Too Much Stimulation

Some children cannot handle the touch of the sand or the touch of others.  Sensitivity to touch can lead to children becoming irritable and could cause behavior problems. Other children might be affected by smells, where their olfactory system will pick up a scent that is being irritable to them.  Bright lights may be too much for students who are oversensitive in the sight area.  Finally students can be oversensitive to taste and hearing.

Here is just an overview of things that could be done in the classroom to lessen the irritability for some of the senses:
Touch: "we can introduce firm pressure, gradually combining it with light touch (Greenspan)." This will help students ease into the feeling of touch without feeling too intimidated.
Sound: Gradually giving both low and high frequencies will do the same thing as touch by getting students used to the various sounds which they will have to overcome in real world situations.
Smell: Have something ready/  a location to go to  for the child to smell during times when smells are heightened (meal time). Exposing children to smells that might be there prior to leaving a location may allow stundents to be ready with a positive reaction.
Sight: Have sunglasses for when going outside.  Instead of florecent lights have lamps with softer lighting.   Also, use shades which can control the sunlight entering the classroom.


"We need to appreciate the way each child's sensory system is working. At the beginning of the year,consider how each child in your classroom reacts to each of the senses' pathways (Greenspan)"

Greenspan, S. (2006, March). Working with a Child Who is Sensory Reactive.      Scholastic Early Childhood Today, 20(5), 22-23. Retrieved from      http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.libezproxy2.syr.edu/hww/results/      getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.35