When you’re faced with raising a child who has sensory issues, it’s no easy feat to avoid all meltdowns. With that being said, you can find ways to curb sensory overload by making small adjustments to your household and the daily routine for your child. Today I wanted to share a few tips on how to curb sensory overload so that you and your child can start to have more days without meltdowns.
Understand Sensory Overload
This will take some hard work on the effort of parents and caretakers for a child who suffers from sensory sensitivities. Take time to understand, make a note and evaluate what puts your child into sensory overload. Once you understand what can put your child into a sensory overload meltdown, then you’ll be better equipped to adjust things in day to day life to accommodate your child’s needs.
Reduce Visual Stimulation
Sometimes too much movement or having too many things going on at once will put a child into sensory overload. Do your best to minimize visual stimulation around the home and other places that your child frequents. Consider lighting as a visual stimulation, make sure your home has softer lighting and isn’t too bright for your sensitive child.
Lower Noise Levels
Often time’s children who suffer from sensory overload are more apt to hear every noise around them. Learn to minimize and lower noise levels for your child. If you have to go to a grocery store, consider placing earphones on your child’s head to minimize the impact of a loud grocery store. You may also work to keep the household noises lower on a regular basis.
Be Compassionate
Children who suffer from sensory overload will often feel out of control and as if no one understands what they’re going through. As your child gets older, it’s important for them to feel like they have an ally in you and their friends. Learn to show compassion towards your child during a sensory overload event, be calm and speak in a low tone to help them during a sensory overload moment.
There you have it a few ways to curb sensory overload. In time, as your child gets older they will learn what works best for the person they are. Living with sensory overload isn’t easy but as your child gets older, and they start to learn some coping mechanisms of their own, you will smile with pride knowing that you helped them learn how to survive in the real world.
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