Understanding Sensory Processing: A Parent-Friendly Guide
By Jessica Ravineala, OTRL Occupational Therapist and Owner of The Therapy Spot
Every child experiences the world through their senses including what they see, hear, touch, smell, taste, and feel inside their bodies. But not all kids take in and react to these sensations in the same way. Some adjust easily, while others might struggle with certain sounds, movements, or feelings. Sensory modulation is the brain’s way of deciding how much sensory information is “just enough.”
Why Sensory Modulation Matters
You can think of sensory modulation as your child’s ability to stay calm, alert, and ready to learn. Throughout the day, their brain is constantly sorting through things like noisy rooms, bright lights, busy classrooms, hunger signals, and stress. When a child’s sensory system handles all of this smoothly, they stay in their “just right” zone where they are comfortable and able to participate.
But when this system has trouble, everything from learning to behavior to social interactions can feel harder.
Three Common Sensory Patterns
While every child is unique, there are three broad patterns that help adults understand a child’s sensory needs:
Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR)
Sensory Under-Responsivity (SUR)
Sensory Seeking / Sensory Craving (SS/SC)
These patterns are not labels—they’re simply tools to help parents, teachers, and therapists understand what a child might be experiencing.
1. Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR)
Children with SOR feel sensations more intensely than others. Their sensory “threshold” is low, which means even small sensations can feel overwhelming or even painful.
A child with SOR might:
Cover their ears at loud or unexpected noises
Avoid certain clothing, textures, or messy play
Have strong reactions during transitions or new activities
Seem cautious or on edge in busy environments
Melt down when something feels “too much”
These behaviors are not misbehavior. Their nervous system is genuinely overwhelmed.
How to support a child with SOR:
Stay calm and co-regulate—your steady presence helps them feel safe
Reduce noise or visual clutter when possible
Offer grounding activities like big hugs, pushing against hands, or squeezes
Speak softly and slow down the pace
Use noise-canceling headphones or quieter spaces when needed
The goal is to lower the sensory load so their “cup” doesn’t overflow.
2. Sensory Under-Responsivity (SUR)
Children with SUR experience the world more quietly. Their sensory system needs stronger or more frequent input to notice what’s happening. They may seem tired, passive, or slow to respond—not because they don’t care, but because their body isn’t getting clear signals.
A child with SUR might:
Prefer sitting or lying down instead of moving
Respond slowly to their name or instructions
Seem disengaged or “low energy”
Tire easily
Appear unaware of what’s happening around them
These children often start the day “below the line” of alertness and need extra help to get going.
How to support a child with SUR:
Offer quick bursts of movement: jumping, climbing, spinning, running
Use playful, animated communication—big smiles, gestures, upbeat tone
Add breaks for movement throughout the day
Change up rhythm or pace to grab their attention
The goal is to “fill their cup” so they feel alert, awake, and ready to join in.
3. Sensory Seeking / Sensory Craving (SS/SC)
Sensory seekers crave lots of input. They may be constantly touching, moving, climbing, or bumping into things because their body is looking for more stimulation. These behaviors help them regulate—but too much input can also cause them to spiral into dysregulation.
A child who seeks sensory input might:
Always be on the move or struggle to sit still
Touch everything (and everyone!)
Take risks or play rough
Get overly excited and have trouble calming down
Want to control play or social interactions
How to support a sensory seeker:
Help them notice signs of getting “too hyped up”
Offer “heavy work” like carrying a backpack, pushing a laundry basket, or wall pushes
Give stimulating activities in small, structured bursts
Combine movement with thinking—obstacle courses with clues, scavenger hunts, etc.
Create safe, cozy spots where they can take a break
Here the goal is balance—meeting their need for activity without letting their “cup overflow.”
The Sensory Cup: A Simple Way to Understand Sensory Needs
Imagine each child has a sensory cup that represents their nervous system. The middle of the cup is where they feel calm, alert, and ready to learn.
A child with SOR starts with a cup that’s already almost full—small things make it overflow.
A child with SUR starts with their cup almost empty—they need lots of input to reach alertness.
A seeker has a cup that fills fast and empties fast, so they need steady input and clear boundaries.
This analogy helps adults—and even kids—understand what’s happening inside their bodies.
Why This Matters
When sensory needs aren’t understood, children may be mistaken for being defiant, lazy, or inattentive. But in many cases, their behavior is simply their nervous system asking for help.
For example:
A child who avoids circle time may actually feel overwhelmed by the noise and closeness of the group.
A child who fidgets or taps a pencil might be trying to stay alert, not trying to distract others.
When adults respond with empathy and the right strategies, children can feel safer, more confident, and more able to learn.
In Summary
Sensory modulation is the body’s way of managing everyday sensations. While some children naturally stay in their “just right” zone, others need extra support. Understanding the three sensory patterns—over-responsive, under-responsive, and seeking—helps caregivers tailor their approach.
The sensory cup analogy gives families and teachers a simple, helpful way to picture what their child needs.
The goal isn’t to “fix” sensory differences—it’s to create environments where children feel comfortable, understood, and able to thrive. When their sensory cups are balanced, kids can learn, connect, and be their best selves.
Jessica Ravineala, OTRL
Written by Jessica Ravineala
Occupational Therapist, Bloom U Expert and Owner of The Therapy Spot