Summertime is in full swing, and families are spending more time together, often engaging in group outings and trying new activities. The agenda quickly gets packed with new sights, smells, foods and people. It’s a time to be together, build memories and share experiences with the ultimate goal of relaxation and fun.

However, not everyone responds to new things in the same way, and as parents, it is important to recognize that it may be even harder for kids who struggle with sensory integration. 

As adults, when we plan summer fun, we know which activities are relaxing for us, and we have the luxury of being in control, setting the agenda and making choices. Children, however, are at the mercy of their parents or caregivers who determine their schedule and activities.

Most parents encourage their children to try new experiences, and kids, who by nature are brutally honest, express their responses through their actions – both good and bad. As parents, we encourage our children to take an interest in the activities we enjoy and expect they will feel the same way. 

As such, it can be surprising when a child responds to our favorite foods or activities in a negative way. We do our best to gently encourage their interest, but when the response is consistently different than what we expect, it can cause us to worry. Why doesn’t my child enjoy walking along the beach barefoot? Why does my child fuss and cry whenever we go out to eat?

When behaviors seem extreme or out of the ordinary, it can be an indicator that children are having difficulty organizing information through their senses. We gather information through our senses of vision, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Our bodies are designed to absorb information and then decide whether to respond or disregard the stimuli.

For example, the light touch sensation of an insect crawling on our shoulder usually results in an immediate response to flick the insect away. On the other hand, the background sound of running air conditioner can be ignored. This filtering of information is called sensory integration. When a child’s ability to filter information is compromised in some way, the child’s misinterpretation of information can be expressed through behavior.

Sometimes, activities that seem enjoyable to one person can be misinterpreted or ignored by those with sensory input challenges, which can create behavioral concerns and interfere with learning. Typically, a person with sensory integration issues will respond with extreme sensitivity or not respond at all. Some behaviors that may be seen if children are extremely sensitive to sensory information might include:

• Avoidance • Disinterest • Discomfort in joining in an activity • Fear • Anxiety

• Being extremely particular about how they would like to participate

When children are unaware of a sensory input, it may take more stimulation for the child to notice that sensation by using things like extra flavorful, spicy foods or more intense body movements. Some behaviors you might notice if your child is less aware of the sensory information are:

 

• Poor attention span • Impulsivity

• Inability to distinguish dangerous situations

• Unaware of others’ personal space • Clumsiness

• Difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next

 

Because sensory-related behaviors are involuntary responses, typical techniques, such as ignoring the negative behavior, redirecting and giving time-outs do not work to decrease the behavior. Sensory integration concerns are usually consistent behavioral responses that may be seen as an overreaction or disinterest in the situation. Many times, the behavior response is also seen as a mismatch between the child’s behavior and the child’s age.

The good news is that there are therapies you can apply to help increase awareness or decrease sensitivity to sensory input. There are sensory activities designed to help reduce or eliminate the problem behavior so that more time and attention can be dedicated to learning and having fun.

The best practice is to try and intervene as early as possible if you feel your child’s response to sensation is peculiar or concerning. Talk to your child’s pediatrician, teachers and friends. Gather information about your child’s responses by making note of when the behavior is seen, the events surrounding the behavior and what usually helps. Also, look for patterns and similarities to help analyze the behavior, and share this information with professionals.

If you feel your child is having difficulty regulating behavior or has some sensory sensitivity or decreased awareness, talk to an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration. Talking about your concerns with others can make all the difference. 

Let’s be honest: Addressing behavior concerns will make summer activities more enjoyable for our children, family and friends. It’s time to build some new summer memories everyone will enjoy.