14/01/2026
We are detectives, too! How well do we know our little ones? ๐ฅฐ
There can be many reasons a child becomes dysregulated.
Not everything is sensory.
A child might be struggling because they are:
โข emotionally overwhelmed
โข overtired or didnโt sleep well
โข hungry, sick, or uncomfortable
โข still building rapport and trust
โข lacking structure or predictable routines
In my 10+ years in school-based OT, Iโve seen a huge increase in how quickly we jump to sensory. And while sensory strategies are powerful, theyโre not always the whole answer.
Sometimes that pressure to find a quick sensory fix can even make therapists feel like theyโre failing. When in reality, many regulation challenges donโt have a single simple solution. More often, itโs a combination of factors that requires a team approach, including teachers, families, and behavior specialists.
Some behaviors are not automatically sensory-based:
โข crying when told โnoโ
โข hitting, pushing, or biting when a toy is taken
โข throwing materials when asked to clean up
โข melting down after losing a game
โข refusing to leave a preferred activity
These moments are often about emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, impulse control, and coping skills, not sensory input.
Self-regulation is absolutely critical for our students.
But sometimes itโs more than sensory and thatโs okay.
It just means the support needs to be broader, deeper, and more collaborative.
๐
