Common Sensory Processing Issues

Today as I am writing up a handout for my training Sensory Processing: It Does Make Sense that I’ll be doing in a breakout session at the 35th Native American Child and Family Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico this Friday, I thought I would give all of you a sneak peek of the types of things I cover in my training.

People often think sensory input in a classroom is about a sensory table (that is tactile sensory) but there are two other sensory systems that need to develop in a child as well. They are the proprioception (body awareness) and vestibular(inner ear balance) systems. If these are not developed fully, you can often see the following characteristics/issues:

Signs Children Have Not Fully Developed Their Sensory Systems

• Biting staff or other children

• Hitting out, not in anger

• Bumping into tables, doorway edges, other children

• Mouthing everything in the room (past age 3)

• Aversion to glues and finger-paints

• Difficulty gauging pressure with pencil or toys

• Chewing on clothing

• Fear of swinging on swings

• Climbing on furniture and book shelves

• Rocking back on two chair legs

• Playing too rough with other children

• A light touch is painful to them

• They lean on walls, staff or lay down during circle time

• They can’t keep their hands to themselves

• Gagging, overstuffing their mouth, spitting out food

• Excessive drooling (past age two)

• Can’t sit still, roaming the room

(I realize a lack of sensory processing development is not the only reason for some of these of these characteristics, sometimes it can be due to behavior, emotional needs or other factors as well.)

What My Sensory Processing Trainings Include

What people often don’t understand is if we can move the development of these sensory systems along, often these issues or characteristics lessen or go away naturally, and that is what my training is about. I train on what these 3 systems are responsible for and then show teachers and staff how to contribute to the development of the sensory processing system, putting actions and tools into classroom routines and activities so the whole class can benefit. This can then fill their developmental needs in these areas and, therefore, improve or end these characteristics or issues.

If you work in a Head Start/ Early Start program, I encourage you to talk to your director(s) about this list of characters and if you find your students are having these common sensory roadblock issues, think about hiring me for a training. It’s always fun, interactive and solution-based! Click HERE to get more information about my day training- Sensory Processing: It Does Make Sense. I would love to stand beside you and provide solutions that you just don’t have time to plan yourself.

Want to learn more about me and what I enjoy doing in my training? Watch this fun video below.