Why is My Kid Doing That - A Sensory Approach to Understanding Your Child's Behavior | POF48

I fully believe that in all things, awareness equals empathy! The Sensory System is something we don’t really understand but it’s something we can learn a little about and it can make a huge difference in your understanding of your child’s behavior.

I have never heard of the other senses called Vestibular and proprioceptive, but they are a really big deal!! These senses are responsible for the feeling we have inside our body and the feeling we have in space (the space around them). 

Our kids don’t know they have these other senses, but they know when something for them is off, so they go in search of meeting their needs to stimulate these senses through their behavior.    This can show up as behavior that’s sluggish, seeking stimulus or over stimulated.

Sensory seeking behavior can be confused as ADHD and “behaving badly.  These are the kids that can’t sit still.  Over stimulation is when you see shutdown – some kids, when overstimulated, will be angry and some will be more shut down and avoid situations and certain places (like a movie theatre).

What do we do about it? Look at a sensory checklist – Cindy’s link is below

Learn what a sensory lifestyle is, and how it can help your child.  You can use the clues from how they behave to help create opportunities in everyday life for them to get these needs met.  Cindy provides solutions on how to understand and integrate them in your life so you have more harmony and so your kids can learn self-regulation. 

Learn what your child really needs and is seeking when they don’t like their socks, clothes, hates having their hair brushed and chews on their t-shirt collar and other items. 

Learn tips to help your child at school and lastly, learn what you can do in the heat of the moment to diffuse a sensory meltdown or outburst.

About Cindy Utzinger

Cindy Utzinger OTR/L is a licensed Occupational Therapist specializing in pediatrics and sensory integration with over 20 years of experience. During her career she has developed outpatient pediatric programs working both one-on-one and with groups of children and their parents. She also enjoys spending time in schools sharing classroom strategies with teachers to create an environment to enhance learning.

Cindy’s passions are teaching and keynote speaking at schools and parenting events empowering parents with tools to both understand and help their children succeed. Cindy maintains a blog at www.cindyutzinger.com

 Cindy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

**Cindy’s Blog:  https://cindyutzinger.com/blog/

**Sensory Checklist  https://cindyutzinger.com/sensory-checklist/

Cindy’s CONTACT INFO

info@cindyutzinger.com and www.cindyutzinger.com

Cindy’s SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE

Web: https://cindyutzinger.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyismykiddoingthat/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whyismykiddoingthat/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UtzingerCindy

YouTube- https://bit.ly/2ycOBrM

From the Episode:

In the moment of a meltdown:

• Hugs – deep hugs make your child feel loved and connected but it also gives them deep pressure input like we would get from a weighted blanket
  
  
• Deep breathing – many kids don’t know how to deep belly breathe. Tell them to “Fill the balloon in your belly”. There is a neurological response to belly breathing with calms us down.
  
  
• Time in – create a happy place for your child when they need to reconnect with themselves.
  
  
• Music – calming or loud- whichever calms you!
  
  
• Snacks – give your child something chewy or crunchy which will help them with their proprioception sense
  
  
• Drink through a straw also engages the proprioception sense which helps them organize themselves neurologically
  
  
• Exercise – movement input – frog jumps, wheelbarrow races, jumping jacks or running are all great!
  
  
• When kids are in meltdown mode they are stuck in their emotional brain. When they are melting down, have them make lists.  “List your top 5 friends/favorite animals/things to eat”

Thanks for listening!

It means so much to me that you listened to my podcast! If you would like to purchase my book or other parenting resources, visit me at www.yellingcurebook.com

With this podcast, my intention is to build a community of parents that can have open and honest conversations about parenting without judgement or criticism.  We have too much of that!  I honor each parent and their path towards becoming the best parent they can be.  My hope is to inspire more parents to consider the practice of Peaceful Parenting. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

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