Why I Don't Stress About Sensory Issues

I'm not saying they'll stop being neurodivergent. I'm saying you'll stop wanting them to.

I'm saying it will stop feeling like a disorder. Because I don't believe that it is. 

God knew what he was doing when he wired our brains, when he knit us together in our mother's womb.

When I posted this reel, I said I'd follow up with a blog post unpacking some of the things I was talking about.

I used to work as a clinician developing treatment plans for kids with sensory issues and overseeing their work in occupational therapy.

While there certainly are providers who can be a wonderful supplement to your child's work at home, nothing can replace the goodness of having a sensory friendly home environment 24/7.

I don't like it when people speak death about my children! That's something to really look out for if you do work with providers outside your home. 

My journey with my neurodivergent brood has been a lot more about watching carefully for what environments they thrive in, and maximizing their time spent doing those things.

Likewise, I watch what things are stressful for them, and I minimize them doing those things, while also providing them with just enough "stretch." For example, my five year old goes to an outdoor based homeschool enrichment program that provides him with just enough of a stretch beyond his comfort zone.

I regret so much every moment I spent trying to get my older kids to fit into things like public and private schools that were simply not compatible with how they are wired.

Being neurodivergent myself, I know that the sensitivity and pattern recognition are profound gifts that have one purpose - to hear the Holy Spirit and be of more benefit to others as a mom, coach, friend, and worshipper.

So what are the steps I recommend toward creating a sensory friendly home environment:

• Keep things simple and schedules light - make family connection and slowing down for the following activities the priority over the lessons and birthday parties that all the other families are doing.
• Maximize outdoor play - this builds Vagal tone which is the single biggest thing you can do to position your child for lifelong mental health.
• Allow wrestling and roughhousing while backing up kids to set boundaries. Play with your child, doing games like "slippery fish" where you catch them and they try to wiggle away. 
• Allow lots of variety in sensory play, from sand, to water, to dirt, to snow, making playdough and cloud dough, rice, beans...all very affordable and fun. It's easy to keep messes contained if you are firm that the fun ends where the mess begins. I like to calmly say, "we will try again tomorrow."
• Set up areas for crashing - my entire living room is set up for climbing on furniture in order to crash onto a 6' diameter beanbag chair with foam in it. We also have another beanbag chair in the room that has beads in it so they get both sensory experiences.
• Swings are good - all the kinds!
• Weighted blankets can be great too! I like to give my kids gentle squeezes before bed where I squeeze their arms, legs, feet and hands.

I'd love to hear, what are your favorite ways to give your kids a sensory friendly lifestyle?