January Newsletter

Happy New Year, Growing Wise Family! 

A big, big thank you for all the love and support this past year! 

We hope the holidays were enjoyable for you all! With new year, we are hoping to incorporate new things! We are planning to do a monthly newsletter through this blog. We hope to keep you updated with any changes and also send information about occupational therapy, actives to do with your kiddos, and also recommendations. We love to be interactive with you all, so if there is anything you would like to see in the newsletter or any questions/recommendations you have, let us know! Here is our January topic! 

Sensory Vs Behavior 

Is it sensory or is it behavior? 

Often time overstimulation or difficulty processing sensory stimulus results in what we deem "bad behavior". Seemingly simple things can trigger the fight or flight response in our kids which usually results in unwanted behaviors. How do you react when you get the feeling of fight or flight? You get defensive, on edge, prepared to physically protect yourself if need be, or run. When our kids are in a state of overwhelm they may become combative, agitated, fearful, withdrawn, defiant, among other emotions, or a mixture of multiple. This is their bodies trying to protect them from an unwanted sensory stimulus.

What do I do when I notice my child becoming overwhelmed?

Be aware. Be aware of the environment and your child's sensory triggers. Be understanding. Often we meet “bad behavior” with consequences, but what if their behavior is because of sensory overload? If our kiddos are acting out, they often have a need that's not being met in that moment. Maybe they need a nap, to get away from something that is over stimulating, maybe the environment is too noisy, scary, or new, maybe they are hungry, or maybe they need comfort. Often our kids are not able to convey their feelings of over stimulation. Try to look for signs of overstimulation, be compassionate, and intervene early if possible. 

Intervene. If your child is unable to self soothe through their overstimulation, gently intervene. This may look like going outside, stepping out of a room, or leaving entirely. Here are a few things you can do with your child if they become overwhelmed: 

• Older kids: Breath work: Bumblebee breaths, snake breaths, blowing out candles. Figure 8 tracing or walking. 10 big jumps. Bear crawls. Crab walk. Dinosaur stomps. Carrying heavy objects. Gentle swinging forward and backwards- No Spinning or lateral swinging.
• Younger kids: Playing a game on their stomachs. Crashing. Big giant hugs from mom/dad/family member. Crawling. Carrying or pushing heavier object. Dinosaur stomps. 10 Big jumps with help. Gentle swinging forward and backwards- No Spinning or lateral swinging.

We hope you enjoyed our first newsletter and we look forward to another year with you and your children! Thank you for trusting us, collaborating with us, and celebrating with us! We are so thankful to have such a wonderful Growing Wise Family! 

- Ms. Stephanie, Ms. Cabby, Ms. Callie, and Ms. Kerri