Our Sensory Family Resources: Transitions and Self-Regulation
This month we're focusing on transitions and self-regulation.
Transitions are an inevitable part of everyday life - from moving home, starting a new school or job to getting out of the door in the morning to go to school or adjusting to a new teacher. Often, individuals with sensory challenges struggle with transitions for a number of reasons and this is where self-regulation can play a key role in helping them to navigate transitions more effectively.
In this month's Resources blog, we've included lots of useful information and articles to help family members with sensory differences manage transitions whilst building up their self-regulation skills.
Self-Regulation: A Critical Skill for Kids with Sensory ‘Issues’– this useful article from Your Kids Table takes a look at what sensory self-regulation is, why it matters, and what sensory strategies can improve self-regulation skills in children that have sensory differences.
Manage Clashing Sensory Needs - this insightful article from Psychology Today looks at the challenges of managing diverse sensory needs in neurodivergent families and offers a 4-step guide on how to navigate these sensory needs in order to build sensory harmony and a more inclusive family dynamic.
3 Signs it's a Sensory Meltdown, Not a Tantrum – a sensory meltdown is when our brain is maxed out on sensations and can’t take anymore.. This article from Your Kids Table helps to explain the difference between whether your child is having a sensory meltdown or a tantrum and how to help your child’s sensory processing when they are having a sensory overload meltdown.
3 Reasons Transitions are Difficult for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – this article by Kelly Beins, a seasoned therapist with over 20 years’ Occupational Therapy experience, looks at why transitions are difficult for children with sensory processing differences and offers up some advice to parents on how to support their sensory child.
15 Tips for Navigating College and Autism - this Autism Parenting Magazine article by Angela, an autistic individual and college graduate, offers insights and advice for young adults on the spectrum on how to prepare for college and how their parents can support them.
7-Minute Emotion Regulating Activity To Help Kids Calm Down - all feelings are valid and necessary; however, sometimes big feelings can be overwhelming and we all need a little help with coming down from strong emotions from time to time. This video from Brighten Up! Kids focuses on regulating children’s intense feelings and emotions and contains a sequence of activities to help children feel calmer and more regulated.
29 Calming Sensory Activities – calming sensory activities can help kids cope when they feel overwhelmed and experience sensory overload. Sensory overload can cause a child to become extremely agitated, have trouble focusing, or meltdown. There are several different types of calming sensory overload activities that can help and this useful article from Fun Sensory Play looks at a number of them and when to use them.
The Link Between Autism and Temperature Regulation – do you have an autistic child who refuses to wear a coat in the winter or insists on wearing warmer clothes when it’s cold? This insightful article from Autism Parenting Magazine looks at why autism and temperature regulation issues often go hand-in-hand.
What Does Sensory Overload Feel Like? When Everything Feels Too Much! - this blogpost explains how an individual might experience sensory overload, what the symptoms are and strategies on how to manage it.
Can’t Stand Tags and Tight Waistbands? Try Sensory-friendly Clothing –this article offers an interesting read on sensory-friendly fashion and how choosing clothes for individuals with sensory differences can be complicated and stressful as it’s usually not as simple as whether a piece of clothing fits or suits that person’s tastes but more about whether it aligns with their sensory needs. Surprisingly sensory-friendly clothing remains a relatively unexplored, under-researched area despite the positive impact it can have on sensory individuals.
NB: Sensory Help Now is not responsible for the content on external websites. Sharing a resource does not imply endorsement by Sensory Help Now.
