24/04/2025
Our Spring Sensory Series continues with Tactile or touch input.
The tactile sense is the first sense humans develop before birth. It is one of the first ways we interact with the world and the people around us before cognition, language and motor skills develop. Areas of our body with the most touch receptors are our hands, feet and mouth. Our tactile system is almost always processing information as we have touch receptors in all body systems. For our individuals that are sensory sensitive, it can be difficult to avoid touch input for this reason. Other individuals that have difficulty discriminating touch input may be fearful when they are touched, avoid certain food and clothing textures and may be defensive during haircuts/nail trimming.
Occupational therapists can work with individuals to find tactile input that is calming, regulating and organizing.
Here are some of our favorite ways to receive tactile input:
🌺Using a sensory brush on our arms, legs, back
🌺Sensory bin (dry rice, dry beans, chia jelly, sand, shaving cream, water play)
🌺Hand fidgets - our favorite is Nee-Doh!
🌺Making slime with our hands
🌺Pushing and pulling Squigz and Pop-tubes
🌺Finger painting
Our occupational therapists are trained in recognizing tactile processing differences to provide a plan to support your child's unique needs and help them participate in daily activities.
Stay tuned for our next sense in the Spring Sensory Series 🌼🌱
