Listen & Subscribe on Your Platform of Choice:
Therapy Case Study: 2 Year Old Sensory Seeker
We LOVE answering your questions! Today’s episode comes from a listener who reached out with a question about a client they work with.
“He’s 2 years old. Definitely has a large sensory cup. He is extremely rough and tumble. This kid has face planted on concrete and will get up and keep running. I tried a weighted vest on him but he ripped it off right away. I’ve informed mom about heavy work at home. Our sessions usually look like me chasing him around. Any tips / strategies for kids like him?”
We brainstormed and came up with some ideas on how to incorporate his preferred sensory activities (like running) into structured 2 step obstacle courses. We talked about meeting his sensory needs, using a visual schedule, and MORE!
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form -> https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
Make sure to check out all of our links below!
Links
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Therapy Case Study: 2-Year-Old Sensory Seeker
You're not alone if you've ever worked with or raised a child who seems constantly moving, seeking rough-and-tumble activities, and showing little response to typical calming strategies. Many parents and therapists encounter children with a high sensory threshold who crave intense input but remain under-responsive to tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular experiences.
Recognizing The Sensory-Seeker
A sensory-seeking child often exhibits behaviors that can be both fearless and relentless, leaving parents and caregivers in awe—and sometimes anxiety. Imagine this scenario: a two-year-old who charges full speed into a tumble and crashes face-first onto concrete, only to jump up and keep running as if nothing happened.
Managing these boundless bursts of activity is overwhelming and downright exhausting for parents. The constant vigilance required to keep up with a sensory-seeking child can lead to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and fatigue.
For occupational therapists, these behaviors represent both a challenge and an opportunity. Sensory-seeking children push practitioners to innovate and apply evidence-based, practical interventions tailored to intense sensory needs.
Key Strategies For Managing High Sensory Thresholds
1. Meet Their Sensory Needs First
Before introducing calming interventions, engage the child in high-energy activities to meet their sensory needs. Activities like assisted running down a hallway or playful structured runs that include "ready, set, go" commands help build attention and communication while satisfying sensory cravings.
2. Structured Physical Activities
Incorporate physical exercises that are dynamic yet structured:
-
Running Games: Simple, fun races down a hallway, stopping at predetermined points or using auditory cues like “red light, green light.”
-
Animal Walks: Engaging in bear crawls or frog hops can slow the child down while offering proprioceptive input.
-
Interactive Swing Time: If the child is wary of swings, start with ground-based proprioceptive play. Slowly introduce them to swings using interactive songs to make the activity fun and relatable.
3. Use Visual Schedules And Token Boards
A simple visual schedule with one or two items can outline the session's structure and build predictability for younger children. Themed token boards, like those featuring dinosaurs, can boost motivation, while visual cues support smoother transitions, communication, and sensory needs.
4. Controlled Spaces And Stimuli Management
Set up therapy or play sessions in smaller rooms or pop-up tents to minimize external stimuli and maintain focus. Simplifying the area, using lower lighting, or playing calming background music tailored to their preferences can further reduce overwhelming sensory input.
5. Heavy Work And Deep Pressure
Encourage activities like crawling under a Lycra tunnel or pushing a weighted medicine ball, as these exercises offer calming, deep proprioceptive input for sensory-seeking children. Adding a small weighted object on their back while crawling increases the challenge and makes the activity more engaging and fun.
6. Empower With Choice And Communication
Promote independence by modeling and encouraging basic communication, using simple phrases like “more” or “all done” during activities. Pausing after each activity gives the child time to process and respond, reinforcing their ability to express their needs.
Advanced Tips For Older Sensory-Seekers
As children grow, the strategies used to support their sensory needs should adapt and become more sophisticated to meet their evolving requirements:
Weighted Objects
As older children become more receptive to nuanced interventions, consider introducing weighted animals or compression shirts. These items can provide calming, deep pressure input without the potentially restrictive feeling of a traditional weighted vest, making them more suitable for older kids who might need a subtle approach to regulation.
Deep Pressure Techniques
Implementing techniques such as the Wilbarger brushing protocol in a controlled and familiar environment can offer additional sensory regulation. This structured approach delivers the proprioceptive input that helps older sensory-seekers achieve a sense of calm and focus, contributing to better self-regulation and participation in daily activities.
Final Thoughts
By incorporating these advanced methods, parents and occupational therapists can develop engaging, age-appropriate plans that cater to children with high sensory thresholds. These tailored approaches promote progress and help create a path toward greater independence and confidence, resulting in happier, more balanced children.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
0 Responses
Leave a Comment