Every day, our bodies are flooded with sensory information: the hum of the refrigerator, the texture of our clothing, the bright glare of the sun, and the feeling of our feet on the floor. Most of us process these signals automatically. But for many children, the brain struggles to organize this sensory information.
When a child has sensory processing challenges, the world can feel intensely overwhelming or frustratingly quiet, often leading to behaviors that get mistaken for “temper tantrums.”
Over-Responsive vs. Under-Responsive: The Two Sides of Sensory Needs
Children generally fall into two categories when they struggle with sensory input (and some can even swing between both):
- The Sensory Avoider (Over-Responsive): These children feel sensory input too intensely. A clothing tag feels like sandpaper, a blender sounds like a jet engine, and a crowded room feels completely unsafe. They may cover their ears, refuse certain food textures, or have major meltdowns in bright, noisy environments.
- The Sensory Seeker (Under-Responsive): These children don’t feel sensory input enough. They need more to feel regulated. They might constantly crash into furniture, spin in circles, touch everything in sight, or speak in a very loud voice. They are often labeled as “hyperactive,” when they are simply trying to feed their sensory system.
How Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) Helps
Sensory challenges don’t mean a child is misbehaving; it means their nervous system needs a little help organizing traffic.
At Cubs Corner, our Occupational Therapists use Sensory Integration techniques. Through a customized “sensory diet”—a tailored routine of physical activities like swinging, weighted play, or deep pressure—we help children learn to regulate their responses. Over time, this builds their tolerance, reduces meltdowns, and helps them feel safe and comfortable in their own skin.
