Occupational Therapy for Sensory Seeking Behavior

Sensory seeking behavior can feel like a lot to manage. If your child is a sensory seeker you might feel like you are always telling your child no. “Don’t put that in your mouth”, “Don’t climb up the slide”, “Watch out, don’t run into..”, “Don’t throw the ball so hard”, “Be careful!”, etc. In this post we are going to unpack what sensory seeking behavior means & teach you how to support their nervous system so you can experience more calm in your household. Let’s dive right in!

Understanding Sensory Seeking Behavior

What does sensory seeking behavior look like?

Children who are sensory seekers are frequently described as being intense or wild. They can have a tendency to be constantly moving or it seems like they are always on the go. When it comes to playing, everything is bigger, faster, or harder. They could also seem overly curious – touching or grabbing everything, or constantly chewing or putting things in their mouth. Seeking behavior could also look like risky behavior. Perhaps they love spinning or being upside down, or they love crashing into things (people, cushions, walls, ect). Lastly, sensory seekers can tend to make constant noise – talking, screaming, laughing, screeching, ect.

What does sensory seeking behavior mean?

Here at Children In Motion we view behavior as an opportunity to understand our children better. Behavior is communication. To you it may seem like they are just a wild child trying your patience. The reality is that their nervous system needs more sensory input to regulate. In the following section we will provide guidance on how you can support your sensory seeker no matter why they are a seeker.

How to Support Sensory Seeking Behavior

Meet the ‘Sensory Threshold’

The best thing you can do as a parent is provide opportunities for your child to meet their sensory threshold. When your child meets their threshold, their nervous system is satisfied. It can finally take a breath because it has received enough information to regulate – “Ah, that’s it”. It’s just like when you are using the oven to bake a cake. The oven preheats, and when it finally reaches the right temperature, it’s good to go. Here’s how you can help your child meet their threshold –

#1. Identify what kind of information they are seeking

There are three types of sensory input your child could be seeking based on their behavior –

Input Needed	Behavioral Signs
Movement	Constant movement
Muscle Work	Crashing, climbing, throwing, chewing
Tactile	Touching everything

Your child might need multiple types of input to regulate their nervous system. Pick one input/behavior to start with.

#2. Meet the threshold

Input Needed	Examples of How to Meet the Threshold
Movement	Activity: Swinging Repetition/Duration: Swing for 5 pushes, then 10 pushes, then 20 pushes, ect. You could also use time as an increment. Swing for 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, etc. Intensity: Spin or hang upside down Novelty: Swing on a variety of swings
Muscle Work	Activity: Obstacle Course Repetition/Duration: Increase how many times your child completes the obstacle course (‘how many times can you complete the obstacle course in (amount of time)?’). You could also time how long it takes them to complete the obstacle course and challenge them to beat their time. Intensity: Include heavy items in the obstacle that they have to push, pull, or carry. Novelty: Have a variety of obstacle courses ideas that you can rotate between so you aren’t asking them to complete the same obstacle course every time. You can use the same obstacles, just change up the order.
Tactile	Activity: Water Play or Bean Bucket Repetition/Duration: Play for longer periods of time in the water or bean buckets. Intensity: Play with items that are wet, sticky, or slimy. Allow them to immerse their whole body in the water/bean bucket. Novelty: Alternate between a variety of materials – water, beans, rice, slime, noodles, etc.

Once your child’s threshold is met, they will be able to regulate. This will help them focus, follow directions, listen, sit still, & make safe decisions. You should be able to tell a difference in their level of calmness.

For some children you might see an immediate change. For others it can take more time. If you don’t notice any changes after trying this consistently for a month, then it is time to reach out to an occupational therapist for specialized support.

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Sensory seeking behavior certainly can keep you on your toes! With this information & guidance you should be able to help your child’s nervous system get the information it needs so you can take a breath. If you feel overwhelmed & unsure where to start, we’d love to support you. 

Our team works with sensory seekers almost every day in our clinic, so we know exactly where to start! Through parent coaching or individual therapy sessions in our clinic in Sandy Springs, GA, we can give you the confidence to know how to support your unique sensory seeker. The best way to reach out to us is through our contact form.