What It’s Really Like Supporting a Child with Sensory Challenges at School
Talking from both my professional and personal experience, there’s nothing harder than watching your child start school, full of excitement, only to have that joy unravel into daily meltdowns and exhaustion.
Sensory challenges don’t just affect how a child learns. They shape how they experience the world. And when the world becomes too loud, bright, itchy, or unpredictable, school can feel like a battlefield.
As both a parent and occupational therapist, I’ve walked that line, trying to comfort my child at home while understanding, clinically, what was happening in their nervous system.
This article isn’t just about theory. It’s about what it actually feels like and what can help.
Understanding the Sensory World
We often talk about the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. But in therapy, we look at three others that influence how children manage their bodies and emotions every day:
- Vestibular (movement and balance) – helps us know where our body is in space.
- Proprioception (muscle and joint awareness) – helps us control movement and force.
- Interoception (internal body awareness) – helps us sense hunger, temperature, and internal comfort.
For most kids, these systems work automatically. For others, the signals get too loud or too quiet. Some children crave movement or deep pressure just to stay alert. Others become overwhelmed by the buzz of the classroom or the texture of their uniform.
Neither is “naughty” – it’s their body trying to regulate itself.
Over Responsive vs Under Responsive: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Some kids are what we call sensory seekers: always moving, touching, chewing, or fidgeting. They need extra input to stay calm and focused.
Others are sensory avoiders: covering their ears, hiding under tables, or freezing when overwhelmed by sound or movement.
Both are regulating. Both are trying to find balance.
As adults, we self regulate too, think: fiddling with a pen in meetings, pacing on phone calls, or turning music down when we need quiet. Kids just haven’t yet learned how to do it consciously.
What School Looks Like Through Their Senses
When I think back to my own child’s early school years, I remember how ordinary moments could trigger complete overwhelm.
- Noise: Class chatter or assembly music could lead to tears or withdrawal.
- Crowds: Just lining up or entering a busy room could spark panic.
- Textures: Scratchy uniforms or tight socks were daily battles.
- Smells: Lunchroom scents could trigger gagging or avoidance.
- Stillness: “Mat time” was a constant struggle, their body needed to move.
As a therapist, I could see what was happening. As a parent, I just wanted to make the world gentler.
Practical Things That Helped
Over the years, a mix of understanding, preparation, and small accommodations made all the difference.
- Letting teachers know what triggers might appear and how to respond.
- Using noise-cancelling headphones or a quiet “safe space” when things got too much.
- Allowing a fidget tool or chew necklace for concentration.
- Choosing softer, pre washed uniforms and removing scratchy tags.
- Preparing for big events (fire drills, assemblies) with visual and verbal warnings or even having the options to give it a miss altogether.
- Teaching my child to recognise their own signals – “I need a break” became powerful words.
None of these erased the challenges, but they built trust between me, my child, and the teachers who wanted to help.
What I Want Other Parents to Know
If you see your child covering their ears, melting down after school, or constantly moving, it’s not a reflection of bad parenting or lack of discipline, it is their nervous system communicating.
And when we start to listen instead of correct, everything changes.
A sensory informed approach doesn’t mean excusing behaviour. It means understanding why it is happening and helping the child meet the world with the tools they need.
When to Seek Help
If your child’s sensory sensitivities are affecting learning, friendships, or daily routines, an occupational therapist can assess their sensory profile and develop practical strategies.
Early understanding can prevent emotional burnout for both you as parent and your child.
“The goal isn’t to make kids fit the world. It’s to help the world fit them just enough for them to grow.”
– Sabina, Parent & OT
Learn More
If you suspect your child may have sensory processing challenges, our occupational therapists can help.
Learn more about Sensory OT at EquipKids →
