Does your child seem to be constantly moving, crashing into things, or making lots of noise? Maybe they love messy play, climb everything in sight, or don’t seem bothered by loud sounds or strong tastes. While these behaviors can sometimes feel overwhelming, they might actually be signs that your child is a sensory seeker—not just “hyperactive.”

I’m Lisa Tarr, I’m a Pediatric Physical Therapist as well as the CEO and Founder of First Steps Pediatric Therapy. Today, we are here to talk about the behaviors of a hyperactive or sensory seeker child and when you should seek support.

What Is a Sensory Seeker?

To understand what a “sensory seeker” is, first we have to explain what sensory processing is. Sensory processing is the way your brain receives and responds to the information it receives from your senses (e.g., touch, hearing, balance, etc.). Sometimes, the brain has trouble processing this information, which can lead a person to feel either overwhelmed or underwhelmed by their environment.

A sensory seeker is someone who struggles with sensory processing because they have a much higher tolerance for input from the senses. They tend to need “more” to feel content. They love energetic or messy activities, and they tend not to notice things like how hot it is outside, or how disruptive their behavior can be.

Signs Your Child Might Be a Sensory Seeker

The signs that a child could be hyperactive, or a sensory seeker, include: 

They are constantly in motion

They love to run, jump, and crash into everything. They love to touch everything. They love running up and down the slides at playgrounds, spinning, swinging, digging in the dirt, trampolines, any of those types of things. And they have difficulty sitting still.

They are okay with loud noises

They love making loud noises, playing with loud toys, banging loudly on things, etc. They like a lot of that “cause and effect” type of actions.

They love strong sensations

They traditionally like strong tastes or different textures that would be unexpected for a child of their age. They also enjoy being in tight spaces, being squished or getting bear hugs, or just bumping into different things to get constant tactile (touch) feedback. 

These are the kids that like to play with slime and sand. They could have food all over their face or their hands and not even realize it or mind it at all.

When Should You Reach Out to a Professional?

When these sensory behaviors are actually disrupting your daily life, that’s when you should seek help from a pediatric occupational therapist. That’s when it’s time to consider that your child could use some extra support and intervention from a professional. 

For example, our occupational therapists can help you if your child: 

  • Has trouble going to sleep, listening, sitting still at mealtimes, etc.
  • Frequently hurts themselves or others, whether accidentally or on purpose
  • Often puts themselves or others in danger (e.g., they run into the middle of the street without checking for cars)
  • Gets distressed or frustrated often, or even has meltdowns

Do try to remember that these behaviors don’t mean that your child is “bad.” If your child is a sensory seeker, then these behaviors simply mean that they’re dysregulated. That means they have trouble controlling or regulating their emotional responses to the sensations they’re experiencing (or not experiencing) in their environment. They’re having difficulty with self-regulation, they become overstimulated, and then they show these types of behaviors.

Reach Out to First Steps for Expert Support

If you’re worried about your child’s hyperactive behavior, First Steps Pediatric Therapy is here to help. We can do a 15-minute phone consultation to help you determine whether or not occupational therapy would be right for you.

Call us at (700) 900-7432 for more information or to schedule your free consultation today.