The Mom I Want to Be

 

What is sensory integration?

 

The senses work together. Each sense works with the others to form a composite picture of who we are physically, where we are, and what is going on around us. Sensory integration is the critical function of the brain that is responsible for producing this composite picture. It is the organization of sensory information for on‐going use. For most of us, effective sensory integration occurs automatically, unconsciously, without effort. Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound, and the pull of gravity. The process of the brain organizing and interpreting this information is called sensory integration. Sensory integration provides a crucial foundation for later, more complex learning and behavior.

 

At Birth to 6 months, the baby:

 

• Shows full range of physiological states (deep sleep, light sleep, drowsy, quiet alert, active alert, crying) – baby’s first task is to gain control over his own body responses
• Exhibit Clear Definition in physiological states – mixed signals mean the child is still working on developing control over internal and external messages
• Display distinct temperament style, i.e. easy, active, slow to warm up, challenging, etc – the combination of the child’s temperament and the parent’s temperament may influence how comfortable you are with parenting
• Respond differently to variations in temperature – May show increased movement, crying, grimace when you take off sleeper for bath
• Show variety of spontaneous body movement patterns (kicks, arms thrusting, partial rolling) – movement begins with the whole body and later will refine to arms, legs and head movements.
• Look toward sound; quiets to voice or music – Lets you know his auditory system is alert and aware.  Music can be a soothing influence for some babies.
• Look towards, or quiets, when people or objects come into visual field
• Allow touch or holding close during position changes, comforting or feeding
• Explore objects with mouth
• Show facial expression (brighten or alert) to bell sound or flashlight
• Startle to sudden sound or movement
• Look at person talking with prolonged gaze
• Stare or look intently at caregiver or high contrast objects for 3 – 5 seconds
• Tolerate normal indoor lighting without squinting or closing eyes
• Tolerate touch to body, arms, legs and face
• Visually search for sounds
• Watch moving objects
• Respond to pain by crying

 

At 6 – 12 Months, Baby will:

 

• Respond to different textures with body, fingers
• Roll to side independently in response to stimuli
• Reject sharp smelling or unpalatable foods by turning head
• Explore objects and food with fingers
• Swat, rock, bounce to music
• May show unusual sensitivity or adverse reaction to sounds
• Track (follow with eyes) a bright object vertically, horizontally, and in circular patterns, eyes moving together in a coordinated pattern
• Orient and maintain attention 30-60 seconds

 

At 12 – 24 Months, the toddler:

 

• Switch visual attention from one stimulus to another
• Show no fear or anxiety with changes in body position
• Smell strongly scented items or respond to smells such as perfume or shaving cream
• Poke and squeeze clay or dough
• Allow objects and textures to touch cheek, tongue and mouth area
• Tolerate changes in daily routines or the environment without great upset
• Associate sensory information with routine activity (crawls into kitchen when smells food cooking, recognize sound of cracker box opening and comes to get, etc)
• Exhibit voice quality and volume similar to other children and family members

 

At 24 – 36 months, the toddler:

 

• Steps up and down heights such as stair step without falling
• Tolerate different textured surfaces (sandbox, grass, etc)
• Tolerate activities such as swinging, spinning or rocking on play items.
• Play in enclosed areas, such as cloth tunnel or boxes
• Negotiate simple obstacle course
• Transition from one activity to another without becoming anxious or upset
• Use vision to effectively guide hands i.e. “hand – eye coordination”
• Spontaneously play with multi media art materials (dough, sand, finger paints, etc)
• Listen to sounds or music at average volume without covering ears or showing distress
• Use a variety of intonation patterns when communicating