Sensory input gives a child the types of sensations their body needs to feel calm, focused, and organized. When a child receives the right kind of sensory input—such as movement, deep pressure, touch, or calming sounds—it helps their nervous system settle and function more smoothly. This can improve attention, reduce restlessness, support emotional control, and make transitions easier. It also boosts body awareness, coordination, and overall independence in daily routines. In this way, sensory input acts like a reset for the body, helping children feel more regulated and better able to participate in home, school, and community activities.
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The tactile sense is the sense of touch. It helps kids feel textures, temperatures, pressure, and pain through their skin so they can explore safely and comfortably.
The olfactory sense is our sense of smell. It helps kids notice scents in their environment and connect smells with memories, safety, or preferences.
The auditory sense is the ability to hear and make sense of sounds. It helps kids notice, filter, and understand noises like voices, music, and environmental sounds.
The vestibular sense is the body’s balance system. It helps kids stay upright, feel steady, and know when they’re moving, spinning, or changing direction.
The visual sense helps us understand what we see—shapes, colors, movement, and how things fit together. It lets kids recognize objects, follow movement, and make sense of their environment.
Proprioceptive input is the body’s “sense of where it is in space.” It helps kids know where their arms, legs, and body are without having to look. This sense allows them to move safely, use the right amount of force, and stay coordinated during everyday activities.
Oral motor refers to how the muscles of the mouth, lips, tongue, and jaw work together. These skills help kids chew, swallow, drink, and speak clearly.
Motor planning/ gross motor/ balance is the brain’s ability to figure out how to do a movement. It helps kids plan, organize, and carry out tasks like getting dressed, climbing a playground structure, or using tools like scissors.
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