Mar 04 2022 Have sensory issues and having trouble at listening time?
Are you or someone you know a sensory seeker having trouble with sitting still, being quiet, and listening for long periods of time?
Consider adding a few accommodations that might help:
- Provide a cushion or floor seat that allows them to still wiggle but remain on the floor seated.
- Offer a quiet hand fidget toy that will keep their hands busy and out of trouble. (Ex. Poking the person next to them.)
- Provide a visual cue such as a timer that allows them to focus on exactly how long they are expected to sit still.
- Sometimes a weighted blanket or vest helps because it offers a calming and physical cue to remain still.
- Sometimes they don’t want to look “different”, so you can provide them with a more subtle option like a pencil topper or possibly chewing gum.
What is a sensory seeker?
“They may deliberately crash into things or throw themselves on the floor to get more physical information, often having a higher pain tolerance. Understanding “how soft is soft” or “how hard is hard” can be difficult for them to differentiate, often resulting in accidentally hurting another or breaking a toy. These children may have difficulty understanding boundaries, constantly hanging on others or touching them. They frequently have the need to chew on things, where they get a lot of input from their jaw muscles, which are extremely strong.”
Source: Brainchildinstitue.com