I took my sensory seeking son to the park yesterday. How can you spot a sensory seeker in a crowd of five-year-olds at a park? A few things to look for:
1. he’ll be the one climbing to the top of the net/wall thingy fastest. Think spider man. I was just surprised he didn’t climb right over the top
2. he’ll be the one who LEAPS into the cold rushing water of the stream, lying partially submerged and clutching a rock as the water rushes over him, shrieking with delight (yes, those very rocks across the stream in the photo)
3. he’ll be the one who cheers about the chance to drink the usually forbidden Sierra Mist — and who adds mini-marshmallows just to sweeten it up
Did I have a heart attack watching my son leap from rock to rock across the stream? Why yes, yes I did. Several in fact. I even sat with my shoes off, assuming I’d need to jump in and fish him out (I did, but more because he didn’t want to leave the water to get ready to leave). But did any other kid at that park reach out and “suck the marrow out of” each and every moment that day like mine did?
While raising my sensory seeker it constantly amazes me how much *fun* some aspects of it can be. That is, if you can survive your heart stopping a few times a day.
Comments
Tessa
My baby boy is also a crazy seeker, and I LOVE your perspective on it in this post! Sharing!
Susan S.
Ah! My sensory seeker loves water, and doesn’t seem to be bothered by very cold water either. And when he was little, I couldn’t get him out of it to leave places.
Yes, it’s fun to enjoy our kids too! Great post.
Heather Finnegan
I love the quote; “like trying to hold a whirlwind in your hands” from your profile. I feel that way with my youngest. What a great perspective to have!
Kimberly
Hi. New to the blog. My daughter is 4 and a sensory seeker. She is currently going to OT one hour a week. Does anyone have some tips for when she has a tantrum at home… Reasoning with her doesn’t work…often she she thinks she is right even when the behavior is wrong. Time outs calm her down after a bit but she repeats the behavior even though she has been in time out over and over for the same thing? She is a very head strong girl to say the least. Thanks Kimberly
Alysia
Hi Kimberly! Check out Hartley’s great post called “is it sensory or is it behavior” at http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/2011/05/25/is-it-sensory-or-behavior/
It will give you tips on distinguishing between something she can control and something she can’t.
There have been many posts here about tantrums and meltdowns with our kids…type either word into the search at the right and you’ll find so much advice and information. Hopefully that helps!
Mary
Kimberly, we’re just figuring all of this out slowly ourselves. From my own experiences, traditional “time outs” have limited effect — except when they truly give you both a chance to cool down. It’s a delicate balance, trying *not* to reward meltdowns, but to also help your kiddo get the sensory input they need to settle themselves (which often involved holding them and giving them bug squishy hugs). We work on taking some slow deep breaths (which helps me as much as my son), calming everyone down (*very* hard some days), and then doing to a new activity once we’ve settled a bit. Whenever possible, I try to stop the meltdown before it happens — picking him up, rubbing his back, re-directing his focus at me instead of whatever has him frustrated. I wish I could say it’s 100% effective but it isn’t. And then there are days like last Friday when he melted down in WalMart at 3pm but I (stupidly) hadn’t eaten anything all day and just wasn’t able for it. I stalked outside, put him in his carseat, and sat in the front seat myself reading while he just went through it where at least he was safe to kick and scream for a while. Not my best parenting moment, but not my worst either. I will say that even at age 5, my son is nearly a different kid than he was a year ago, when we were just getting started with OT, and that changing *our* behaviors and reactions at home has made the biggest difference. Hang in there; you really aren’t alone.
dollimama
I am raising a set of two year old twin girls, and one is a sensory seeker to the max! The other will try to follow her sister in her crazy activities, but she gets tired of it quickly and looks at me frequently with her sad eyes and say “I don ge it” Her newest phrase. Poor girl. You are so right, no one enjoys life like a sensory seeker!