Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-impact-of-sensory-integration-on-behavior-discovering-our-best-selves/5016455/
We have a tradition at our staff meetings that we call “Celebrating Successes.” Every week we tell each other stories of those magic moments when the joy of learning feels almost tangible. Recently a teacher described being so engaged with the children in creating a group dance thatno one wanted the experience to end. Another told about children working outdoors who carefully and persistently experimented with willow until they figured out how to balance branches together to create a hut, literally jumping for joy when their structure stood on its own. Magic moments like these do not just happen, especially in classrooms like ours that include many children with sensory integration challenges. It takes planning and thought and more than a little faith in the power of discovery to create a learning environment that helps both children and adults find their best selves.
In our work at the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, we’ve found that today’s children are often over-stimulated or under-stimulated in early childhood environments . . . sometimes both at the same time! Over-stimulation can occur when classrooms or play spaces are filled with too many confusing visual images, too much noise, or no clear pattern of organization. Under-stimulation ...