Every day we hear about the necessity of continuous stimulation of a child's development. We know that the most effective way of learning is polysensory exploration of the world – experiencing its elements with all senses. However, we often forget something equally important – calming down. Lack of rest leads to overstimulation, resulting in the opposite of the intended effect – the child's cognitive functions are hampered while being exposed to very strong stress.

Due to the still-developing nervous system, younger children are much faster and more intensely subject to overstimulation. They do not yet have the ability to filter and limit the stimuli reaching them. Especially sensitive are, among others, preemies, children with special educational needs, in the autism spectrum, highly sensitive.

When is a Child Overstimulated?

The nervous system needs a balance between stimulation and inhibition (calming down). Overstimulation occurs when a child is exposed to too many intense stimuli (loud music and conversations, TV screen, noisy toys, a lot of colors and textures simultaneously).

What are the Symptoms?

• Shutting down/ withdrawing/ falling asleep.
  
  The child's nervous system is overloaded. It cannot receive more stimuli. It seems "absent", escapes in thoughts, does not listen to what we ask. Often due to overloading with too intense stimuli, the child simply falls asleep.
  
  
• Problems with falling asleep/ frequent waking up from sleep, often with crying.
• Excessive excitement/ crying and screaming/ aggression/ self-aggression.
• Self-stimulation - rocking, squeezing, spinning around.
• Rapid blinking/ squinting or rubbing eyes/ covering ears.
• In infants, there may also be: clenching fists, rapid head turning, body stiffening.

What to Do When a Child is Overstimulated?

Remember that you are not always able to protect your child from overstimulation. Do not blame yourself if it happens.

Cut off the child from the influx of stimuli. Go outside or to another room. If this is not possible, tidy up the space around the child – turn off the TV, music, ask people in the room to lower their voices, turn off intense lighting. Try to stay calm. Remember that the child is crying or screaming to cope with overstimulation. Hold it in your arms, hug it, speak in a soft, calm voice.

How to Avoid Overstimulation?

Everyone has a so-called arousal threshold. Each person will react differently to a given stimulus, will need more or less stimulation and calming down. One child cries after a few minutes of musical activities, another willingly participates in several additional activities. There is no ready, ideal way to maintain sensory balance. It is worth observing the child and responding to the first signs of overstimulation. The following tips may also be helpful:

1. Ensure that the child's basic needs are met. A sleepy or hungry toddler will succumb to overstimulation much faster.
2. Limit the number of stimuli reaching the child as much as possible (e.g., turn off the TV, limit the number of colorful, noisy toys).
3. Remember about calming down. After intense activities, it's time to rest.
4. Try to plan the day so that you can perform subsequent activities without haste. This will help reduce stress and better cope with subsequent stimuli.
5. Try not to organize too many activities in one day. Limit the number of additional activities as well.
6. Develop your way of relaxation – listening to music or nature sounds, deep breathing. Use it daily, as well as in crisis situations.
7. Ensure a lot of physical activity for the child during the day.
8. In crisis situations, try to stay calm. The child perfectly reads and takes over your emotions.
9. During larger celebrations:

• Try to provide a space for the child to rest – go out to the garden, for a walk, to another, quiet room,
• if possible, shorten the duration of your visit,
• in the case of infants and young children, noise-canceling headphones can be very useful, especially during loud events, such as weddings.

Pedagogue Klaudia Sokołowska-Baryś for Marioinex Education

Bibliography:

1. Ilg F. L., Ames L. B., Baker S. M., Child's Psychic Development from 0 to 10 years, Gdansk 2006
2. Kranowitz C. S., The Out-of-Sync Child. Sensory Processing Disorder – Diagnosis and Management, Gdansk 2012
3. Maas V.F., Learning through the Senses. Introduction to Sensory Integration Theory, Warsaw 1998
4. Stein A., Child Up Close, Warsaw 2019