For children with sensory issues, sometimes the world can just be too much. It is too loud. Too bright. Too crowded. Too hot. There is too much sensory input to process and too little time to take in the assault on their senses. It can be easy to get caught up in the rush when you are out in the world, both for fun and for errands. There are times when things simply have to get done in a certain time frame, but there are others when it is okay to take a deep breath and go a little slower than usual.

My daughter is easily overwhelmed by crowds and by noise, but she still enjoys trips to the petting zoo or beaches or museums. I can’t change the world for her, as much as I would like to at times. I can’t keep her away from the world either, because there is just too much to experience. But we can take it slowly. We can experience the world at her own pace and her comfort level. I try to avoid the busiest times at her favorite places, but things don’t always go according to plan. …continue reading