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child with sensory issues with clothing
Basically looking for help. My 8 year old daughter has horrible issues with clothing. Biggest challenge. Are her panties and pants, mornings are horrible an hour brawl to get dressed.
Please anything can help.
This discussion is related to Clothing Issue.
Please anything can help.
This discussion is related to Clothing Issue.
Is it possible that she is allergic to the materials used in her underwear, or the detergents you wash them with? I can't stand nylon. One daughter could not stand wool anywhere on her body and another could not stand mohair on her skin.
Totally agree with Sandman. So glad that sensory integration disorder is growing in awareness so that uninformed parenting such as the suggestion above takes place less.
Now for some advice that may help you as I have a son who also had issues with clothing. The reason was a faulty sensory system. It doesn't help to be angry even if you are indeed frustrated. Issues with how clothing feels to the point of fighting it is a classic sign of sensory. The signals are not working properly. If they feel the seem in their sock, they can't tune it out. They are so sensitive to the discomfort of it that they can think of nothing else than to get that sock off,
I remedied this by A. working on my son's sensory system. They do something called 'heavy work' which is basically targeted physical activity that helps the nervous system work properly (examples are swimming, jumping on a trampoline, marching with foot slapping the ground, pushing a basket with heavy items in it, moving a chair, etc.) B. we did occupational therapy and the do something called 'brushing'. this greatly helped with all of my son's tactile dysfunction (my son didn't like mud or water on his hands, etc.). and C. I was careful about his clothes. If I found a sock he thought was comfortable? I'd buy 10 pairs. If I found a pair of pants he liked? I'd buy them in every color. My sons both really don't like jeans but it's easy with boys-- athletic pants rule the day at my kids school. Comfy. But I cut down on any battle by trying something and if it doesn't seem comfy to him, I return it and then anything that is okay and he likes it, I buy more of that.
I don't think consequences and being mad will ever solve your problem here. Does he have any other troubles? How's his fine motor/hand writing for example?
Now for some advice that may help you as I have a son who also had issues with clothing. The reason was a faulty sensory system. It doesn't help to be angry even if you are indeed frustrated. Issues with how clothing feels to the point of fighting it is a classic sign of sensory. The signals are not working properly. If they feel the seem in their sock, they can't tune it out. They are so sensitive to the discomfort of it that they can think of nothing else than to get that sock off,
I remedied this by A. working on my son's sensory system. They do something called 'heavy work' which is basically targeted physical activity that helps the nervous system work properly (examples are swimming, jumping on a trampoline, marching with foot slapping the ground, pushing a basket with heavy items in it, moving a chair, etc.) B. we did occupational therapy and the do something called 'brushing'. this greatly helped with all of my son's tactile dysfunction (my son didn't like mud or water on his hands, etc.). and C. I was careful about his clothes. If I found a sock he thought was comfortable? I'd buy 10 pairs. If I found a pair of pants he liked? I'd buy them in every color. My sons both really don't like jeans but it's easy with boys-- athletic pants rule the day at my kids school. Comfy. But I cut down on any battle by trying something and if it doesn't seem comfy to him, I return it and then anything that is okay and he likes it, I buy more of that.
I don't think consequences and being mad will ever solve your problem here. Does he have any other troubles? How's his fine motor/hand writing for example?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Unless, of course, she has Sensory Processing Disorder in which case your advice is just adding more torture to the all ready ongoing distress of the little girl.
If your daughter takes forever getting dressed in the morning, she might need to wake up earlier each morning to allow her plenty of time to get dressed. As a result, she would require an earlier bedtime so that she doesn't wake up tired. Trust me when I say that when your daughter realizes the consequences to her taking an hour to get dressed every morning, this will no longer be an issue.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It really sounds like she has Sensory Processing Disorder. You can read about it here - http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
You are lucky in that we have a forum here that deals with this - if that looks like the problem. The leader, Specialmom, has a sensory child of her own and is very knowledgeable in ways to help. That forum is - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Sensory-Integration-Disorder-SID/show/1396
Please repost to there. She definitely has the knowledge to help you!!
You are lucky in that we have a forum here that deals with this - if that looks like the problem. The leader, Specialmom, has a sensory child of her own and is very knowledgeable in ways to help. That forum is - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Sensory-Integration-Disorder-SID/show/1396
Please repost to there. She definitely has the knowledge to help you!!
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