! - Bounce babies rhythmically on your lap, and allow them to stand on different surfaces, like your lap and the couch cushions. - Play with play doh, slime, koosh balls, and bubble wrap - anything with interesting texture. - Pull each other in a wagon. Pulling or carrying something heavy is good! - Rock, swing, and snuggle. - Rough house too! * Talk to an expert: If your child has atypical responses to typical sensory experiences, talk to your child's teacher, therapist, school psychologist, or pediatrician. Some children are under-responsive to sensory information, and some are over-responsive to sensory information. In either case, there are many things that professionals can do to help!
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AuthorHi, I'm Brie Krentz, and I'm the School Psychologist at HGECC. I care about the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of all of our children, and I believe in Conscious Discipline as a way to minimize behavior problems and to help children connect meaningfully with others. Archives
October 2021
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