Something we love about BGCA’s Director of Programs & Innovation Katie Anderson? How she ALWAYS brings practical tips and learning to support youth. 🤩
Chances are, you’ve met that kid. You know the one- the youth who literally leaps off the bus, bear-hugs their friends, shoves others away from the pool table to get a turn, or yells about what activity they want to do next. They tap on the desk, they interrupt conversations, and they are somehow always covered in sand or mulch from the playground. They are always doing something and the more you encourage them to quiet down and focus, the worse it seems to get.
Even a visit to the Chill Zone doesn’t seem to help them much. They push and they escalate until they finally explode into a tornado of noise and movement. Then, as quickly as it begins, it’s over. They are suddenly calm and regulated and can happily help you pick up all the things that they were throwing around the room two minutes before. You may find yourself wondering, “What the heck is going on?”
Youth who fit the above description may be sensory seekers. These are youth who crave sensory input, and they’ll do whatever they can to get it. When they can’t get enough stimulation from the environment, they’ll stimulate themselves in the form of yelling, throwing, hitting, or running. These behaviors may look like over stimulation, but then all the calming strategies you have in your back pocket don’t work. That’s because youth aren’t over stimulated; they’re under stimulated and their nervous systems are begging for more input. If you want to learn more about sensory processing differences, check out this great video:
I am a sensory seeker. As a kid, I was the one kneeling in my chair at school, spending hours in a tire swing in the backyard, and being well-known among my siblings for tripping over things because I was walking around the house while reading. As an adult, I have an under-desk bike in my work office and a walking pad in my home office. My backyard features three different hammocks. I read while on the treadmill at the gym or nestled under my weighted blanket. Heck, I’m writing this blog post while sitting on the floor. My brain just works better when the rest of my body is engaged.
Sensory seeking youth need the same brain + body engagement. Here are five tips for providing additional sensory input for youth in safe and positive ways. These can all be incorporated into your Club’s Chill Zone or done separately wherever space allows.
Get off on the right foot.
Sensory-seeking youth who have been sitting all day at school may arrive at the Club already on the brink of eruption. Going straight into structured activities like Power Hour can push them into dysregulation and start the day off on a negative note. Try offering a snack to help regulate blood sugar along with short activities that stretch out muscles and get bodies moving. Setting up an obstacle course or choosing an activity from the Triple Play Daily Challenges guide are great ways to do this. For permanent options, you could paint a hopscotch course along a main hallway, or build a full sensory hallway like this one:
Add weight.
One of the easiest ways to provide sensory input is through weight. Weighted vests, lap pads, or stuffed animals are great for this. As a bonus, these items can often be used in a group setting and allow a youth to regulate without having to be separated from their peers. Remember to keep added weight to 10% or less of a youth’s total body weight for safety. We’ll have some similar to these in the Keystone Conference Chill Zone.
Encourage heavy work.
No, we’re not advocating for manual labor in Clubs. “Heavy work” refers to actions that engage multiple muscle groups at the same time. Try asking youth to carry a stack of books across the room, push or stack chairs, or do a set of jumping jacks and wall push-ups to engage arms, legs, and core muscles at once. You can even create a pictogram of exercises to have in your Chill Zone for youth to do on their own.
Turn up the volume.
Noise-cancelling headphones are amazing tools for reducing sensory input. For youth that need more input, consider letting them wear headphones or ear buds to listen to music or white noise while they complete homework or other desk work. When listening to music isn’t an option, yelling into a pillow can engage throat muscles and provide gentle pressure at the same time.
Get sour (or sweet!)
Taste is one of our strongest senses, so activating it can provide a lot of sensory input. Sour or minty hard candies and chewing gum can help regulate sensory seeking youth by combining taste and repetitive jaw movements. Sour sprays are a great mess-free option for younger youth. Always check with parents & caregivers before giving a youth a food item and be sure to ask the youth what kind of flavors they prefer.
Sensory-seeking youth need more sensory stimulation to regulate their emotions than other kids. Finding ways to engage a youth’s body along with their brain can help them calm down, focus, and succeed in the Club. Each youth is different, so take the time to find out what sensory activities work best for them. Have you used sensory-heavy activities in your Club? Sound off in the comments and share your ideas with other Club staff.
Looking for even more ways to accommodate youth with different sensory needs? Boys & Girls Club staff can check out our summer webinar series on serving youth with disabilities. Register now on Spillett Leadership University here! Note: You may need to log into SLU via myBGCA.net before clicking the link. Find all of our resources related to serving youth with disabilities on BGCA.net.
What are your best strategies for supporting youth with disabilities or differing needs? How does your Club meet the unique needs of youth and families in your community? Let us know! Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
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