sensory issues

Two of our children have dealt with some relatively minor sensory issues. This is very common for children who have grown up without regular affection and touch. Yana has outgrown these issues, for the most part, but Jadon is still very sensitive to light touch (in other words, he is extremely ticklish).

A few years ago, I read about "brushing," but at the time I didn't think much of it. I thought that it was just for children with severe sensory issues. But, after consulting an occupational therapist friend of ours, we decided to give it a try.

Jadon has responded wonderfully to this therapy. We firmly "brush" his back and limbs with this soft brush three times a day. We've only been doing it for a few days, but are already seeing great results. For example, I gave him a haircut on Monday, and he sat perfectly still without any complaining about the hair on his face, back, etc. This used to drive him crazy and it was difficult to cut his hair. Wow! What a difference this time.

I am writing this post in hopes that it will help parents of children who are in a similar situation. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Of course, it is best to consult an expert on sensory issues, but you could learn the technique very quickly and it is well worth the effort!! The one thing that I will add--you should never brush a child's head, face, chest or stomach. This can cause seizures in children who are already prone to seizures.

Blessings to you all from our less ticklish home today!!