Families and practitioners can use this one-page sensory processing handout to quickly spot possible triggers, understand common behaviours, and plan small adjustments at home or school. It is especially suited to parents, carers, teachers, SENCOs and family support workers supporting children who become overwhelmed by noise, touch, clothing, food textures, movement or busy places.
Helping a child feel safer and more regulated is the clear aim of this visual sensory processing differences poster. It explains, in child-friendly and parent-friendly language, how some children may be more or less sensitive to touch, sound, movement, taste, smell, body awareness and balance.
The information is arranged into seven short sections, making it easy to scan during a conversation or print for a noticeboard, parent meeting or support session. It covers what sensory processing differences are, what adults might notice, how sensory needs can look day to day, and why behaviours such as chewing, crashing, avoiding messy play or covering ears may be linked to regulation.
Practical strategies are included for home, such as noticing triggers, using routines, preparing for noisy or busy places, offering sensory breaks, choosing softer clothes, reducing strong smells and introducing new experiences gradually. The school section suggests predictable routines, warnings before changes, movement breaks, calm spaces, seating and lighting adjustments, and reducing overload in halls or corridors.
Parents and professionals may also find the support guidance useful, as it outlines when to seek advice from a school, GP, health visitor, occupational therapist or another relevant professional. It notes that sensory difficulties are real, while clarifying that Sensory Processing Disorder is not a formal standalone diagnosis in DSM-5 or ICD-11. The final message encourages adults to understand each child’s sensory needs so they can reduce stress, build confidence and support emotional regulation.
