Is Your Child Overwhelmed by These 5 Everyday Experiences?

All children have meltdowns. That comes with the territory. But if you notice that certain everyday experiences are more likely than not to trigger a bad experience from your young one, it may be a sign of sensory processing challenges.

1. Dressing and changing clothes.
2. Mealtime stubbornness or gagging.
3. Bath time and cleaning routines.
4. Trips to the store and public places.
5. Playground and play meltdowns.

The good news? Understanding what’s happening can ease frustration for both you and your child in these difficult moments.

What Are Sensory Processing Challenges?

Sensory processing happens when your child’s brain interprets information from their senses. This includes the five senses you know—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. It also includes a couple of sensory experiences you don’t often think about: your child’s body position and movement.

Sometimes, young nervous systems struggle to process incoming sensory information smoothly. Think of it like a traffic jam in the brain. Too much information arrives at once, or signals get crossed in uncomfortable ways. Let’s take a look at those 5 everyday experiences again.

Getting Dressed in the Morning

Does your toddler go into a crying fit every morning when it’s time to get dressed? Maybe they scream about tags scratching their neck or cry about seams in their socks. They might refuse to wear anything but their most reliable, worn-out t-shirt, no matter how dirty it gets.

For your child, that tiny tag isn’t just annoying—it may feel to them as bad as if someone was poking their neck with a sharp stick all day long. The seam on their sock might feel like a rope pressed against their toes. What seems like “normal” clothing to you creates constant, unbearable irritation they can’t tune out. Their nervous system amplifies these sensations until they become the only thing your child can think about.

Mealtime Struggles

When dinner becomes a battlefield. Your child gags the moment mashed potatoes touch their tongue. They refuse any food that’s mixed together—the pasta can’t touch the vegetables, and sauce is completely off-limits. Maybe they’ll only eat crunchy foods like crackers and pretzels, rejecting anything soft or wet.

To your child, that spoonful of yogurt might feel like swallowing slime. The mixed textures in a casserole create chaos in their mouth. In their personal experience, their brain can’t sort out what they’re feeling. Imagine trying to eat while someone randomly changes the texture of food in your mouth from smooth to lumpy to gritty without warning. Your child’s sensory system struggles to process these mixed signals, triggering the gag reflex as a protective response. It’s not just stubbornness you’re dealing with.

Bath Time and Hygiene Routines

When water on their face sends your child into hysterics and shampooing becomes a wrestling match, sensory processing may be at fault. Tooth brushing can cause gagging or vomiting. Even washing with a soft cloth may result in tortured screaming.

For your child, water on their face might feel like they’re drowning, triggering genuine panic. The sensation of a toothbrush might feel like someone scrubbing their mouth with sandpaper. Their nervous system misinterprets these normal sensations as threats. Think about how you’d react if every hygiene task felt painful or scary—you’d resist too.

Grocery Store or Public Outings

It’s only an average day at the store, but your child covers their ears and cries in the cereal aisle. The fluorescent lights make them squint and hide their face. They either cling to you desperately or bolt away, crashing into displays. What should be a simple errand becomes an ordeal.

Inside your child’s nervous system, the grocery store is sensory chaos. The fluorescent lights pulse and buzz in ways you don’t notice. The refrigerator hums, carts clatter, and multiple conversations blend into overwhelming noise. It’s like being at a rock concert with strobe lights when you have a migraine—painful and disorienting. Your child’s meltdown is their nervous system’s way of saying “this is too much!”

Playground and Social Play

The playground should be fun, but your child hangs back. They refuse to try the swing, terrified of the movement. Or maybe display behavior that’s just the opposite. They crash into other kids, jumping from too-high places, or love to spin until they fall down dizzy.

Your child who avoids swings might feel like they’re falling off a cliff with each gentle push. Their vestibular system (which controls balance) sends panicked signals that movement means danger. Meanwhile, the sensory-seeking child who crashes into everything has an under-responsive system—they need intense input just to feel where their body is in space.

Imagine avoiding the edge of a cliff for fear of falling. You might stay well-back to be safe. Or trying to walk when your legs are completely numb; you might stomp hard just to feel something. Both responses stem from sensory processing differences that make typical play feel either terrifying or insufficient.

How Sensory Challenges Affect Your Family

Sensory processing challenges don’t just affect your child. They impact your entire family’s daily life.

Morning routines become marathons. Getting dressed takes forever, and mealtimes turn into battles. Bedtime stretches late when your child can’t calm their body for sleep.

Simple outings become complicated. Birthday parties end early when the noise becomes too much. You find yourself avoiding places and activities other families enjoy.

These challenges can leave parents feeling isolated and exhausted. You might wonder if you’re doing something wrong. Remember: this isn’t about your parenting. Your child’s nervous system just works differently, and millions of children and parents are in the same boat. Making things better can start with a little understanding and some practical guidance.

Practical Strategies for Daily Life

You can make everyday experiences easier for your child. Start with these simple adjustments:

Create a Sensory-Smart Morning

• Lay out clothes the night before so your child knows what to expect
• Remove tags and choose soft fabrics without scratchy seams
• Allow extra time to reduce pressure and rushing

Make Mealtimes More Manageable

• Serve familiar foods alongside new ones without forcing tries
• Let your child help prepare meals to explore textures at their pace
• Use divided plates to keep foods from touching
• Keep meals calm with soft lighting and quiet background

Navigate Public Spaces Successfully

• Visit during off-peak hours when stores are quieter
• Bring comfort items like headphones or a favorite toy
• Create a “break plan” for stepping outside when needed
• Keep trips short and build tolerance gradually

Build Calming Spaces at Home

• Soft pillows and blankets for deep pressure
• Dim lighting or a small tent for visual calm
• Fidget toys or stress balls for hand input
• Noise-reducing headphones for sound sensitivity

Incorporate Sensory Play

• Water play during bath time with cups and squeezers
• Playdough or kinetic sand for controlled messy play
• Movement breaks with dancing, jumping, or yoga poses

When to Seek Professional Support

Trust your instincts. If sensory challenges significantly impact your child’s daily life, it may be time to seek help.

Start by talking with your pediatrician. They can rule out other causes and refer you for an early intervention evaluation. Many children benefit from occupational therapy, which helps them process sensory information more effectively.

Remember, seeking help is about finding your child and yourself the tools you need to succeed.

Finding Your Path Forward

Living with sensory processing challenges requires patience, understanding, and creativity. Some days will be harder than others. That’s normal.

Celebrate small victories. Maybe your child tried a new food texture. Perhaps they made it through a whole grocery trip. These moments matter.

Your child isn’t broken or difficult. They experience the world in their own unique way. With understanding and support, they can learn to navigate daily life successfully.

Most importantly, you’re never alone when every day experiences overwhelm your child. Help is often only a phone call away.

TEIS Early Intervention is here to help

If you have questions about your child’s sensory processing experiences, TEIS Early Intervention can help. Our specialists partner with families to turn everyday moments into growth opportunities, from tummy and bath time to the grocery aisle.

Call us at 412-217-8347 or ask your pediatrician about getting an Early Intervention evaluation.

At TEIS Early Intervention, our therapists listen to your concerns, assess your child’s individual needs, develop a customized treatment plan, and coach you along the way with simple, routine-based solutions to maximize your child’s development in their natural environment.

Early intervention evaluations and therapy services are available under the Federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. Before services can begin, an independent evaluation of your child must be completed. To ensure impartiality, one agency provides evaluation services while another offers therapeutic services.

To schedule an evaluation, call 1-800-692-7288 or email help@connectpa.net