Britt Collins - Sensory Parenting--The Elementary Years: School Years Are Easier when Your Childs Senses Are Happy!

M any, if not most of us, have at least some sensory sensitivity that affects our ability to function in everyday life. One research study reports that one in 20 children today has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Even though we offer in-depth information about SPD and related sensory issues in this book, weve really written it for all parents and all kids. Why? Because each of us has a unique set of sensory experiences and preferences that shapes the way we experience our world.

If you have already read our previous book, Sensory Parenting: Newborns to Toddlers, then this first section may be a little review for you. But, rememberrepetition is the key to learning!

Lets begin by reviewing the eight sensory systems and how they can affect your child. Then, we will take you through the developmental stages of your childs elementary years. Well go over red flags to look for to help you recognize your childs sensory sensitivities. We will also provide you with ideas on how to alleviate his or her sensory and behavioral issues. Finally, we will help guide you through the process of finding an appropriate therapist or other resource to help you with any worries you may have. You will also find information about how to work through a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) if your child needs it, and more.

Many of you are becoming sensory savvy and are learning all about the eight sensory systems and how these systems affect each of us differently. As they say, knowledge is power, and your child will reap the benefits of your effortsas will the rest of your family.

According to the SPD Foundation, SPD is a condition that exists when sensory signals dont get organized into appropriate responses in the brain. When you process various types of sensory information, your brain takes in the sensory experience, organizes it, and then interprets what it means. If your brain has difficulty interpreting this sensory information, it can be what A. Jean Ayres, PhD, called a neurological traffic jam. This means that certain parts of the brain are hindered from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. For example, think about if someone you know well were to walk past you and touch you on the shoulder gently. Your brain would take this information and recognize that it is okay and that you dont have to be scared or worried. If someone you dont know were to walk past you and touch you on the shoulder, however, your brain might perceive this as a threator at least heighten your awareness to why a stranger is touching you. For most people, this process is automatic. For many children and adults who have sensory issues, however, an atypical response is produced.

In this book, Jackies voice will come from a parents perspective, and Britts will be that of a pediatric occupational therapist. But, we will both use I or we when writing. We want this book to be a great resource tool for you as parents and caregivers, but we also want it to be a great reading adventure. We dont claim to know all of the answers, but we hope to bring more insight into your parenting skills than you had prior to reading the book. We also want to address the exciting milestones, as well as stages like the transition to starting preschool, moving up into the world of kindergarten, and all the various hiccups that come with attending elementary school. We will talk about making friends, having playdates, learning to read and write, playing sports, trying to fit in with peers, and more.

What exactly is Sensory Parenting? We came up with this term because we need to be aware of our sensory systems and the importance of nurturing themespecially as a parent. Our sensory systems do not have an off switch, so we never get a break from receiving sensory input. All day and night, our sensory systems send us signals, and our brains process that information. Just like parenting! Once your child is born, you are his parent from the word go, andagainthere is no off switch. In short, Sensory Parenting means parenting with your childs sensory systems in mind.

For example, if your child has an auditory processing issue, he may not be able to fall asleep if the volume on your TV is too loud. This isnt something he will grow out of. So, youll need to adjust your lifestyle and parenting style to suit his sensory needs. Or, perhaps your child has a tactile aversion. As a sensory-friendly parent, you could work with your child on feeling different textures, exposing him to new tactile media in a safe and positive way, and finding adaptations to help him be able to tolerate tactile input. What do adaptations mean? Well, perhaps it means your child can wear rubber gloves while doing an art project. Then, you can ease him out of the gloves over time. Or, maybe it means allowing him to wear his jacket in the house if it makes him feel more snug. The sky is the limit when it comes to helping your child feel more comfortable in his own skin. Once you become a sensory-friendly parent, its amazing what youll come up with that works for your child.

Sensory Parenting also means taking care of your own sensory needs. Often, when parents start taking notice of their childs sensory systems, they become aware of their own, too. We may not notice, for example, as we get into our daily grind and move around on autopilot that our vision has been getting blurry over time. Maybe thats why youve been having chronic headaches! Perhaps your clothes feel too tight, or everything can seem really loud and overwhelming at times. The whole family suffers when we get too busy to take care of ourselves.

This book will give you lots of different options when it comes to choosing sensory therapies and activities. We will also explore sensory games your child can play. So, lets get started. And thanks for reading!