Interoception is the system that tells the brain what the body is feeling internally. It regulates body states (hunger, thirst, bathroom needs, temperature, pain, heart rate) and emotional states (butterflies in the stomach from anxiety, a tight chest from frustration).
What Interoception Seeking Looks Like: Unlike seeking a loud noise or a tight hug, an interoceptive seeker is craving internal feedback because their brain under-registers what is happening inside their body. This can look like:
Holding their breath or bearing down: Seeking the internal pressure and the feeling of their heart rate changing.
Seeking extreme temperatures: Constantly wanting freezing cold water to drink, refusing a coat in winter, or wanting the bathwater extremely hot because they don't easily register mild temperatures.
Excessive drinking or eating: Stuffing their stomach or drinking massive amounts of water simply to feel the sensation of being full.
Seeking pain or ignoring injury: Seeming unbothered by a scraped knee, or engaging in behaviors that cause mild pain because that is the only way they register a sensation.
Parent-Led Activities for Interoceptive Seeking: Because interoception is internal, we can't directly give the child "more interoception" the way we can give them "more spinning." Instead, we have to teach them to connect external sensations to internal feelings:
The "Heartbeat" Freeze Dance: Have the child do jumping jacks or run in place fast. Then yell "FREEZE!" Have the caregiver and child immediately put their hands on their chests. The caregiver says, "Wow, feel my heart! Thump, thump, thump! It's beating fast! Is yours fast?" This helps the child tune into their internal heart rate.
Temperature Sorting (Hot & Cold Play): Fill two small bowls—one with warm water and one with ice water. Let the child plunge their hands into the ice water, then the warm water. The caregiver dramatically models the vocabulary: "Brrrr, freezing cold! Ooo, nice and warm!"
The "Big Belly Breath" Balloon: Have the child lie on their back and place a small stuffed animal or a beanbag on their stomach. The caregiver models taking a massive breath to make the "balloon" (their belly) push the toy up in the air, then watching it fall as they exhale.
Body Tracing & Checking In: If the child falls or bumps themselves, instead of just saying "You're okay," the caregiver can help them scan their body. "Ouch, you bumped your knee. Let's check it. Does it feel hot? Does it feel sharp? Let's rub it to make it feel smooth."