TEAM Up at Kidsource
Sensory Processing & Family Education
About Sensory Processing
You’re probably familiar with our basic 5 senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell & taste. There are 3 additional senses that help our body function:
- Vestibular – sense of movement and balance
- Proprioception – sense of force on joints and muscles
- Interoception – awareness of your internal body needs, such as knowing when to use the restroom or feeling thirsty
The body’s senses and brain work together to tell us about the world and explain what certain sensations mean to us. Every person interprets sensory information in their own way. For example, some people like to wear jeans. Others might feel like jeans are too restrictive. This could be related to how the jeans feel on their body, and is related to the sense of touch. These kinds of differences are called sensory preferences and they’re completely normal.
A person may be experiencing sensory dysfunction when they are unable to move through a daily routine, complete a responsibility, or interact with others because their body and brain are interpreting information inaccurately. The behaviors listed below are signs of sensory processing dysfunction:
Infants & Toddlers
- Problems eating or sleeping.
- Refusal to go to anyone but mom for comfort.
- Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothing.
- Rarely plays with toys.
- Resists cuddling, arches away when held.
- Cannot calm self; colicky.
- Floppy or stiff body; motor delays.
Preschoolers
- Difficulty making friends; prefers to play alone or with a large amount of space between self and peers.
- Clumsy, poor motor skills, weak.
- In constant motion, in everyone else’s “face and space.”
- Frequent or long temper tantrums.
- Aggressive, rough in play.
- Difficulty transitioning; over-reliant on schedules.
- Shys away from touch.
- Unexpected noises cause crying.
- Poor sleep quality.
- Picky eater.
- Inconsolable after transitioning away from main caregiver.
Grade-Schoolers
- Easily distracted, fidgety, always moving, or has difficulty staying in their seat.
- Easily overwhelmed, worried, or startled.
- Plays with the same toys over and over; not willing to try new games or toys.
- Difficulty with handwriting or motor activities.
- Difficulty making friends.
- Unaware of pain; high tolerance of pain.
- Unaware of other people.
- Speaks with too much volume.
- Doesn't like when people touch them.
Adolescents & Adults
- Poor self-esteem; afraid of failing at new tasks.
- Always on-the-go, impulsive, distractible.
- Leave tasks uncompleted.
- Sloppy work, hard to read their handwriting.
- Difficulty staying focused.
- Unmotivated.
- Tends to want to be alone or stay home.
- Limited interests for free time.
- Tends to be slow to start tasks or is a couch potato.
Parent Involvement in Sessions
At Kidsource, we believe that parent or caregiver involvement is essential in the therapy process. In TEAM Up we include the caregiver in each session. We demonstrate, teach, and train parents on how to meet the sensory processing needs of their child. By the end of the program, the caregiver will be able to:
- Be able to identify the sensory processing needs of their child.
- Understand how to meet these sensory processing needs so the child can function across all settings.
- Confidently demonstrate techniques to support the sensory processing needs of their child.
- Track measurable success of their child that impacts the whole family.
What is TEAM Up All About?
TEAM Up is a specialized and intensive 4-6 month program focused on sensory processing and family training. The program provides:
- One-On-One Parent Meetings
- Focus on Family Goals
- Specialized Sensory Processing Therapy
- Use of DIR Floortime
- Private Use of Our Sensory Treatment Gym
- An In-Depth Consultation with Your Family
- A Customized Plan of Care for Clinic & Home Settings
- Two Specialized Therapists to Each Client
The TEAM Up Difference
The greatest tool we utilize in TEAM Up is the parent. Our goal is to empower each parent or caregiver to be confident in how to support their child. We do this by including them in every session. We write goals based on what the caregivers identify as most difficult or important to them. We demonstrate what we do, teach them how to do it and give them hands-on training and practice in the sessions. In our one-on-one meetings, we teach about sensory processing and discuss a tailored approach for the child. These meetings are essential for comprehension of the child’s sensory processing needs and creating solutions for the family.
Hear From A TEAM Up Family
“The parental involvement with TEAM Up is so awesome because it makes a difference in your everyday life. They give you the tools to help your child progress every day.”
— Chantelle Bisbee
You’re Not Alone
We’re dedicated to educating and empowering families of children with sensory needs or diagnoses such as Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, ADHD, anxiety, feeding disorders, or developmental delays. If you’re interested in parent training and education, contact us to learn more about our TEAM Up program.