#SensoryProcessing

Ever wonder what different sensory needs can look like? 👀 Today, we’re breaking down examples of vestibular seeking, visual seeking, proprioceptive seeking and auditory seeking, all using the same toy! Understanding what a child may be seeking can help choose activities that feel supportive, engaging and purposeful. Have questions about sensory seeking behaviors? Comment below! 💬 Sensory seeking behaviors | Vestibular input | Visual sensory seeking | Proprioceptive input | Auditory sensory seeking | Sensory processing | Pediatric occupational therapy | Autism support | Child development | Sensory play

Texture Walk is a fun sensory activity that encourages children to explore different textures using their feet. ✨ Benefits: • Develops sensory processing skills • Improves balance and coordination • Strengthens body awareness (proprioception) • Encourages descriptive language and vocabulary • Builds confidence through exploration • Supports focus and attention • Promotes curiosity and problem-solving through play Save this activity and try it with your little one! ❤️ #kindergarten #child #kids #activity #preschool

Different behaviours can have different reasons behind them. 🧩 A child with ADHD may struggle with attention, impulsivity or staying still, while an autistic child may experience differences in communication, social interaction, sensory processing or repetitive behaviours. At the same time, many of these behaviours can also appear in typically developing children. That’s why we shouldn’t label a child based on one behaviour alone. Understanding the pattern, frequency and impact of behaviours - with professional assessment when needed - is important for providing the right support. 💙 [ADHD in children, autism in children, child behaviour, neurodevelopment, child development] #ADHDAwareness #AutismAwareness #ChildDevelopment #SpecialEducation #AutismMindsSchool

It gets missed because it doesn’t look like what anyone is watching for. Your child talks. They make eye contact, at least sometimes. They do fine on paper. And the checklist in everyone’s head has already moved on. So they get other words instead. Shy. Sensitive. Just anxious. Strong-willed. Every one of those is a description of behavior, and not one of them explains why the behavior is there. Underneath, they may be decoding social cues the rest of the room gets for free. Fighting sensory input nobody else registers. Running at overwhelm most days by three o’clock. The labels stick, the reason never gets found, and the support never arrives. Early awareness doesn’t label your child. It’s the thing that finally gets them help that fits. When did you first start noticing something felt different? Tell me below, even if you never said it out loud to anyone. And if you want a way to steady yourself in the hard moments while you figure this out, comment ALIGN and I’ll send you my free 60-second reset guide ❤️ autism level 1 | missed autism diagnosis | late diagnosed autism | autism in girls | neurodivergent parenting | sensory processing | high masking autism | shy or autistic | AuDHD | early signs of autism

If your child struggles with BIG emotions, gets overwhelmed easily, or seems extra sensitive to sound, touch, clothing, tags, or busy environments… a retained Moro reflex could be playing a role. The Moro reflex is your baby’s “startle reflex.” It’s designed to help newborns respond to sudden changes in their environment. But when this reflex doesn’t fully integrate as the brain matures, the nervous system can stay stuck in a heightened state of alert. You may notice: ✨ Emotional outbursts that seem bigger than the situation ✨ Difficulty calming down after being upset ✨ Sensitivity to sounds, touch, lights, or textures ✨ Anxiety, clinginess, or feeling easily overwhelmed ✨ Trouble focusing or filtering out distractions A retained reflex doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with your child. It simply means their nervous system may still be relying on a primitive pattern that should have been replaced by more mature brain pathways. One of the ways we help integrate the Moro reflex is through specific movements like this one. 👆 Quick movement patterns provides sensory input that helps the brain and nervous system feel safe, organized, and regulated. For some children, this movement can feel uncomfortable at first because it challenges the very reflex we’re trying to integrate. Over time, with consistency, many children become more comfortable with the movement as their nervous system adapts. This is one of my favorite activities for kids who struggle with: ✔️ Emotional regulation ✔️ Sensory sensitivities ✔️ Feeling easily startled ✔️ Anxiety and overwhelm The brain can change. The nervous system can learn new patterns. And often, it starts with simple movements done consistently at home. Comment REWIRED to connect with us and learn about the Rewired Kids app with hundreds of brain-based movements and activities designed to help improve coordination, emotional regulation, focus, sensory processing, confidence, and more.

Most parents know Row, Row, Row Your Boat. But what most parents don’t realize is that this classic toddler song is absolute GOLD for kids with speech delays. ✨ Here’s why I love it: • When you sit face-to-face and “row” together, you’re adding movement, which can support sensory processing, while giving your child a clear view of your face as you model language. • The second and third verses are the best part! “If you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream!” “Rock, rock, rock your boat gently to the shore, and If you see a lion, don’t forget to roar!” 
Before children can imitate words, they have to learn how to imitate actions, gestures, and sounds (like animal and vehicle sounds) first. For late talkers, this song gives you a fun and easy way to practice those exact skills: 🦁 Make the lion’s paws and roar!
🐊 Put your hands on your cheeks and scream! Kids LOVE it. The movement, anticipation, and silliness make this song incredibly motivating. Sometimes the simplest songs can create SO many opportunities for communication. ❤️🎶 Hi! I’m Sarah. After more than 15 years in early intervention, I’ve seen over and over again how music creates opportunities for connection, engagement, imitation, and communication in ways that other activities sometimes can’t. I love using any and all music to encourage language. That’s why I started writing my own songs for speech therapy. Every lyric, melody, and pause within the lyrics is intentionally designed to support communication while keeping the joy of music at the center. But my real passion isn’t just creating songs. It’s empowering parents with simple, evidence-based strategies they can use during everyday moments with their child. Because you are your child’s most important communication partner. 🎵 Still waiting for those first words? Comment MUSIC and I’ll send you my free Music for Speech Therapy Starter Kit, including original songs, printable song boards, and 5 simple steps to help you turn everyday music into opportunities for connection and communication. #speechdelay #latetalker #toddlerspeech #toddlersongs #firstwordsdanceparty

Have you thought about homeschooling your special needs child? Comment “Toolkit” & send you all my videos/printable downloads you need to get started! If you are wanting to learn about Sensory Processing & how to implement it into your home- comment “Course” & I’ll send you my 6 module mini course! #specialneedsparenting #homeschool #supportingautismmama #sensoryprocessingdisorder #autism

A few seconds of sensory input can sometimes make a big difference. You can also use shaving brush as an alternative. For some children, gentle tactile stimulation around the outer ear area may help increase sensory awareness, support regulation, improve readiness for tasks, and enhance engagement during therapy sessions. Sensory strategies are never one-size-fits-all. What matters is understanding the child’s unique sensory profile and using interventions purposefully, based on their needs and responses. The goal is not the brush. The goal is a regulated, engaged child who is ready to learn, communicate, and participate. Every child processes the world differently. Therapy meets them where they are. 💙 A quick clarification for those discussing the reel: The intervention shown is NOT the Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) being applied to the face. Wilbarger brushing has specific guidelines and traditionally excludes the face and other sensitive body areas. The technique shown involves gentle tactile input around the outer ear region, which is a separate sensory strategy used by some clinicians based on individual sensory needs and therapeutic goals. In sensory integration, not all tactile interventions are Wilbarger brushing. Clinical reasoning, the child’s sensory profile, and the intended outcome all matter. As always, sensory strategies should be individualized, monitored for the child’s response, and implemented by trained professionals • Rhythmic Movement Training RMT therapy Babkin reflex Primitive reflex integration Retained primitive reflexes Child development therapy Neurodevelopmental therapy Fine motor skills development Hand-eye coordination Oral motor skills Feeding and speech development Learning difficulties in children ,Sensory processing challenges ,Emotional regulation in children ,Occupational therapy techniques ,Pediatric therapy , Brain development in children ,Motor coordination skills

This movement could be supporting more than movement… 🧠🗣️ Speech relies on more than the mouth. The nervous system also coordinates postural control, body awareness, breathing, sensory processing, and motor planning—foundational skills that can support communication. During our Intensive Therapy Program, we use targeted movement and sensory input to strengthen these brain-body connections based on each child’s needs. 💙 If your child has speech delays along with motor, sensory, or developmental challenges, comment “SPEECH” and we’ll send you more information. #SpeechDelay #SpeechDevelopment #childdevelopment #fyp #autism

If you’re here, welcome. 💙 A few years ago, I wasn’t creating content about ADHD or sensory processing. I was just trying to understand my own boys. I’m an occupational therapist, but becoming a mom to two boys with ADHD changed how I looked at behavior forever. It also taught me that many of the behaviors we call “bad behavior” are really communication from a child’s brain and nervous system. Everything I share here comes from those two worlds. The research I trust, the mistakes I’ve made, and what has actually helped my own family. If you’ve ever felt like no one understands your child, I hope this page helps you understand them a little better. I’m glad you found us. 😊

The challenge in this game is simple: touch the ground exactly when the balloon does 🎈 (or a feather or scarf!) It may seem easy, but this simple activity is working on BIG skills under the surface. Skills like: Impulse control, patience, attention, self-control, body awareness… Don’t even get me started on how tossing and tracking the balloon works on reflex integration! It’s a powerful, easy and effective activity to do with your kids with almost no prep needed! So many of our kids with ADHD, Autism, sensory processing disorder, or no diagnosis at all have difficulty with executive functioning skills like the ones I mentioned above. But the good news about skills is that if your kid doesn’t have them, they can learn them! They just need the tools. And as an OT, getting your kids to buy-in is the best way to see actual progress toward their challenges. That’s why play and fun activities are a secret weapon. I’ve built an entire community to encourage parents to support their neurodivergent kids with more simple activities, ever-growing resources, and one-on-one support. Ready to get started and want to check it out? Comment SKILL and I’ll send details your way!

RANT INCOMING…. 👀 As a pediatric OT, this is something I’ve noticed more and more… Somewhere along the way, every single thing became “sensory.” Every baby activity, challenging behavior, classroom concern gets labeled sensory & every toy suddenly promises sensory benefits. Here’s the problem: when everything is sensory, the word starts to lose its meaning. Sensory processing differences are very real, and for the children who truly experience them, they deserve thoughtful assessment, individualized support, and evidence-informed intervention—not a one-size-fits-all explanation for every behavior. There’s so many things that come into play when a skilled professional assesses the root cause of a concern. Sometimes it’s a motor challenge. Sometimes it’s emotional regulation. Sometimes it’s executive function. Sometimes it’s communication. Sometimes it’s retained reflexes. Sometimes it’s an out of balance nervous system. Sometimes it’s attention, learning, development, sleep, hunger, environment, or simply being a child. When the sensory systems are used as intentional avenues for success and effective learning, it’s POWERFUL! This is why every child deserves individualized care and treatment planning—not just trendy buzz words that perform well on social media! ☀️