Sensory Processing in Children: Signs Your Child May Benefit From Occupational Therapy
Children experience the world through their senses. From the feel of clothing against their skin to the sounds of a busy classroom, the movement of a playground swing or the smell and texture of food, sensory information is part of almost everything children do.
For most children, the brain is able to receive, organise and respond to this information in a way that allows them to participate comfortably in everyday activities.
For some children, sensory experiences can feel much more intense, distracting or difficult to manage. Other children may actively seek additional movement, touch or sensory input throughout their day.
These differences can sometimes affect a child's ability to participate in activities at home, school and in the community.
Understanding sensory processing in children can help parents recognise when their child's responses are simply individual preferences and when additional support from a paediatric occupational therapist may be helpful.
At Grow & Tell, our occupational therapists support children with sensory processing, emotional regulation and participation in everyday activities.
What Is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing refers to the way the brain receives, interprets and responds to information from the body and the environment.
Most people are familiar with the five senses:
sight
hearing
touch
taste
smell.
However, there are other sensory systems that are also important for children's development and participation.
The vestibular system provides information about movement, balance and the position of the head.
The proprioceptive system receives information from muscles and joints and helps children understand where their body is in space.
Interoception involves recognising signals from inside the body, such as hunger, thirst, tiredness, temperature or the need to use the bathroom.
All of these sensory systems work together throughout the day.
Sensory processing differences occur when a child responds to sensory information in a way that makes particular activities or environments more difficult to manage.
What Do Sensory Processing Differences Look Like in Children?
Sensory processing can look very different from one child to another.
Some children are particularly sensitive to sensory information and may become uncomfortable or overwhelmed by experiences that other children barely notice.
Others may seek additional sensory input and appear to need constant movement, touch or physical activity.
A child may also be sensitive to some types of sensory information while actively seeking others.
The important question isn't simply whether a child has sensory preferences. We all do.
Instead, parents and occupational therapists consider whether these sensory responses are affecting the child's comfort, independence or ability to participate in everyday life.
Signs a Child May Be Sensitive to Sensory Input
A child who is particularly sensitive to sensory information may:
cover their ears around loud or unexpected noises
become distressed in busy or crowded environments
dislike particular clothing, seams, socks or tags
avoid messy play or getting their hands dirty
strongly dislike having their hair washed, brushed or cut
find toothbrushing or nail cutting difficult
avoid particular food textures, smells or tastes
become uncomfortable with unexpected touch
avoid swings, climbing or other movement activities
become overwhelmed by bright, noisy or highly stimulating environments
have difficulty transitioning between activities or environments.
A child's response can also change depending on the situation. Something they manage comfortably on a calm morning may be much harder when they are tired, hungry or already overwhelmed.
What Is Sensory Seeking?
Sensory seeking describes behaviours where a child appears to actively look for additional sensory experiences.
For example, a sensory-seeking child may:
constantly run, jump or climb
enjoy crashing into cushions or furniture
seek strong hugs or physical pressure
frequently touch objects or people
chew clothing, pencils or other objects
enjoy spinning or swinging for long periods
find it difficult to sit still
use more force than expected during play
seek messy or tactile activities
appear to need frequent movement throughout the day.
These behaviours aren't necessarily a problem on their own.
Some children simply enjoy lots of movement and physical play. The behaviour becomes more relevant when the child's sensory needs make it difficult to participate safely, comfortably or successfully in everyday activities.
Sensory Processing at Home
Sensory differences often become particularly noticeable during everyday family routines.
Getting dressed, for example, involves many sensory experiences at once. A child may need to tolerate different fabrics, seams, socks, shoes, changes in temperature and the physical sensations involved in dressing.
Mealtimes can involve smells, tastes, textures, sounds and the experience of sitting together around a table.
Bathing, hair washing, toothbrushing and toileting can also involve complex sensory experiences.
For some families, activities that appear relatively simple can therefore become unexpectedly difficult.
An occupational therapist can help explore what might be contributing to the difficulty, rather than focusing only on the behaviour that parents see.
Sensory Processing at School
School is an incredibly sensory environment.
Children may need to manage:
classroom noise
bells and announcements
other children moving around them
visual information
different seating arrangements
playground noise
physical contact with other children
transitions between activities
art and craft materials
movement during sport
clothing and school uniforms.
At the same time, they are expected to listen, learn, communicate, regulate their emotions and participate with other children.
A child who is using significant effort to manage sensory information may find it harder to concentrate or participate in classroom activities.
Some children may become restless or seek movement. Others may withdraw, avoid activities or become overwhelmed.
Occupational therapists can work with children, families and educators to understand these responses and develop practical strategies that support participation at school.
Sensory Processing and Emotional Regulation
Sensory processing and emotional regulation can sometimes be closely connected.
Imagine trying to concentrate while someone repeatedly taps a pencil beside your ear.
For someone who is particularly sensitive to sound, an ordinary classroom may sometimes feel similarly distracting or uncomfortable.
When a child's sensory system is already under significant demand, managing frustration, transitions or unexpected changes may become more difficult.
Parents may notice that their child becomes upset, withdraws, seeks movement or has difficulty recovering after particularly busy or stimulating experiences.
Understanding what happened before a child became overwhelmed can sometimes help identify sensory or environmental factors contributing to their response.
Occupational therapy can help children and families develop strategies for recognising and responding to these needs.
How Can Occupational Therapy Help With Sensory Processing?
Occupational therapy doesn't aim to remove a child's sensory preferences or make every child respond to sensory information in the same way.
Instead, the goal is to understand how a child's individual sensory responses may be affecting their participation and identify strategies that make everyday activities more manageable.
Depending on the child's needs, an occupational therapist may:
explore how the child responds to different types of sensory information
identify activities or environments that are particularly challenging
help parents and educators understand the child's sensory needs
recommend changes to routines or environments
develop strategies to support regulation
help the child recognise their own sensory and emotional signals
use play and movement activities to support participation and development
work on related skills such as coordination, motor planning, self-care or attention.
The strategies used should be individualised to the child rather than based solely on a particular behaviour or diagnosis.
You can learn more about how occupational therapy supports children through our paediatric Occupational Therapy services.
What Happens During an Occupational Therapy Assessment?
If sensory processing is affecting your child's everyday life, an occupational therapy assessment can help build a clearer picture of their strengths and needs.
The occupational therapist may speak with parents about the child's developmental history, everyday routines and the situations they are finding difficult.
They may also observe the child during different activities and, where appropriate, use questionnaires or standardised assessment tools.
Importantly, the therapist will usually consider more than sensory processing alone.
Motor skills, communication, attention, emotional regulation, the environment, task demands and the child's developmental stage can all influence how they participate.
The aim is to understand the whole child, rather than assuming that every challenging behaviour is caused by sensory processing.
When Should I Consider Seeing an Occupational Therapist?
Every child has sensory preferences.
One child might dislike loud hand dryers. Another might refuse to wear a particular jumper. Another may love spinning, jumping and climbing.
These differences don't automatically mean that a child needs occupational therapy.
It may be worth speaking with an occupational therapist when sensory responses are regularly interfering with activities that are important to the child or family.
For example, you may notice ongoing difficulty with:
getting dressed
mealtimes
personal care
attending school or childcare
participating in classroom activities
playing with other children
coping in busy environments
transitions and everyday routines
participating in community or family activities.
An occupational therapist can help determine whether sensory processing may be contributing to these difficulties and whether assessment, therapy, environmental changes or other strategies could be helpful.
Paediatric Occupational Therapy in Sydney
Grow & Tell provides paediatric occupational therapy in Sydney for children with a range of developmental and functional needs.
Our occupational therapists support children with sensory processing and emotional regulation as well as fine and gross motor development, handwriting, coordination, self-care, school participation and everyday independence.
Families can access occupational therapy through our clinics in Rhodes and St Leonards/Crows Nest, as well as mobile services in selected areas of Sydney.
For families on Sydney's Lower North Shore, our St Leonards clinic is conveniently located near Crows Nest and supports families from Crows Nest, St Leonards, North Sydney, Cammeray, Greenwich, Naremburn, Artarmon, Lane Cove and surrounding suburbs.
You can learn more about our paediatric Occupational Therapy in Crows Nest and St Leonards.
Supporting Your Child's Sensory Needs
Sensory processing is only one part of understanding how a child experiences and participates in their everyday world.
For some children, small changes to routines or environments may make a significant difference. For others, sensory processing may be one of several areas where additional support could be beneficial.
The most useful approach is one that considers your child's individual strengths, needs, environment and the activities that matter to them and your family.
If you're concerned that sensory differences are making everyday activities more difficult for your child, our occupational therapy team can discuss your concerns and help determine an appropriate next step.
