How to Care for a Sensory Child (with pictures) - wikiHow

Adoptive Children tend to be prone to Sensory Processing Disorder so I wanted to share this article with you.

How to Care for a Sensory Child

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A sensory child is someone born with severe sensitivity to touch, taste, sound, and smell. This occurs when the brain has difficulty processing sensory information. Touch gives the most prominent discomfort while being particular about certain textures and such things related to feeling. Because of this, most sensory children visit an Occupational Therapist each week in order to be rehabilitated to a state where the child can function in a normal society. This instruction manual will go through steps that explain in detail how to handle these children in the most appropriate way possible, particularly during treatment. Often, these children throw tantrums when put into unpleasant situations. Therefore, it is necessary to take therapeutic precautions. This allows the child to eventually stop throwing fits and also ensures the therapy session will proceed smoothly. The purpose of this manual is so that the Occupational Therapist/Parent will be able to effectively care for the child and allow them to develop and function normally in society.

Credentials:

Steps

1. Make certain that your child is receiving proper care. In order to do so, you will need to make sure to acquire as much knowledge as possible about Sensory Integration Disorder. Each child is unique, so take this into consideration while handling them, or delegating responsibilities to an Occupational Therapist. You must understand that your child is not going to grow out of it. Therefore, the first step is to seek out the best treatment possible. Many good Occupational Therapists research techniques that are exclusive to their patient’s behavior patterns.
   
2. Work with your child at home on a daily basis. It is not enough to only rely on the Occupational Therapy to rid your child of this disorder. With your Occupational Therapist, develop effective strategies that are distinct to your child that can be performed/practiced at home or at therapy. Suggested Sensory Activities Include:
   
   
   
   • Activities with textured objects such as play-dough in order to develop normal tactile processing.
     
   • Vestibular movement activities.
     
   • Aromatherapy techniques so that the child’s sensitivity to smell can be reduced.
     
   • Language activities such as flash cards to pronounce words.
     
   • Heavy work activities so that their bodies will develop an ability to receive regular input to their muscles and joints.
     
   • Sleep programs. Most Sensory children have a hard time calming down to go to sleep. Therefore, the child may need help. It is necessary to sometimes comfort the child.
     
   • Play tunnels and tents are helpful to work on motor coordination. It is also helpful to include textured items inside the tunnel.
     
   • Deep pressure activities to help the child control their excitement/arousal level. This may include a ball pit.
     
   • Auditory activities.
     
   
   
3. Continue the therapies and activities throughout the development of the child’s life. Also, because these children are sensitive to many things, they can often become upset. In order to properly handle them, one must be extremely gentle. There are a few approaches to this. A parent, guardian, or occupational therapist can choose to ignore the bad behavior and let the child calm themselves, sternly, but non-aggressively reason with the child, or try to comfort them.
   

Tips

• Keep snacks or objects of the child’s interest (Figure 1) nearby in order to calm/reward the patient.
  

Warnings

• In order to handle a child who is having a tantrum, it is necessary to be aware that he/she may be violent. The child may swing their arms which could potentially harm an individual. Please take the precaution of expecting to put up a fight. Make sure that you do not harm the child who is throwing the tantrum. Be gentle with him/her by using a soft voice and tender physical contact.
  
• Keep the child away from sharp corners or dangerous objects, and near soft furniture or mats.
  

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