Demystifying the Senses: Proprioception and Emotional Regulation
Did you know that we actually have eight senses, not just five? In addition to sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, we have three other senses: proprioception, vestibular, and interoceptive. In this mini-series, we’re diving into these amazing senses and the huge roles they play in your young child’s development.
Last month we looked at proprioception as our “movement sense,” helping us to perceive movement within our body and how we are oriented to the space around us. But proprioception’s real super power is its connection to emotional regulation.
Imagine a sandcastle. This sandcastle is all the energy you have to power you throughout the day. As the day goes on, ocean waves - or sensory input - constantly chip away at your sandcastle. Some waves are small, while others are bigger. If too much sand becomes eroded away, the castle becomes unstable - it’s emotionally dysregulated. In this state, your child is likely to have an emotional meltdown or temper tantrum, often over seemingly nothing.
As adults, the waves that chip away at our sandcastles might be the constant dinging of phone notifications, a stressful work meeting, that itchy tag in the back of your sweater, or - let’s be honest - your toddler’s sudden tendency to throw everything they can.
For children, these waves can be even simpler things: feeling too hot or too cold, feeling hungry or tired, sitting at school work for a long time, and - especially - transitions from one activity to another.
The good news is that we are not powerless against these sensory waves. Throughout our day, we can refill the holes in our sandcastle - resetting our nervous system and becoming emotionally regulated - so we are ready to face the next waves the day brings. And we can do this through sensory input.
While us adults do this naturally and without thinking (personally, I recharge with a cup or tea and a quiet few minutes observing nature and listening to sounds around me) children need our support in learning how to refill their bucket of sand and patch those sandcastle holes. You probably already do this naturally, anticipating when your child will need a snack or nap, building breaks into a homework routine, or going for a walk together every day. All these things recharge your child’s nervous system.
Proprioception is another excellent way to reset the nervous system and help your child build up their sensory “bank” to power them through the day. If you find that your child really likes big hugs, joint compression, and big whole-body movements, they are probably fueled through proprioceptive input.
Here are some ways you can proactively help your child rebuild their sandcastle - their sensory stores - throughout the day, and especially before transitions:
Enjoy a dance break together
Play with props that engage the whole body: hula hoops, streamers, or stretchy bands
Roll on the floor
Jump on the bed!
Have a pillow fight (safely, of course!)
Push or pull a box across the floor
Give them big squishy hugs or joint compressions
And here’s our favorite part. Proprioceptive play with you not only helps refill your child’s sensory stores, it also releases the neurochemical serotonin: the feel good neurochemical which helps your child to feel safe. This hormonal boost can even last as much as four hours, increasing your child’s ability to remain emotionally regulated and, permanently strengthening the bond you share!
