Are you wondering if your child is a sensory seeker? Children who have sensory processing difficulties may move around a lot, which can get them into trouble. But the reason they never seem to slow down is because their bodies are telling them they need to move, move, move!

Sensory Seeking Behaviours in Children and Toddlers

Sensory seeking behaviours typically include poor balance, coordination, and awareness of their body in space. Kids with sensory challenges also have decreased awareness of vestibular and/or proprioceptive input.

To compensate for this, sensory seeking children will often seek out lots of sensory input to give their bodies more feedback to these systems.

They’ll do this by jumping, spinning, swinging, crashing, squishing and other movements. Other sensory seeking behaviours include trying to touch everything in their environment or running into/bumping into objects or people in their environment.

Sensory Input

The vestibular sense is the ability to sense movement and balance. Sensors in the ear send feedback to the brain to tell us the direction and speed of movement at any point in time. The vestibular system works with the visual system to keep us upright and balanced when standing or moving.

Proprioception is the ability to know where our body is in space. Feedback from the muscles and joints helps us keep a good sense of position even when we’re not looking. If you were to close your eyes and have someone move your arm, you would know exactly what position it was in, even without looking. That’s your proprioceptive system at work!

Sensory Seeking Activities

1. 1. Use an air cushion for movement while your child stays seated during school work
   2. Have your child perform work activities like pushing a shopping cart, carrying groceries, or pulling a wagon
   3. Encourage them to play on the playground on climbing equipment or by sliding or swinging
   4. Encourage them to swing or jump with consistent, rhythmic patterns (for calming linear input, place the child on a swing and swing them in a back-and-forth linear motion)
   5. Let them squish in big pillows for whole body sensory input (DIY sensory crash pad here!)
   6. Providing deep pressure by rolling a therapy ball along the child’s back

In this video below, NAPA occupational therapist Erin shares some sensory seeking activities to help organise our sensory seekers throughout the day.

Sensory Tools That You Can Use:

• Weighted vests
• Ankle weights
• Weighted blankets
• Weighted stuffed animals
• Sensory toys
• Sensory bins

Additional Sensory Seeking Resources From NAPA Therapists:

• SPD Checklist and Symptoms
• Sensory Behaviours Explained

About NAPA Centre

At NAPA Centre, we take an individualised approach to paediatric therapy because we understand that each child is unique with very specific needs. We embrace differences with an understanding that individualised programs work better. For this reason, no two therapeutic programs are alike. If your child needs services, we will work closely with you to select the best therapies for them, creating a customised program specific to your child’s needs and your family’s goals. Let your child’s journey begin today by contacting us to learn more.

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Related NAPA Programs

Paediatric Occupational Therapy