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Sensory processing
I have read some of your very informational posts regarding sensory problems in children. I am hoping someone can offer some advise any advise on how to help a little one with sensory issues sit and focus during circle time. My son is going to be 4 soon and has a very hard time with this. We do have and OT and she has been suggesting different methods. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Thank you.
do you have any natural food stores out there. LIke whole foods, etc, they carry it. Food dyes are IN EVERYTHING. I get my son the chewy ones from nordic naturals, he is five. He does not swallow pills yet.... You can also get the oils in a liquid form nad put them in juices, etc.
I am trying to figure out what is the isue with my son, right now I am thinking ADHD and some sensory issues, i've been reading they go hand in hand a lot. both are neurological conditions.
Vitamin Shoppe has it I know for sure, not sure if you have those in your area.
As far as knowing what to give them I really have to idea as to the total amount. It is more like what can I get my son to take.... He's very stubborn about things...
I posted some stuff on another post about the studies that have been done.
I am trying to figure out what is the isue with my son, right now I am thinking ADHD and some sensory issues, i've been reading they go hand in hand a lot. both are neurological conditions.
Vitamin Shoppe has it I know for sure, not sure if you have those in your area.
As far as knowing what to give them I really have to idea as to the total amount. It is more like what can I get my son to take.... He's very stubborn about things...
I posted some stuff on another post about the studies that have been done.
Do you have a little one with sensory and if so do you use the fish oil? How much should they take one a day and what about the mgs. Where do you get the Nordic brand of fish oil I live in New York or can you only get it online? How does fish oil help them or sensory? Thank you! Yes I agree there are so many food with artificial colors its terrible. You dont know of a gum that is all natural by any chance I hear thats really helps to?
I have found eliminating food dyes helps too. It's hard b/c it is in SO Many things. I like the Nordic Natural brands of fish oils. YOu can go to their website, they are good quality and have been in a lot of studies.
Have you ever tried the fish oil with your little one? If so how much do you give them one a day and how many mgs? My little one is around 45 pounds and I will definately try it if it is gonna help him. Do you know what fish oil is suppose to help with sensory? I do give him an all natural vitamin every day. Where can you buy that chair pad and rubber bands that you were talking about? I did read on the other post all the good suggestions to help him with deep pressure I loved them all we are going to try all of them. This morning we already did the frog, jumping jacks and tryed to move the wall lol he seems to love them of course I was pooped lol. Do you think any particular one works better that I could try before he goes to school he goes two days a week on Mondays and Wednesdays for 21/2 hours 9:30 till 12. I put him in this school to try and get him ready for real prek. If nothing else its helping me learn how to help him in the areas that he has difficulty like circle time. I am gonna try the chewing of the gum also but i have to find one that is kinda all natural any suggestion? Thank you so much for everything it is so nice to talk to someone so helpful that is kinda going through the same thing and that it will get better :)! I do have him on a healthy diet that eliminates preservatives and food colorings and that helps a little. Thanks again!
Yes, sounds like your guy is like mine . . . mine has space awareness issues and loves pressure. I am so glad you are working on these things . . .it will benefit him so much. As he gets older and even by next year---- you will find his behavior bothers not only the teachers but the other kids. That was very painful for me--- you are smart to address it now.
As I said, I think for all things sensory, you should work on it as much as you possibly can away from school. If he craves deep pressure (what you describe is exactly what my son loves)---- give it to him during his time with you at home. Help him out with some of the games I mentioned. Do it AS MUCH as possible. If you do some before school and he has just had deep pressure, he may not want to roll on the floor as much. And if you do a few hours of sensory play the afternoon on the day before school, it will have a lasting affect the next day. So it is really important for you to work on this nonstop. We don't do quite as much now as he is 6 and also knows certain things now to do himself to "slow his engine down".
As far as some of the things you mention, sitting too close. What about spots that the teacher sets out. Like carpet squares or something? I think you also start talking to him. I told my son when he is just sitting he is to put his hands in his lap and hold them there. He would work on it. We talked all the time about being a "good friend". This is important as this is now a simple cue that I can give "are you being a good friend?" My son knows what this means at 5 and 6 and will change what he is doing. Robot arms helped----- stand no closer than "robot arms" (arms straight out in front and to the side) cue by saying robot arms. That means he takes one step back. Then for hugging, you just to have rules. NO hugging at school. Make it firm. And you have to be kind of black and white and over the top---- as in a NO hugging rule because that is easier for him to do then . . . once in a while you can hug, or you canhug when you get there, etc. If it continues outside of school, there are things you can do when he is a little older involving a picture game and appropriate response to each picture (family, best friends, aquaintences, strangers).
Keep his self esteem really hight. Our son's took a hit at 4 as his peers started to notice his behavior and weren't too keen on it. They weren't overtly mean or anything, but he felt left out. And if you are the kid that easily bumps into others or has trouble keeping hands to self---- then others will claim you did everything bad in the classroom after awhile. It is like a no win situation. It is best when the teacher gets other kids to do the sensory activities. For example, the whole class marches to the playground rather than just having your boy do.
In my son's kindergarten, they have those chair pads that are inflatable and wiggle. They just have them there so we didn't have to bring one . . . but it allows a kid to sit and wiggle without getting out of his seat. He'll eventually like one of those maybe. We had one for the dinner table and "homework" which was 10 minutes a day of practicing letters (have you gotten into that yet . . .another trouble area for sensory kids, usually) but recently he asked not to use it. They also tie rubber bands (like those used in a ladies exercise class) around the bottom of it and they can push it with their feet. Those will help more maybe next year or when "real" school starts.
I will say that I did not push preschool. I didn't send him 5 days a week or anything. I wanted him to have days in which we had long periods of sensory diet work and I didn't want him to get too stressed out. It worked for us.
Lastly, regarding diet. We don't do anything too special. I try to keep it healthy---- he is a picky eater with vegis and meat. But he gets plenty of protein and lots of fruit and all the other food groups. We tried gluten free and I didn't notice any difference. He takes a multi vitamin. They say fish oil is also good for sensory. I stay away from fast food. My son doesn't really react too much to sugar. But we still don't have it much. So, I just keep it as healthy and kid friendly as possible.
Please have hope. You are giving your boy the coping skills to get along in the world. Things will improve each year from here on out. good luck and again, contact me any time!
As I said, I think for all things sensory, you should work on it as much as you possibly can away from school. If he craves deep pressure (what you describe is exactly what my son loves)---- give it to him during his time with you at home. Help him out with some of the games I mentioned. Do it AS MUCH as possible. If you do some before school and he has just had deep pressure, he may not want to roll on the floor as much. And if you do a few hours of sensory play the afternoon on the day before school, it will have a lasting affect the next day. So it is really important for you to work on this nonstop. We don't do quite as much now as he is 6 and also knows certain things now to do himself to "slow his engine down".
As far as some of the things you mention, sitting too close. What about spots that the teacher sets out. Like carpet squares or something? I think you also start talking to him. I told my son when he is just sitting he is to put his hands in his lap and hold them there. He would work on it. We talked all the time about being a "good friend". This is important as this is now a simple cue that I can give "are you being a good friend?" My son knows what this means at 5 and 6 and will change what he is doing. Robot arms helped----- stand no closer than "robot arms" (arms straight out in front and to the side) cue by saying robot arms. That means he takes one step back. Then for hugging, you just to have rules. NO hugging at school. Make it firm. And you have to be kind of black and white and over the top---- as in a NO hugging rule because that is easier for him to do then . . . once in a while you can hug, or you canhug when you get there, etc. If it continues outside of school, there are things you can do when he is a little older involving a picture game and appropriate response to each picture (family, best friends, aquaintences, strangers).
Keep his self esteem really hight. Our son's took a hit at 4 as his peers started to notice his behavior and weren't too keen on it. They weren't overtly mean or anything, but he felt left out. And if you are the kid that easily bumps into others or has trouble keeping hands to self---- then others will claim you did everything bad in the classroom after awhile. It is like a no win situation. It is best when the teacher gets other kids to do the sensory activities. For example, the whole class marches to the playground rather than just having your boy do.
In my son's kindergarten, they have those chair pads that are inflatable and wiggle. They just have them there so we didn't have to bring one . . . but it allows a kid to sit and wiggle without getting out of his seat. He'll eventually like one of those maybe. We had one for the dinner table and "homework" which was 10 minutes a day of practicing letters (have you gotten into that yet . . .another trouble area for sensory kids, usually) but recently he asked not to use it. They also tie rubber bands (like those used in a ladies exercise class) around the bottom of it and they can push it with their feet. Those will help more maybe next year or when "real" school starts.
I will say that I did not push preschool. I didn't send him 5 days a week or anything. I wanted him to have days in which we had long periods of sensory diet work and I didn't want him to get too stressed out. It worked for us.
Lastly, regarding diet. We don't do anything too special. I try to keep it healthy---- he is a picky eater with vegis and meat. But he gets plenty of protein and lots of fruit and all the other food groups. We tried gluten free and I didn't notice any difference. He takes a multi vitamin. They say fish oil is also good for sensory. I stay away from fast food. My son doesn't really react too much to sugar. But we still don't have it much. So, I just keep it as healthy and kid friendly as possible.
Please have hope. You are giving your boy the coping skills to get along in the world. Things will improve each year from here on out. good luck and again, contact me any time!
Forgot to ask if you can recommend any special diet that would benefit him as well? I think he is looking for deep pressure because he throws himself around alot pretending to play football lol and what I think should hurt him because of the way he falls doesnt he seems to like it. Please help thanks again!
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