8 Sensory Seeking Activities to Calm a Wild Child (2024)

Published: January 9, 2024

Use sensory seeking activities to calm and organize sensory seeking behaviors in your “wild” child or toddler that seems to never stop moving.

Would you describe your child as wild, rough, or dangerous on a regular basis? If so, those could be signs of sensory seeking behavior.

Although there are a variety of reasons a child may consistently seem to have a lot of energy or participate in extreme behaviors, sensory seeking activities can help calm and focus kids– no matter what the cause is for kids who can’t seem to stop moving.

If sensory issues, or needs as I’d prefer to call them, are the cause, then giving your child opportunities to get the sensory input they’re seeking can even decrease their drive to keep excessively seeking out sensations.

That is pretty cool, right?

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have some tried and true sensory seeking activities and strategies that are effective for a wide variety of kids, especially those that are “sensory seekers”.

Of course, each child is unique, and how your child responds to particular sensory strategies will be unique, too.

What is a Sensory Seeker

One of the most common ways that parents describe a sensory seeking child is: WILD.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a families’ house for the first time to hear them say, “You’ve never seen a kid like mine, they climb the furniture, run constantly, plow through other kids, and then, you would think they’d be exhausted, but they have trouble getting to sleep.”

Of course, the truth is I HAVE seenmany kids like this, and have a sensory seeker of my own at home! You aren’t alone.

Kids that are sensory seekers are often seeking out or craving more sensations. It’s as if they can’t get enough. Most commonly they love the sensations from movement, but they may seek out different sensations instead of movement or in addition to it.

Signs of Sensory Seeking Behavior

Sensory seekers are often in constant motion and may have a hard time playing with other kids because they are so rough or preoccupied with seeking sensory input. They also may have difficulty sitting down to focus whether it’s to eat dinner or do their homework.

Kids that are sensory seekers may even be unaware of dangers other kids seem to notice. They may run into the street or a parking lot without a second thought or participate in some really scary behaviors like trying to climb the refrigerator, all because they have this insatiable need for experiencing more of the sensation they seek.

Here are some more signs of sensory seeking behavior:

• Jumping, running, and crashing into other people or furniture
• Hanging upside down all the time
• Spinning around constantly
• Climbing furniture and other high points in their environment unsafely
• Licking inappropriate objects like the window, their hand, or blocks they’re playing with
• Touching everything and everyone
• Loves getting messy and will enjoy putting mud, fingerpaint, or lotion all over their body
• Smells people and miscellaneous things in their environment
• Makes or enjoys loud noises
• Stares at spinning objects or brightly colored and flashing lights.
• Crashes into people, furniture, or walls on purpose
• Wants to rough house and wrestle
• Climbs up to high points on the playground or on furniture
• Jumps from high places
• Rides bikes, scooters, ride on toys, etc., very fast

Sensory Seeking Behavior in Toddlers

The older a child is, the more obvious it is that they are a sensory seeker, but it can be tricky to figure out with toddlers because all toddlers are always on the go.

But, sensory seeking behaviors in 2 or 3 year olds often have an edge to them. Sensory seeking toddlers often do things that are surprising like opening the drawers of the dresser, climbing to the top, and leaping off.

Or, they are very fast or focus on spinning a lot.

Typically toddlers may spin or ride their little car fast occasionally, but a sensory seeker will do this often and with an intensity that other kids their age don’t.

While it may feel overwhelming to realize your 2 year old is a sensory seeker, the strategies and sensory seeking activities you’ll learn further in this article are perfect for this age too!

And, toddlers often respond to and start creating new pathways in their brain that help them be more calm compared to older children.

Why Is Your Child a Sensory Seeker?

Why are some kids big sensory seekers? It’s all related to their sensory processing, that’s the function of the brain that’s responsible for registering, sorting, and interpreting the multitude of sensations it receives.

However, some kids have trouble focusing or sitting still for other reasons such as ADHD, food sensitivities, or other neurological difficulties. Although, ADHD and sensory issues like sensory seeking are closely linked.

Sensory seeking is often closely linked to the sense of proprioception, or body awareness, and the vestibular sense, or movement. These senses allow our body to move through the environment effectively and stay balanced.

Sensory seeking kids are often not processing the sensations they receive to stimulate those sensory systems throughout the day well, as a result, they seek it out more. Meaning, they want activities that give them lots of proprioceptive and/or vestibular input.

Running, spinning, squeezing, climbing, and crashing into things all give LOTS of this type of input, and that’s why sensory seekers so often engage in these behaviors.

Of course, kids can also seek sensations from their vision, hearing, tasting, and smelling senses too.

In which case you will see sensory seekers staring at spinning objects or flapping their hand in front of their face for vision. Or, making lots of noise for their hearing sense.

Taste seekers will like big bold flavors and may lick a lot of objects in their environment. Smell seekers will smell everything all the time.

Does My Sensory Seeker Have Sensory Processing Disorder?

Each child has sensory preferences, preferring and disliking some sensations. That is typical development, and something they will continue to experience into adulthood.

When a child has sensory processing difficulties that affect their daily life, which is the case for some sensory seekers, they may qualify for a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) diagnosis.

Some sensory seekers are able to contain themselves and stop seeking in social settings or at school. In this way they may not qualify for SPD.

But, when sensory seekers do receive an SPD diagnosis is when the sensory seeking behavior causes them to struggle to learn, socialize, or pay attention.

It’s common for kids with Autism, ADHD, and anxiety to also have SPD or sensory needs. Although many kids have some sensory processing issues though and don’t have any other diagnosis.

How to Help Kids with Sensory Seeking Behavior

The good news is that you can help your child with their sensory seeking behavior and improve their attention, focus, and ability to calm down with opportunities to participate in sensory seeking activities.

For kids seeking sensory input, they tend to need a chance to move their bodies. A targeted sensory activity can then be a productive or safe outlet at challenging times of the day, whether that’s mealtime, homework, or bedtime, or during transitions for example.

Setting up sensory activities somewhat routinely (otherwise known as a sensory diet), may be helpful. Other sensory seekers may not want or benefit from a set schedule. What’s important is that you offer sensory activities when they need them, and watch to make sure those activities have helped them.

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Powerful Sensory Seeking Activities

Most parents of sensory seekers are overwhelmed by and feel that constant movement interferes the most with their concentration, learning, and socialization.

Focusing on activities that provide vestibular and proprioceptive input will likely be the most helpful for these kids.

Proprioceptive activities involve anything with pressure to the muscles and joints, so actions like squeezing, hanging, climbing, and jumping give input to this sense.

Vestibular activities involve anything with movement, and kids tend to seek that out by spinning, swinging, or climbing something high.

Here are powerful sensory seeking activities:

#1. Sensory Seeking Activity: Jumping

Any jumping activity is great for sensory seekers because it is loaded with tons of proprioceptive and vestibular input. You can let your child jump on the couch, bed, or a trampoline, which is one of my favorite sensory toys.

It’s almost always my first recommendation for kids that are super active, rough, or climbing the walls.

This is my sensory seeker jumping on a small indoor trampoline with a handle. He initiates using it a lot on his own, which is ideal. If he seems antsy before bed or meals, I’ll have him jump on it for a few minutes beforehand.

#2. Sensory Seeking Activity: Climbing

Climbing also stimulates proprioception and vestibular input! Using jungle gyms, monkey bars, and stairs in the home are great activities. I also love the fabric tunnel, which requires some adult help (or another child) to hold one end of the tunnel open.

There’s a DIY version here, or you can purchase one ready to go here. A lot of deep pressure is also happening with the tunnel, which is very calming.

#3. Sensory Seeking Activity: Vibrating toys

Vibration gives a lot of proprioceptive input and some vestibular too, believe it or not.

Not all kids like vibration, so you might want to try a small bug like this first (as a therapist, I’d always keep one in my bag), or if you know your kid responds well to vibration, using this vibrating seat is perfect for meals, homework, story time, etc.

#4. Sensory Seeking Activity: Pressure

Squeezing into tight spaces like a designated cool down spot or behind the couch can achieve this, as well as big bear hugs.

A body sock is a another simple tool you can use to help your child get pressure as they climb into a stretch sack and stretch out their arms and legs against the tight fabric. See my pics for the best body sock, and how to use them.

There will be times when a really active child won’t want to sit still for this, they may need to jump on the trampoline first or crawl through a tunnel a few times.

If I were using the body sock, I would read bedtime stories in it or even put homework on a clipboard and let them complete in there.

Joint compressions don’t require any tools and are a quick way to give your child pressure too. Make sure you head to our joint compressions tutorial for a video demonstration, if you aren’t familiar with how to use them.

#5. Sensory Seeking Activity: Get Messy in a Sensory Bin

If your child loves to touch everything, you can stimulate their tactile sense by giving them a large bin of a texture to play in.

This could be in an empty bath tub, a baby pool, or an empty plastic container. Tactile sensory seekers often love shaving cream, slime, or dry rice. Get inspired with dozens of more sensory bin ideas.

You can also think outside of the sensory bin and focus on messy play in general. Some messy play ideas for seekers are making mud pies in the back yard, finger painting, or sculpting with kid friendly clay. Get more messy play ideas.

#6. Sensory Seeking Activity: Bouncing

An exercise ball is an inexpensive and indispensable sensory toy for sensory seekers. They can roll on it over their bellies, they can bounce up and down, and you can roll them on top and bounce them on top with their feet totally off the ground – they often LOVE THIS.

If you want to diversify your bouncing, you can also check out a peanut shaped ball that makes it easy for kids of any age, but especially toddlers and preschoolers to sit on it while they sit at a table or in circle time.

Learn more about 7sensory activities with an exercise ball.

#7. Sensory Seeking Activity: Scooter Board

Scooter boards are a simple toy and easy to store away, but they give powerful sensory input when a child rides one, especially on their belly! It’s often used in occupational therapy, but works great at home too.

On a hard floor surface, encourage them to push themselves around using the palms of their hands or while you pull them back and forth with a rope.

Anytime you give your child sensory input, always make sure you’re watching their reaction and stop anytime they seem uncomfortable or have had enough.

Check out5 Ways to Use a Scooter Board for Sensory Input

#8. Sensory Seeking Activity: Obstacle Course

Want to keep your sensory seeker occupied while their sensory system is getting what they need, combine all of these sensory seeking activities above into one. Here’s one example, but there are countless options:

1. Jump on the trampoline
2. Grab some bean bags and put them on the scooter board as they follow the path you’ve indicated to…
3. Bounce on the yoga ball 10 times
4. Look for 3 hidden objects in a sensory bin full of dry rice
5. Crawl through a tunnel
6. Use a vibrating toy on their arms and legs
7. Start over

You’d arrange these items in a loop or some sort of circuit and show your child how to go through it! We have more ideas for obstacle courses to try.

These sensory activities are do-able right? Try implementing some of these sensory seeking activities and see how your wild child responds to them, truly it can make all the difference for you and them!

Learn More in the Free Sensory Activities Workshop

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or want to learn how to use sensory activities for a variety of sensory needs then grab a seat in our free workshop 3 Expert Secrets to Calm and Focus Your Child with Specialized Sensory Activities.

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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 19 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.