Hugz4me The Sensory Place

 We do not offer a diagnosis for children only support and products for families. We recommend seeing a Pediatrician if you suspect SPD or any other disorders.  Below is a list of symptoms for SPD. These symptoms can also be included in other disorders. Thank you Denise Neville and Janice O'Leary                                                      
       Symptoms exhibited by a child with sensory integration dysfunction may include:

• A tendency to spin, swing, or jump. The motion appears to calm the child.
• sensitivity to the feel of clothing. The child does not like tags in clothing and can be particular about his or her socks.The child may want a particular food and not want to eat anything else.
• Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to smells. The child may sniff people, objects, and/or food,
• Oversensitivity or undersensitivity to sounds. The child may frequently cover his or her ears.
• The child may have an exceptionally high pain tolerance.
• An unusually high or low activity level may be present and the child tires easily.
• There is a resistance to new situations.

A child with sensory integration disorder may also have poor coordination and poor muscle tone. Some children with the disorder are impulsive, while others are distractible. Many also walk on their toes consistently to avoid the sensation associated with putting their feet on the floor.

The most common treatments for children with SPD include occupational therapy and listening therapy. Physical therapists, speech/language therapists and others trained to use a sensory integration approach also may help with a child's treatment. The family also plays an integral part in a child's treatment by identifying priorities and serving as an expert on the child and his or her problems and behaviors. Together, a treatment program is formulated for the child. 

 Creating a Sensory Box

Having a Sensory Box or a "toolbox" for a child can be a wonderful opportunity to teach coping skills. Before you put the box together, you need to know your child well. Ask the child questions like: do you like to spin? Do you like squishy hugs? Do you like lots of blankets? Do you like squishy toys? Find out what textures the child likes, what helps them calm, what foods they like etc. Knowing the answers to some of these questions will help you both create an amazing Sensory Box.

 The Box itself can be anything that is portable. A plastic container, a small box with print, a small suitcase or a purse. Have the child pick some of their favorite things to put into the box, things that help make them feel safe, calm or happy. Have simple strategies on cue cards to help them know what to do if they get overwhelmed. It is important to have the Sensory Box readily available to the child. Let the child know that when they need something from the box they are able to go get it. It is very important to relay the rules to the child, when and where it is okay for the child to access the box.

Having a Sensory Box can be a great tool to help teach coping skills to the sensory child. Helping them become more aware of their emotions and sensory issues.

               Information taken from Sensory Motor Activities Stephanie O'Leary, BScPT, and Margaret Galipeau BPT Galipeau Physiotherapy Inc. For copies of this   information or a Sensory Newsletter please email me, or call (780)743-6389                     

avoids certain tastes/smells picky eater
routinely smells nonfood items
seeks certain smells or tastes
does not seem to smell strong odors
strong odors may overwhelm them

seeks out constant movement
hangs on objects or people
seems to have weak muscles, tires easily                                      
walks on toes

becomes anxious when feet leave the ground
avoids climbing or jumping
avoids playground equipment
seeks all kinds of movement, interferes with daily routine
takes excessive risks, no safety awareness
         Touchavoids getting messy with paint, glue etc.
is sensitive to certain clothes or materials
avoids going barefoot or does not want to wear socks
decreased awareness to pain or temperature

jumps from one activity to another frequently, interferes with play
has difficutly paying attention
overly affectionate with people
seems anxious, worries
is accident prone
had difficulty developing friendships

As parents we want to do what we can to help our children. When we are confronted with new information it can be overwhelming. The following is a list of ideas that are simple and inexpensive that parents can do to help their children with SPD.

Introduction
Incorporating Sensory Input into Daily Activities
Other General Guidelines for the Home

"All children can benefit from appropriate sensory experiences. There is much research available demonstrating the benefits of sensory rich environments for animals and the same appears to be true for humans. For children who have atypical reactions to the sensory environment, the world can be a scary place.

Many aspects of home and family life may be affected when living with a child with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). As a parent of a child with SPD, you know how hectic and chaotic it can be at home. Any activity suggestions must fit easily into typical home routines or they will not be utilized. Therefore, the following suggestions are organized around typical daily household tasks wherever possible.

Before attempting any of these activities, it is important that you understand some basic principles.

Any activity list available on the Internet cannot possibly be individualized for a child and therefore some activities may not be appropriate for your child. 
Some children may be over sensitive to sensations and will be fearful or withdraw from certain activities or sensations. Other children may be sensory seeking and find many of these activities enjoyable. You must carefully observe your child’s reactions and respect them.
A child who is indicating fear or distress should not be forced to participate. The child’s fear and discomfort is based on his or her nervous system’s reaction to sensation and is real, and not under his or her control.
Many children fluctuate between sensory sensitivity and sensory seeking behaviors, and others may be sensitive to certain sensations but seek other ones. Each child’s patterns may be highly unique and individual, and it is not uncommon for those patterns to change depending upon the context the child is in (where, when, what is going on, etc.).
Sensory seekers tend to be very active children, who are on the go. They often respond positively to very intense forms of sensory stimulation and look for ways to move, jump, fall, crash, kick, push, etc. Creating ways to incorporate these needs into safe and fun activities that provide the desired intensity may allow your child to come to a calm and focused place. Think about ways your child can safely push, pull, kick, hang, jump, and lift. (For example, bowling, playground monkey bars, trampolines, pushing a "heavy bag" back and forth with you, pulling a heavy wagon.) 
Children who are sensitive to certain sensations (sounds, lights, smells) may like activities that provide intense deep pressure to the skin, resistance to the muscles, and input to the joints. In general, these inputs are calming for the system.
Lastly, watch for signs that your child is becoming overly silly, unsafe, extremely over-active, or inattentive. Also watch for sudden yawning, hiccoughing, burping, or changes in skin color. If you note these things, stop the activity immediately and if necessary find something calming for your child (wrapping up in a blanket, very slow rocking, big bear hug, snuggling in a big comfy chair, warm bath or shower).
The best way to approach these activities is to present some ideas to your child and allow their preferences to guide you. You may also find other similar ideas to add to your child’s list of personal favorites. and challenging

Incorporating Sensory Input into Daily Activities
Bath time: Scrub with washcloth or bath brush, try a variety of soaps and lotions for bathing, play on the wall with shaving cream or bathing foam, rub body with lotion after bath time (deep massage), sprinkle powder onto body and brush or rub into skin.
Meal preparation or baking: Let your child mix ingredients, especially the thick ones that will really work those muscles. Let child mix and roll dough and push flat. Allow child to help you carry pots and pans, bowls of water or ingredients (with supervision, of course). Let your child tenderize meat with the meat mallet.
Grocery shopping: Have your child push the heavy cart (as long as the weight is within their capability). Let your child help carry heavy groceries and help put them away.
Mealtime: Encourage eating of chewy foods and drinking out of a straw. Try having your child sit on an air cushion to allow some movement. A weighted lap blanket may be helpful as well. 
Household chores: Allow the child to help with the vacuuming or moving the furniture. Let the child help carry the laundry basket or the detergent. Let the child help with digging for gardening or landscaping. 
Play time: Reading books in a rocking chair or bean-bag chair may be beneficial. You can help your child make up obstacle courses in the house or yard using crawling, jumping, hopping, skipping, rolling, etc. Listen to soft music. Play the sandwich game (child lies in between two pillows and pretends to be the sandwich, while you provide pressure to the top pillow to the child’s desired amount). Ask them "harder or softer?" as you push on the pillow. Some children will like much more pressure than you would expect. You can also go for a neighborhood walk with a wagon and have your child pull it (make it semi-heavy by loading it with something the child would like to pull around). You can do the same with a baby-doll carriage. Swimming in a pool is a wonderful activity if you have that available, as are horseback riding and bowling. Mini or full-size trampolines are excellent for providing sensory input as well. Make sure the child is using them safely. Sandboxes, or big containers of beans or popcorn kernels can be fun play-boxes. too, if you add small cars, shovels, cups, etc. 
Errands and appointments: Before visiting the dentist or hairdresser try deep massage to the head or scalp (if tolerated), or try having your child wear a weighted hat. Try chewy foods or vibration to the mouth with an electric toothbrush. Let your child wear a heavy backpack (weighted to their liking with books and with the straps padded as needed). Be sure to give the child ample warning before any changes in routine or any unscheduled trips or errands. Many children with SPD need predictability.
Other General Guidelines for the Home
Keep routines and possessions organized. 
Be consistent with rules and consequences. 
Keep an activity schedule or calendar posted. 
Create specific routines for troublesome times of day (bedtime or getting ready for school). 
Discuss upcoming anticipated changes in routine at a point in time that is beneficial for your child. You will have to experiment with how early the child "needs to know." 
Try to indirectly use your child’s sensory preferences for fun rewards to help you handle behavior. For example, having your child work towards an extra trip to go bowling or horseback riding may be helpful. However, try not to restrict movement activities when your child is being disciplined. For example, taking away recess time or playground time for not sitting at the table appropriately during dinner may not be the most effective way to deal with these issues. Your child may need that movement time, and by removing it, his or her behavior may actually become more difficult later. "