Some children (you know them as the biter, the hitter, the screamer) seek a lot of sensory input. Walking barefoot through a sandbox provides the strong sensation they often find soothing and balancing. Other children, who show tactile defensiveness, avoid hugs, messy things, certain fabrics, tags, sock seams, sand, etc. Gentle, non-threatening exposure to sand can be very therapeutic for them as well, but shouldn’t be forced.

For the child who avoids sand, it is because the sand feels like the equivalent of us rubbing the coarsest sandpaper all over our bodies. The child cannot be reasoned through this process. But, the child can be greatly supported with non-threatening opportunities to explore these stimulants.

A sandbox with a wooden bench on the edge, so that he can sit with most of his body not touching the sand, can be helpful. Or, a sand table where only his hands and arms touch the sand is also a potentially less frustrating experience. Surprisingly, the road to managing this preference or disorder is not just through exposure, but through feeding the senses in an alternative way, such as “heavy work”.

While we all have sensory preferences, it only becomes a disorder when it impacts one or more areas of functioning. If you think your child might have a leaning in one direction or the other, it may behoove you to do a little research and seek out a recommended occupational therapist, with a sensory integration approach. They can help you and your child learn to manage his needs through therapy and a sensory diet.

The Out-of-Sync Child is a phenomenal book and resource for parents and teachers learning about sensory processing disorder. Other resources include:

• Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist
• Signs, Symptoms, and Background on Sensory Processing
• Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation

Your comments on experiences managing sensory preferences help others reading this post, as well as steer future posts regarding other areas of sensory processing. Please take a moment to share your stories and thoughts.