017 - Sensory system's everyday impact - With Munira Adenwalla
Notes
Welcome back to "Parenting the Intensity!"
Today on the podcast I have the pleasure of welcoming pediatric occupational therapist Munira Ardhanwala. With over 25 years of experience, Munira has dedicated her career to helping children from birth to 13 years old with sensory and motor skills needed for movement, learning, playing, and writing.
In today's episode, we'll be shining a spotlight on sensory processing and the way our senses shape our understanding of the world around us. We'll be discussing the general senses we're all familiar with - touch, smell, taste, and sight - as well as exploring three other senses that are often overlooked - Interoception, propriocetion and vestibular (if those words are new to you don't worry Munira will explain them all).
Munira is here to guide us through the world of sensory processing and shed light on how it can impact emotionally intense children. She'll share her expertise on how sensory activities can support children's emotional, motor, and sensory needs, and help them thrive and give us some practical exemples of things we can do with our kids.
Key takeaways of this episode:
1. Sensory processing is crucial for children's development: We discuss the importance of understanding sensory processing in children, especially those who are emotionally intense. By exploring the different senses and their impact on a child's behavior and learning, parents can better support their children's sensory and emotional needs.
2. Movement and proprioceptive activities can be beneficial: Munira highlights the significance of movement and engaging in activities that provide feedback to the body's proprioceptive sense. These activities help children regulate their emotions, improve body awareness, and develop motor skills necessary for tasks like writing. By incorporating resistive muscle heavy work activities, parents can help their children find a better balance between movement and relaxation.
3. Trust your intuition as a parent and seek support: We encourages parents to trust their instincts when it comes to understanding their children's needs. Munira emphasize the importance of ongoing support for parents, providing them with knowledge and tools to better support their children's sensory and motor development. Munira offers resources and links in the show notes, empowering parents to seek further information and explore strategies that resonate with them.
"The parents don't have to become the teacher or therapist.
You're staying the parent and parenting your child with those new tools and are able to help them on a daily basis."
Show notes and transcript of the episode
Where to find Munira:
Website: Www.ot4kids.co.uk
Resources referenced by Munira:
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