Understanding the two patterns
Sensory-avoiding children cover their ears, refuse tags and messy play, and melt down in bazaars and weddings. Sensory-seeking children crash, jump, spin and chew everything. Many children do both. Neither is naughtiness — the nervous system is asking for different input.
Ten low-cost home strategies
1) Heavy work: carrying water bottles, pushing a loaded laundry basket. 2) Deep pressure: tight hugs, rolled-blanket 'burrito' play. 3) A daily swing or trampoline window — even 10 minutes organizes hours. 4) Weighted lap cushion (a rice bag works) during meals. 5) Dim lights and reduced TV before bed for avoiders. 6) Messy play in doses: rice bins, then sand, then shaving foam. 7) Chewy snacks and cold water for oral seekers. 8) Tagless clothes and pre-washed cotton for tactile avoiders. 9) Ear defenders for weddings, shopping, fireworks. 10) A predictable sensory diet — same times daily, not as reward or punishment.
When to book an OT
If sensory differences stop your child attending school, eating a reasonable range of foods, sleeping, or being cared for by others — an occupational therapy assessment (from BDT 1,000/session in our network) will map the pattern and build a plan. Everything above works better when calibrated to your child's specific profile.