Best Pilates Classes in Virginia Beach, VA

If you ask most people how many senses we have they will answer with five--sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. But researchers have expanded our understanding of sensory experiences to include proprioception, vestibular, and interoception as well. nnOur eight senses can help us navigate the world. So it goes without saying that those that encounter sensory processing issues have an even more difficult time engaging effectively with their environment. According to Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske in their book, Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues, there are many things we can do to create supportive environments for our children. nnProprioception, the sense of body awareness, is crucial for motor planning and coordination. Engaging children in activities that provide deep pressure, such as heavy work tasks and proprioceptive games, helps children develop a sense of their bodies in space (Biel & Peske, 2009). nn🪁Incorporating activities like climbing up and down, jumping, and pushing heavy objects supports proprioceptive development. Having your child help carry things such as the laundry basket or groceries can provide an opportunity to hold to a variety of weights and practice shifting balance while walking with objects. At younger ages, the act of crawling has many opportunities for proprioceptive skills as a child works to feel themself in time and space while coordinating movement. nnInteroception, the sense of internal body awareness, involves recognizing and responding to internal cues such as hunger, thirst, and emotions. n n🪁Encouraging mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing and body scans, helps children develop interoceptive awareness (Dunn, 2016). Providing opportunities for reflection by asking...