"Some children may need a behavioral approach, whereas other children may need a sensory approach"
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Temple Grandin points to the diversity within childhood development, especially among autistic and neurodivergent children, by contrasting behavioral and sensory approaches. Behavioral approaches focus on teaching specific skills, shaping actions through reinforcement, building routines, and breaking tasks into manageable steps. They can be effective when a child needs help with communication, social rules, or executive functions and when behavior is primarily a learned pattern rather than a stress response.
A sensory approach starts from the body and the environment. Many children experience the world through heightened or muted sensory channels: lights too bright, sounds too sharp, clothes too scratchy, or movement too still. What looks like defiance or inattention may be a nervous system overwhelmed or under-stimulated. In those cases, adjusting the environment, offering sensory supports like predictable spaces, movement breaks, deep pressure, or noise reduction, and honoring sensory preferences can reduce distress and make learning possible.
Grandin, an autistic thinker known for her emphasis on practical, sensory-informed strategies, urges adults to identify the root of a behavior before deciding how to respond. A meltdown triggered by fluorescent flicker calls for a sensory solution, not a reward chart. A child who lacks a way to ask for help needs communication tools, not punishment for escape-motivated behavior. The guiding question becomes: is this a skill gap, a sensory mismatch, or both?
The statement also argues against one-size-fits-all programs. Children change over time, and many need a blend: sensory regulation to achieve calm and focus, paired with explicit teaching to build new skills. Listening to the child, observing patterns, and using assessments such as functional behavior analysis and sensory profiles can help tailor support. Respect for individual neurology sits at the center. When adults match approach to need, they reduce suffering, enhance autonomy, and open a path for genuine growth rather than mere compliance.
A sensory approach starts from the body and the environment. Many children experience the world through heightened or muted sensory channels: lights too bright, sounds too sharp, clothes too scratchy, or movement too still. What looks like defiance or inattention may be a nervous system overwhelmed or under-stimulated. In those cases, adjusting the environment, offering sensory supports like predictable spaces, movement breaks, deep pressure, or noise reduction, and honoring sensory preferences can reduce distress and make learning possible.
Grandin, an autistic thinker known for her emphasis on practical, sensory-informed strategies, urges adults to identify the root of a behavior before deciding how to respond. A meltdown triggered by fluorescent flicker calls for a sensory solution, not a reward chart. A child who lacks a way to ask for help needs communication tools, not punishment for escape-motivated behavior. The guiding question becomes: is this a skill gap, a sensory mismatch, or both?
The statement also argues against one-size-fits-all programs. Children change over time, and many need a blend: sensory regulation to achieve calm and focus, paired with explicit teaching to build new skills. Listening to the child, observing patterns, and using assessments such as functional behavior analysis and sensory profiles can help tailor support. Respect for individual neurology sits at the center. When adults match approach to need, they reduce suffering, enhance autonomy, and open a path for genuine growth rather than mere compliance.
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| Topic | Parenting |
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