How to Help Children with Sensory Difficulties

Have you ever wondered why your child avoids paint while other kids enjoy touching it? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your child dislikes the bright sun while others enjoy playing outside on a hot summer day? These behaviours could be linked to Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), a condition where the brain struggles to receive and respond to information from the senses.

As children grow and explore their surroundings, they first learn to register information from their senses, process it, and respond appropriately. When this system doesn’t work as expected, sensory processing difficulties can arise, leading to behaviours that may impact daily life. Fortunately, there are occupational therapy for sensory processing disorder treatments available, including sensory integration therapy and sensory play, designed to help children in Singapore overcome these challenges.

What are Sensory Processing Disorders?

Sensory Processing Disorder occurs when the brain has trouble receiving and responding to sensory input, such as touch, sound, taste, and movement. Children with SPD may either over-respond to stimuli (e.g., avoiding noisy environments) or under-respond (e.g., not noticing when they’ve been hurt). While SPD can affect anyone, it is commonly observed in children, particularly those with special needs such as autism.

What are the Signs of Sensory Processing Disorders?

Over-Responsive Children: Children who are over-responsive to sensory input are often more sensitive than most. They may cry, have meltdowns, or even avoid physical contact. These children are likely to exhibit behaviours such as:

• Avoiding swings or slides.
• Reacting aggressively to unexpected touch.
• Complaining about clothing tags or noises like alarms or toilet flushes.
• Becoming upset during transitions or when moving from quiet activities to louder environments.

Under-Responsive Children: Children with under-responsivity may seem indifferent to sensory input. They might:

• • Not cry when hurt.
  • Be unaware of messy hands or face.
  • Appear spacey or tuned out.
  • Need to be touched to respond to their name.

Sensory Craving Children: Children with sensory craving behaviours constantly seek out sensory input and may seem hyperactive or fidgety. They often:

• Enjoy rough play, crashing into objects, or spinning.
• Seek out stimulation like vibration or spinning objects.
• Become disorganized or frustrated when the input is stopped.

These signs may go unnoticed, but it’s essential to be vigilant. Early detection and intervention can help manage these behaviours

Motor Challenges: Children with motor sequencing and planning difficulties have challenges in coordinating movements, such as dressing, playing catch or misjudging spatial areas. They might:

• • Appear awkward and clumsy
  • Have poor core strength
  • Difficulty running, jumping, hopping, skipping
  • Poor balance on playground equipment
  • Poor crayon/pencil grasp
  • Slumps sitting in chair or on floor
  • Poor planning and sequencing of tasks

Some helpful strategies:

• • Allow children to work in alternate positions (on their stomachs on the floor, standing, on a vertical surface such as the chalk/white board).
  • Incorporate activities that will strengthen core muscles such as sit ups, crawling, climbing up and down, etc.
  • Fine motor activities such as cutting, threading, clay, slicing, scooping, pouring or slotting in.
  • Coordination activities such as throw and catch, pushing of ball, climbing up and down the stairs, etc.

How to Help Children with Sensory Processing Issues

For children with SPD, sensory integration therapy and structured sensory activities can have significant benefits. Occupational therapy is highly effective in addressing motor challenges and promoting regulation through sensory gym activities and tools like sensory walls or sensory boards. Activities such as using a weighted blanket or engaging in tactile bins can help these children learn to cope better with their surroundings.

For children with autism, for example, the benefits of increased sensory activities cannot be overstated. Not only can sensory activities help regulate their responses, but they can also improve cognitive development, attention, and focus.

Benefits of Sensory Programmes

At Bridging the Gap (BtG), our sensory programmes are designed to meet the specific needs of children struggling with sensory processing. Our programmes offer:

• Sensory gym sessions to enhance physical coordination and core strength.
• Sensory play activities like rice sensory play, which are fun and beneficial for cognitive growth.
• Customised sensory integration activities that improve social skills and emotional regulation.
• Occupational Therapy (OT) and Play Therapy sessions to help children engage with sensory input in positive ways.

The benefits of sensory play for special needs children are immense, especially for those who need extra support in managing their sensory experiences.

How Can Bridging the Gap’s Programmes Help?

Our specialised sensory programmes at BtG are designed to:

• Help children increase tolerance to sensory stimuli through guided exposure.
• Support emotional and sensory regulation in a structured, playful environment.
• Improve motor planning through exercises like crawling, climbing, and tactile play.
• Offer guided homework to help with literacy and numeracy, reinforcing their learning in a sensory-friendly manner.

Whether through the use of a sensory wall or activities like rice sensory play, our programmes encourage development in a supportive and enjoyable way.

In conclusion, sensory processing difficulties can be challenging, but with the right support, children can thrive. Through sensory integration therapy and activities that enhance sensory engagement, children can learn to manage their responses, improve cognitive development, and find joy in their daily experiences.