Sensory Integration

A Guide for Preschool Teachers

Do you have a child in your early childhood classroom who:

• Climbs on top of furniture and jumps off?
• Covers his ears when children are singing?
• Refuses to touch clay, paint, or sand?
• Often falls down and skins her knees?
• Refuses to play on outdoor playground equipment?

If so, it is possible the child is having sensory processing problems. How can you help children with these problems so they can enjoy learning and grow in positive ways? Sensory Integration helps you identify children who have difficulties with sensory processing, and it offers simple, easy-to-use solutions to support the sensory needs of young children in the preschool classroom. Easy-to-implement solutions include adaptations and activities for children with different types of Sensory Processing Disorder. This book has a bonus chapter with instructions for creating low-cost items to help children with sensory issues.

Chapters cover concepts such as:

• Explaining Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Disorder
• Defining sensory avoiders, seekers, and under-responders
• Designing the environment to support the sensory development of all children
• Helping preschoolers with sensory processing problems
• Providing practical solutions to meet the needs of individual children during daily routines
• Building and creating low-cost items such as a tire swing, sand pillow, and incline board to give children opportunities to get the sensory input they need

Click HERE to download the handout from Christy Isbell's NAEYC workshop, "Why Can't He Sit Still?"

Reviews

"Sensory Integration is recommended as required reading for all preschool teachers, and would be highly informative reading for the parents of chidren with sensory disorders as well."

"I will be a better teacher because of this book."

"The book describes details about different types of sensory integration problems, e.g. the avoider, the seeker, and the under-responder in these areas: visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, proprioception. Many practical suggestions are given which teachers and parents can use to help the child function better. This is a valuable handbook of well organized information including references, resources, a glossary, appendix, and index."

"Great ideas. I like the case studies - very informative and well written. Very good resource for staff."

"“In a format written for the practitioner, this book defines Sensory Integration Processing (SIP), explains why it is important in the development of preschool children, and discusses what happens when this normal process of development goes awry….With great detail, yet in a style that is easy to read and understand, the authors explain each possible scenario when children present with visual, auditory, ortactile issues….This book is a wonderful tool for the preschool teacher. The plethora of strategies and techniques are shared in such away that the teacher will know what strategy to use specifically for which child’s needs….I highly recommend this book, as it provides sensible options to help children with Sensory Integration Disorder learn in the typical classroom.”"

"If you're concerned that your young child might be struggling with learning through the senses of touch, sight, sound, movement, taste, or smell, read Sensory Integration: A Guide for Preschool Teachers... You'll find an abundance of practical solutions for sensory challenges, explained in plain language, for helping children with specific behaviors."