Sensory Processing in Learning
Learning is a key occupation for children and young people
Sensory processing difficulties can present differently at home and school, and every child with poor sensory processing presents with a different set of difficulties. Educators often refer to reading, writing and arithmetic as the ‘basics’ but actually these are extremely complex processes that can only develop on a strong foundation of sensory integration. Whilst sensory processing issues are not a learning disorder or official diagnosis, they can make it hard for children to succeed at school. Some common behaviours include:
- Difficulties sitting still in lessons and disrupting the class
- Difficulties maintaining attention in lessons
- Difficulties sitting on a chair for any length of time and tending to slump or slide off the chair
- Frequently bumping into things and/or tripping over
- Difficulties when engaging in sports or PE lessons
- Difficulties with handwriting
- Meltdowns during assemblies or sports lessons
Some key strategies that can help include:
- Building sensory ‘brain breaks’ into the school day
- Establishing clear expectations with start and end times for tasks
- Using visual schedules, directions, class rules and clear expectations
- Have a daily routine that changes as little as possible and giving advance warning of any changes to this routine.