Understanding Our Senses Through an Occupational Therapy Lens

Children experience the world through their senses. Every movement, sound, texture, smell and body sensation sends information to the brain. The brain then interprets that information and decides how the body should respond.

Occupational Therapists often look at behaviour through the lens of sensory processing. Instead of simply asking “Why is this child behaving this way?”, we ask “What sensory information might the child’s nervous system be trying to process?”

When we understand the sensory systems, many behaviours begin to make more sense. Children may not be trying to misbehave — their nervous system may simply be trying to organise itself.

The Brain and the Nervous System

The brain constantly receives sensory messages from the body and environment. These messages travel through the nervous system and help the brain understand what is happening both inside and outside the body.

Two important parts of the nervous system help regulate how we respond to sensory information.

The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the “fight or flight” system. It prepares the body for action when something feels stressful, overwhelming or unsafe. Heart rate increases, muscles prepare for movement and the body becomes alert.

The parasympathetic nervous system works like a “brake”. It helps the body slow down, rest, digest and recover. When this system is active, the body feels calmer and more regulated.

Children move between these systems throughout the day. Sensory experiences can either increase alertness or help calm the nervous system depending on the type of input the brain receives.

Understanding the Sensory Systems

Occupational therapists consider several sensory systems when supporting children’s development and regulation.

Visual System (Sight)

The visual system helps us interpret what we see. It allows children to recognise faces, read body language, track moving objects and understand spatial relationships.

Children who struggle with visual processing may become overwhelmed in busy environments or have difficulty focusing on tasks when there is too much visual information around them.

Auditory System (Sound)

The auditory system processes the sounds we hear. It helps children understand language, follow instructions and interpret environmental sounds.

Some children are very sensitive to noise and may feel overwhelmed in loud environments such as classrooms, shopping centres or playgrounds.

Others may seek sound through humming, tapping or making noises because their nervous system is trying to organise auditory input.

Tactile System (Touch)

The tactile system helps us interpret information through the skin. It allows children to understand textures, temperature, pressure and touch.

This system is important for everyday activities such as dressing, eating, handwriting and play.

Some children avoid messy play or certain fabrics because their tactile system is highly sensitive, while others may seek touch through rough play or constant movement.

Oral Sensory System

The oral sensory system involves the mouth and plays an important role in feeding, speech and regulation.

Chewing, sucking and biting can provide strong sensory input that helps organise the nervous system. This is why some children chew on clothing, pencils or toys when they are trying to concentrate.

Olfactory System (Smell)

The sense of smell connects directly with the emotional centres of the brain. This is why certain scents can instantly trigger memories or emotional responses.

Natural smells such as herbs, flowers or fresh air can have calming effects on the nervous system and support emotional regulation.

Proprioception (Body Awareness)

The proprioceptive system provides information from muscles and joints about where the body is in space.

This system helps children judge how much force to use when lifting objects, coordinate their movements and stabilise their body during everyday activities.

When children engage activities that involve pushing, pulling, climbing, carrying, jumping or squeezing, the muscles and joints send strong signals to the brain. These signals help the nervous system to organise itself and improve body awareness.

Occupational Therapists often use proprioceptive activities, sometimes referred to as "heavy work", to support regulation of the nervous system.

Research suggests that proprioceptive input can help both alert and calm down the nervous system, depending on what the body needs at the time. Because of this, heavy work activities are often used to help children reach a balanced state where they feel calm, organised and ready to learn.

Vestibular System (Movement and Balance)

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and helps the brain understand movement, balance and spatial orientation.

This system is activated during activities such as swinging, spinning, jumping, rolling or climbing.

Vestibular input can either alert the nervous system or help regulate it depending on how it is experienced.

Interoception (Internal Body Awareness)

Interoception is the sense that helps us understand what is happening inside our body.

It allows children to recognise sensations such as hunger, thirst, needing the toilet, feeling tired or noticing their heartbeat.

Children who struggle with interoception may have difficulty recognising these internal signals, which can sometimes impact emotional regulation or body awareness.

How Sensory Processing Impacts Behaviour

When the brain receives sensory input that it can process and organise effectively, children often feel calm, focused and ready to learn.

However, when sensory information feels overwhelming or insufficient, the nervous system may become dysregulated.

This can look like:

• difficulty sitting still

• emotional outbursts

• avoiding certain environments

• seeking intense movement

• difficulty concentrating

• challenges with transitions

These behaviours are often signals that the nervous system is trying to regulate itself.

Supporting the Nervous System Through Sensory Experiences

Occupational therapists often use sensory strategies to help support regulation and participation in everyday activities.

These strategies may include:

• movement activities

• heavy work such as pushing or carrying

• tactile play

• calming sensory input

• structured routines

• nature-based sensory experiences

Every person processes sensory information in their own unique way. The way our brains respond to sounds, movement, touch, smells and other sensory input influences how we feel, behave and engage in everyday activities.

Understanding how we and our children process sensory input can help us recognise what helps the nervous system feel calm, alert and regulated. When we understand these patterns, we can begin to support emotional regulation and create environments that help children learn, paly and connect more comfortably.

At The Sensory Play Clinic, we offer the opportunity to explore your child's - or your own - sensory preferences through a standardised assessment tool known as the Sensory Profile.

This assessment helps us understand how an individual processes sensory information in everyday life. From this, we provide a personalised report outlining unique sensory patterns along with practical strategies that can easily implemented at home, school or daily routines.

By working with these natural sensory preferences, we can support improved regulation, participation and engagement in everyday life.