When I’m having sessions with children, I am always thinking about how the environment impacts their participation and sensory needs. However, I’ve found that both parents and professionals sometimes have difficulty distinguishing if the child is having a “behavioral” outburst or is overstimulated by their surroundings.
Overstimulation means that your child feels bombarded by their senses such as noise and touch. This can happen in any kiddo regardless of diagnosis so it’s imperative to be aware of the signs and how to decrease the potential for overstimulation.
So, How Do You Know if Your Child is Overstimulated or Overloaded with Sensory Input?
Every child responds to overstimulation or sensory overload in different ways due to some children having a low tolerance for certain information resulting in them responding more quickly and negatively compared to their peers.
The most common reactions include:
- “Out of character” behavior that is often unusual for your child such as tantrums, aggression, hyperactivity, extreme tiredness, or “zoning out”
- Avoiding the stimulation by running or fleeing from whatever is causing the overload (i.e. Loud noises occur → Bobby runs to hide under the table)
- Long days such as experiencing a birthday party, amusement park, or even school is a very overwhelming environment for countless children
Can my baby or newborn also become overstimulated?
YES! No matter the age of a person, everyone can become overstimulated. Babies tend to present differently than adults or older children hower.
The most common signs of overstimulation in babies include:
- Appearing to be cranky or more tired than usual
- Crying more and turning their head away from you when upset
- Moving in a jerky way
- Clenching their fists, waving their arms, or kicking
Think about your tolerance or threshold for going on roller coasters or rides that spin. Adult’s bodies usually respond very quickly and negatively to this movement (vestibular) input. This is how your child can feel when exposed to a lot of sensory information at once whether that be loud noise, strong smells, itchy or noxious textures, bright lights, or an environment that simply has A LOT going on.
When the overstimulation occurs...and it will for all children at some point or another. Make sure you are ready with the right tools to calm and soothe your child.
De-escalation Tips for Overstimulation
First, take a break from the current environment if possible. Then, help your child by suggesting and demonstrating calming strategies for your child including:
- Taking ten deep breaths saying “smell the flowers, blow into the balloon” which is a good visual and helps with pacing
- Offer your child cool water with a straw in it. Sucking threw a straw provides them with calming input due to the resistance it offers
- Do animal walks to provide their body with calming resistance to the joints. This is especially beneficial for kids who are hyperactive due to stimulation
- Create a sensory safe space for your child and encourage your child to use this space when they are feeling overwhelmed or overloaded by sensory input in their environment. This can simply be a corner in their room with pillows and a few of their favorite books or calming tools
How to Prevent Sensory Overload?
The best strategy I can give you is to use heavy work. Heavy work means any activity that involves pushing, pulling, or lifting heavy items or objects, or in sensory terms proprioceptive input. When the joints and muscles are provided with resistance, the body becomes calm and more organized. Think about how you feel after an intense workout. You feel centered, calm, and ready to take on anything.
By providing your children with heavy work activities BEFORE the anticipated overstimulation, they will be more able to sustain their attention, focus, and be less likely to become overstimulated
Heavy work Activities:
- Animal walks including crab walks, frog jumps, and bunny hops
- Wall push ups
- Wheelbarrow walking; If your child has difficulty with you holding at the ankles, try adapting by holding them at their knees
However, there are also heavy work activities you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Taking out the garbage
- Carrying full laundry baskets
- Changing laundry between washer and dryer
- Mopping or vacuuming the floor
- Cleaning the windows, kitchen table, or counters
Limiting Screen Time to Prevent Overstimulation
According to Psychologytoday.com, these are questions parents should ask themselves when considering if screen time has an impact on your child’s hyperarousal or overstimulation level:
- Does your child seem revved up much of the time?
- Does your child have meltdowns over minor frustrations?
- Does your child have full-blown rages over their electronics?
- Has your child become increasingly oppositional, defiant, or disorganized?
- Does your child become irritable or angry when told it’s time to stop playing video games or to get off the computer?
- Do you ever notice your child’s pupils are dilated after using screen time?
- Does your child have a hard time making eye contact after screen-time or in general?
- Does your child seem “wired and tired” --exhausted but can’t sleep, or sleeps but doesn’t feel rested?
- Does your child seem unmotivated and have poor attention to detail?
- Would you describe your child as being stressed, despite few identifiable stressors?
- Does your child seem unmotivated and have poor attention to detail?
- Would you describe your child as being stressed, despite few identifiable stressors?
- Is your child a “sore loser” or hyper-competitive when playing games on electronics, to the point where it affects peer relationships or enjoyment of the activity itself?
If you answered yes to some or most of these questions, it may be time to look at how much screen time your child is getting per day due to the impact that electronic have on their arousal level and sensory overload. A doctor from Psychology Today, Dr. Victoria Dunckley, actually recommends a 3 week electronic fast in order to help “reset” the child’s nervous system.
Of course I get it! Kids LOVE their screen time and it’s difficult to limit and especially take away from them BUT so is dealing with the side effect and overstimulation from electronics on a continual basis. Food for thought my friends.
Environmental Modifications To Prevent or Decrease Sensory Overload
Visual Input
- Reduce the presence of bright fluorescent lights or harsh overhead lights as well as reflective surfaces
- Make sure there is no clutter in the environment with furniture, large objects etc
- Reduce the presence of busy patterns in the surrounding on curtains or wall decor
- Have your child use blue light blocking glasses when on screens close to bedtime
- Use red string lights or a red-tinted lightbulb in your child’s night light to provide them with calming input
Sound (Auditory) Input
- Limit or lower background noise in the environment such as music, voices, or TV
- Reduce any external sounds from outside such as a lawnmower/roadwork and provide headphones to cancel out
- Take note if there is noise created from people walking across the floor and wear socks/slippers
- Warn your child if there will be a loud noise in their environment such as the blow dryer or blender
Smell (Olfactory) Input
- Limit strong smells from cooking or the trash by cleaning dishes and pans quickly after and taking out the trash regularly
- Use cleaning supplies and perfumes sparingly
- Use essential oils such as lavendar or peppermint to assist with daily calming
Touch (Tactile) Input
- Limit tags and seams that may be bothering your child by cutting them out of clothing or buying seamless clothes
Movement Input
- Use a wiggle cushion to provide your child with needed movement throughout the day and to get their wiggles out during activities such as homework
When to seek help regarding overstimulation?
People of all ages can become overstimulated. Kids have busy schedules and days so it is only natural for them to once and a while become overwhelmed, especially on vacations, birthday parties, or new environments that is out of their comfort zone. Most of the time, there is no need to be concerned about overstimulation, expect when it occurs often and seemingly quickly for your kids when compared to same age peers.
If you find yourself rearranging yours and your family’s live around your child’s needs regularly, your child may require the skilled expertise of a pediatric occupational therapist and I would recommend bringing up your concerns with your pediatrician.
Best,
Sarah