Episode 25:

Calming Strategies Never Work for My Child! How to Find the Sensory Input They Actually Need

Have you tried deep breathing, a calm-down corner, sensory toys, or other calming strategies with your child…only to feel like nothing actually works?

Here's the thing: your child may not always need to calm down. Their nervous system may need more sensory input, less sensory input, or a completely different type of sensory input.

In today's episode of Sensory Solutions for Parents, we're talking about how to become a sensory detective and start looking beyond your child's behavior to figure out what their nervous system may actually be communicating.

The goal isn't simply to make our children's bodies look calm. It's to understand what their sensory systems and nervous system needs to help them feel more organized, comfortable, and ready to participate.

Because the behavior gives us a ton of information - and when we get curious about what's happening underneath that behavior, we can choose strategies that better match what our children actually need!

Step 1: Join our free Facebook community and connect with other parents who are learning to understand behavior through a sensory and nervous system lens.

Step 2: Subscribe to the podcast for upcoming episodes in the Sensory Solutions Framework series as we continue exploring how the sensory system shapes behavior.

Step 3: This week, spend a few moments recognizing your own nervous system and regulation, especially in times when your child may be dysregulated.

💛 Related Episode

Episode 2: Struggling to understand all of this sensory stuff? Breaking it down into every day language

Episode 10: Struggling With Your Child’s Intense Meltdowns? What’s Really Happening and What to Do in the Moment

Episode 11: Curious About Why Your Child Plays the Way They Do? Understanding Their Sensory Needs Through Play

Episode 21: Got a Kiddo Who Just Won’t Stop Moving?! What Proprioception Is and Why It Matters for Your Child’s Behavior

Episode 23: Do Your Child's Big Emotions and Meltdowns Leave You Feeling Confused? Understanding Why Behavior Makes Sense Through Regulation and Dysregulation

Episode 24: Can’t Get Your Child to Calm Down? The Sensory Science Behind Co-Regulation

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DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.