An occupational therapist explains that kids who struggle to sleep often have unmet sensory needs. Let them jump, run, or rough-play to satisfy that craving, then transition to calming input like soft music or gentle touch.
If you have a child who struggles to get to sleep, listen on. This is something I just learned from an occupational therapist. Their struggle to drift off might mean that they have a sensory need that isn't being met. So try this: some jumping, some rough play, or running really fast on the spot. Let them choose what they'd like to do. We worry that it'll overstimulate them, but it really doesn't. Then we could follow that with something soothing like music or soft touch. Both together can make a really big difference. If you think this might help your child at bedtime, just drop a comment below or feel free to ask a question.
