Exploring Our Sensory Systems and Strategies You Can Use
Have you ever stopped to think about how you experience the world around you? From the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies to the gentle rustle of leaves on a breezy day, our sensory systems are the gateways through which we perceive reality.
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of our senses and discover how they work together to shape our experiences!
The Big Five Senses (and More!)
Most of us are familiar with the classic five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. But did you know that there are more senses at play? Let’s break down the essentials for our children!
1. Sight
The sense of seeing provides the child with the ability to identify and understand what the eye sees. It is critical for learning about shapes, colours, numbers, letters, and words. Vision offers very important feedback to help a child move safely and effectively.
2. Hearing
The sense of hearing provides the child with the ability to receive sounds. A child with intact hearing can identify the quality and direction from which the sound is coming. The auditory sense tells us to turn our heads and look. It is also very important for development of understanding speech and language.
3. Taste
The sense of taste allows an individual to not only enjoy food and distinguish between different cuisines, but it also causes one to react negatively to harmful tastes. This ability to detect potentially toxic foodstuffs is an important form of protection, and you thought your sense of taste was solely for experiencing pleasure.
4. Touch
Touch is our most versatile sense, allowing us to feel everything from temperature to pressure. Our skin is embedded with millions of nerve endings that respond to different stimuli. This sense is crucial for our survival, as it helps us navigate our environment and protect ourselves from harm.
5. Smell: The Memory Link
Not only does the sense of smell allows us to perceive and enjoy pleasant things like foods and perfumes, it also allows us to
recognise odours and react negatively to noxious smells, again a vital form of protection. In addition, when you lose your sense of smell, you invariable lose your sense of taste too – as they are inextricably linked.
Beyond the Basics: Other Sensory Systems
While the five senses are fascinating, there are other sensory systems at work:
- Vestibular System: This sense helps us maintain balance and spatial orientation.
- Proprioception: Often called the “sixth sense,” proprioception gives us awareness of our body’s position in space. It allows us to close our eyes and still know where our limbs are.
- Interoception: This lesser-known sense helps us understand internal bodily states, like hunger and thirst. It’s your body’s way of communicating its needs!
STRATEGIES TO USE AT HOME TO REGULATE YOUR CHILD!!
Proprioception
- Push the wall/ wall push ups
- Wheelbarrow walking
- Lap pad
Vestibular
- Spinning
- Swinging
Hearing
- Metronome
- Over-the-ear headphones
- Clapping patterns
Taste
- Spicy foods
- Chewy foods
- Crunchy foods
Smell
- Essential oils
- Scented markers
- Scented bracelets/scrunchies
Oral motor
- Straw drinking – drinking thick smoothies
Visual
- Mazes
- Calm down bottles
- Water doodle mats
Touch
- Sensory bin
- Vibration
- Slime
- Shaving cream
By:
Bahjo Hussien – Occupational Therapist
If you’d like to find out more about One Central Health, give us a call today on (08) 9344 1318.
