At Sense Enabled we use gentle movement based therapies to help kids and teens with sensory sensitivities to be their best selves.
All in General
For families with challenges in audio-processing, non-verbal communication, anxiety and transition issues practicing communication skills can help reduce frustration, anger, anxiety, sadness and stress. Schedule times for regular family meetings, make this a time to check-in with each other, possibly including extended family or friends when appropriate. Use this time to problem solve, head-off resentments and fine tune what works, what doesn’t and why it doesn’t.
As with so much in life attitude can make all the difference. No one will deny that therapy can be frustrating, there are reasons you are doing this work, but it can also be a lot like playing when done in a different space with new materials under different guidance. Know that we see you trying so hard to do your best in difficult times. Every therapist I know is looking forward to seeing their kiddos walk back into the office but until that day comes please know we are still resources to help support your family.
Anyone can feel daunted when starting a project but for those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory processing or learning issues even familiar chores can induce feelings of anxious overwhelm. Many of those with learning or behavioral issues have a challenged gravity sense with poor proprioception, which is our awareness of where the body is in space. Support your child in their schoolwork by helping with their sense of time and workflow.
Once you know that movement is hardwired into how the body works with the brain to process information for children with Autism, ADHD or sensory processing challenges the next steps are setting realistic expectations and designing an area that will accommodate their needs and learning strategies to support success with online learning.
The ability to cope with ambiguity, change and the loss of a sense of control is something we are all struggling with these days. For those with challenges learning to be resilient is especially hard and transitions don’t come easily but it can be learned with practice and patience. We don’t often associate resilience with structure but knowing the boundaries and learning how to adapt to change gives children a comforting sense of control.
Try taking off the lens of school performance and the pressures that comes along with it to see the gifts, skills and talents of your child not valued in that arena. One of the first things all my clients learn are the “State Changes” and how they are indicators for neurological systems that are on overload, stressed and no longer processing efficiently making emotional control, learning, processing sensory input and listening all the harder.
