Sensory Processing Issues in Children — 10 Signs Parents Often Overlook

Aleksandra Zalewska Preschool staff

What Is Sensory Integration and Why It Matters

Sensory integration is the brain’s ability to receive, process, and organize information from our senses — sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and two lesser-known systems: the vestibular system (responsible for balance) and proprioception (deep body awareness that tells us where our body is in space).

For most children, this process happens automatically. The brain filters stimuli, prioritizes them, and responds appropriately. But for some children — according to research by the SPD Foundation, as many as 5–16% of preschool-aged children — this system doesn’t work properly. Stimuli that are neutral for one child can be overwhelming or completely unnoticed by another.

At our preschool, we’ve worked with children experiencing sensory difficulties for years. We’ve seen what an enormous difference early identification makes. That’s why we’ve put together this list of behaviors that are often dismissed but may be the first signs of sensory processing disorder.

10 Everyday Behaviors That May Indicate Sensory Processing Issues

1. Avoiding Dirty Hands

The child refuses finger painting, won’t play with sand, playdough, or salt dough. They become anxious or even cry when something sticks to their hands. This is a classic sign of tactile hypersensitivity — the brain interprets a neutral touch stimulus as a threat.

2. Covering Ears in Everyday Situations

A vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, birthday singing — sounds that other children tolerate easily cause stress in a child with auditory hypersensitivity. We observe this at preschool during music activities, for example, when one child in the group suddenly covers their ears and wants to leave.

3. Constant Fidgeting in a Chair

Can’t sit still during a meal. Squirms, gets up, wraps legs around the chair. This is not a lack of discipline — very often it’s a signal that the proprioceptive system needs additional stimulation for the child to focus.

4. Picky Eating That Goes Beyond “Doesn’t Like Broccoli”

Eating only dry, crunchy foods. Gagging at the sight of sauces. Refusing anything with an unusual texture. When pickiness is so extreme that a child eats literally 5–8 foods, it’s worth checking whether oral hypersensitivity is behind the problem.

5. Clumsiness Beyond What’s Typical for Their Age

Constant tripping, bumping into furniture, difficulty catching a ball, trouble getting dressed. Proprioception — the sense of body position — isn’t delivering precise information to the brain, so motor planning becomes a challenge.

6. Discomfort with Tags and Rough Clothing

“It scratches me” — the child repeats, pulling off yet another sweater. We see this regularly: some children can only function in soft, seamless clothing. Sock seams, shirt tags, rough fabrics — all of these can be unbearable with tactile hypersensitivity.

7. Constantly Seeking Intense Sensations — Jumping, Crashing, Squeezing

A child who endlessly jumps off the couch, runs full speed into walls, squeezes friends too hard, loves being wrapped tightly in a blanket. This isn’t aggression — it’s seeking the input that the proprioceptive system desperately needs.

8. Avoiding Swings and Merry-Go-Rounds

Refusing to use swings. Fear of tilting the head back, for example during hair washing. Motion sickness with minimal movement. The vestibular system is overreacting to motion, causing disorientation and fear.

9. Difficulty with Fine Motor Tasks

Problems holding a crayon, using scissors, buttoning up. Mirror writing, pressing too hard on a pen or leaving too faint a mark on paper. If difficulties persist despite practice, it’s worth checking whether a motor planning disorder (dyspraxia) is behind them.

10. Extreme Reactions to New Sensory Experiences

The child either clearly avoids new experiences (won’t touch a new toy, won’t enter a new room) or, conversely, reacts to everything with excessive intensity. Both extremes may indicate difficulties with sensory modulation.

What’s the Best Age to Start SI Therapy

The shortest answer: the earlier, the better. The most favorable therapeutic window is between ages 2 and 6 — when the child’s brain is most plastic and new neural connections form fastest.

That doesn’t mean it’s too late after age six. But therapy results in a five-year-old appear faster and are more lasting than in a ten-year-old. That’s why we encourage parents: if anything on this list sounds familiar, don’t wait for the child to “grow out of it.” A consultation with an SI therapist takes an hour and can save months of frustration.

What Diagnosis Looks Like — What to Expect

A sensory integration assessment is not a medical examination — there are no injections or blood draws. The therapist observes the child in a specially equipped room full of swings, platforms, balls, and materials with various textures.

A standard assessment includes:

  • Parent interview — questions about pregnancy, the child’s development, and everyday behaviors
  • Sensory questionnaire — such as the Sensory Profile 2 by Winnie Dunn, completed by parents and teachers
  • Clinical observation — free and guided play, tests of muscle tone, balance reactions, and motor planning
  • Southern California Sensory Integration Tests (SCSIT) — a standardized tool assessing individual sensory systems

The full assessment typically takes 2–3 sessions. At the end, parents receive a written report with specific recommendations.

What You Can Do at Home — Simple Sensory Exercises

SI therapy isn’t only about the clinic. Everyday activities at home can support your child’s sensory development. Here are some proven ideas we recommend to parents at our preschool:

For sensory seekers (children who crave input):

  • A pillow tunnel to crawl through — stimulates proprioception
  • Carrying heavy objects (groceries, plant pots) — provides deep body awareness
  • Wrapping in a blanket like a “burrito” — deep pressure that has a calming effect
  • Jumping on a trampoline — 10 minutes a day can transform concentration levels

For sensory avoiders (hypersensitive children):

  • Gradually introducing new textures — start with dry rice, then move to wet sand
  • Wilbarger brush massage — after consulting with a therapist
  • Noise-canceling headphones for challenging situations (shopping centers, parties)
  • Consistent routine — predictability lowers sensory stress levels

Universal activities:

  • Playing with moldable materials — playdough, slime, salt dough
  • An obstacle course in the living room — crawling, jumping, balancing
  • Swinging — 15 minutes on a swing provides a powerful dose of vestibular stimulation

Remember: these exercises support therapy but don’t replace it. If you notice several signs from our list, schedule a consultation. At our preschool, an SI therapist is available on-site, which allows for ongoing observation and quick response. This is one of the greatest advantages of a facility with its own therapy room.