Page 52 - Education Supplement February 2025

SIX WAYS TO SUPPORT

SENSORY-SEEKING

BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN

By Nicola Killops

aising a child with sensory-seeking
needs often feels like managing WHAT DOES SENSORY-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR
Ra high-energy storm. There are LOOK LIKE?
moments of joy, exhaustion, and confusion,
often wrapped into one. When my son was Children with sensory-seeking needs engage in seemingly odd behaviours, but
seven, he went through what we called these actions serve a real purpose. Here are some common behaviours and the
his Houdini phase — vanishing in the blink reasons behind them:
of an eye. Once, during a grocery run, I
found him in the frozen section, licking ice • Hand-flapping, spinning, or rocking back and forth
off the freezer door. At school, he loved These rhythmic movements offer a sense of control and predictability, which
sneaking into the therapy room to wedge helps children feel calm and grounded. The repetitive motion also stimulates the
himself between mattresses, and during vestibular system, which regulates balance and spatial awareness.
swimming lessons, he spent nearly all his • Chewing on non-food objects, such as pencils or clothing
time underwater. These moments, though Chewing or sucking provides proprioceptive input — stimulation to the muscles
challenging, are an essential part of who he and joints — that can help soothe anxiety and improve focus.
is, reflecting how sensory-seeking children • Making loud noises or seeking out noisy environments
experience and make sense of the world Loud sounds can help sensory-seeking children stay alert and engaged,
around them. particularly if they struggle with sluggishness or under-reactivity to sensory input.

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