We’ve all seen it. The child that sits there and doesn’t do any of their school work even though you know they can do it. Or maybe, they get up and run around the classroom, or even go to the bathroom frequently to avoid work. Perhaps you have ended up in a power struggle with these children, or even (gasp) taken away recess!

If you have been around here for any length of time, you know that some of these behaviors can actually be related to anxiety. It is most likely not a child who is trying to be difficult, but rather a child that is struggling with something inside. So today I am going to share my top 5 tips for helping an anxious child in the classroom. These strategies are also effective for resistant learners, or those who seem to have low motivation.

1. Get moving.

   Don’t EVER take away recess from an anxious child (or any child for that matter). If anything give them MORE movement. Movement helps to regulate the nervous system. This includes...

Yep, that’s right. We don’t talk about inclusivity in our house.

 Instead, we practice it.

 Inclusion can be such a buzz word in today’s society. We have such high expectations of inclusion to happen in our classrooms, and many criticize how and when it takes place. However, underneath all of this, we seem to have forgotten to practice inclusion at home.

 Maybe you have thought “of course we are inclusive”. But are you? What does an inclusive home look like?

 In our home all are welcome. Yep, that means the kids who are aggressive, the child who has meltdowns, the impulsive friend who can use bad language, the child with a diagnosis, and the child without one. In our house, we invite everyone to play. Oh, and birthday parties of kids we don’t know well. We go to those too. In our house, we make connections with as many kids as we can for playdates and parties. Our kids aren’t perfect and we don’t believe in only...

Christmas time can be overwhelming for many children, especially those with sensory processing issues.  So what can you do to have a more sensory-friendly holiday? Let’s check out a few tips.

Decorations

Decorations and the change in normal décor can be challenging for some kids to handle. When decorating think about offering a decoration-free zone so that their home can still feel familiar to them. Communicating about how you will keep a particular area free of decorations is a great way to help them feel included.

 Also, consider how flashing lights or bright colors may affect your child. If they are calming to them, then you can even add them to their room or inside the home. If they are distracting or upsetting, think of limiting these decorations to outside the home.

 When adding lights to your house, think about where your child’s bedroom may be in relation to lighted areas. These lights may affect sleeping during the night, so you may choose...

Are you interested in purchasing gifts this year that are fun and also promote brain and body development? Look no further! We have put together the ultimate gift guide for all of your sensory processing and behavior needs. All images are linked, so download, click, and shop! 

Simply enter your email and we will send it your way immediately.  This is a 15-page pdf document with links provided to each and every resource! This means all you have to do is download, click, and shop!

DOWNLOAD HERE

In this video, we discuss one easy way we can use our sensorimotor system to help anxious kids. 

In this video, we talk about the reasons behind a child who may hit or push. We dive deeper into the brain to examine more possibilities outside of impulse control.

Ugh, that is SO messy.

 That may be the thought that is running through our minds when children ask to do something like paint, make mud pies, splash in puddles, have a shaving cream fight, or even play with play-dough. However, we need to remember all of the benefits of messy play.

 Kids these days spend less than half the time that their parents did playing outside.

This has translated into experts quoting statistics stating that children spend 5-8 hours per day in front of a screen. The effects of these levels of screen time are not yet known, however, we do know the benefits of outside play.

Messy play is a great way to get the kids outdoors once again. Also, messy play has so many benefits for the brain and the body. It supports development in many ways, leading to improved behavior and academics.

Sensory Stimulation

Messy play involves the senses and helps with sensory input and integration. The brain gets information from the sensory and motor...