As much as we all want our children to appreciate nature, we also know it can be distressing to some children with sensory issues. Bright sunlight, irritating wind, scratchy grass, and buzzing insects are just a few of the things that can make a child with sensory issues unhappy.
Have your child wear sunglasses with an elasticized strap to hold them on, and/or a baseball cap or hat with a wide brim. Use a beach umbrella or tent to create shade and to shelter her from insects and wind.
There are now products that contain both bug repellent and sunblock in either lotion and spray form, so you can protect your child in one step. Consider more natural repellents that don't include DEET, often found in health food stores. Neutrogena makes a spray-on sunblock that is perfume-free. Banana Boat and others make a stick sunblock you rub on the skin. A child who hates light touch might prefer this type of applicator.
Teach your child that on spinning, swinging, or dipping park rides, she should fix her eyes on a stationary spot, such as her hands or the person seated in front of her, to avoid getting dizzy and/or nauseated.
Since soaps in public places are often slimy and stinky, carry some diaper wipes or an alcohol-based hand soap that doesn't contain triclosan.
Water has a distinctive feel on the skin, and the even, hydrostatic pressure enveloping the body can be quite soothing and calming. Buoyancy creates a marvelous sense of weightlessness. Generally, warm water relaxes the body while cooler water invigorates and activates it. Here are some tips to help your child be more comfortable in and around water.
Have your child try on his or her swimsuit — and get it wet — before a trip to the pool, beach, or lake. A child who can tolerate a dry swimsuit at home may be miserable once it gets wet. Better to find this out at home.
Consider various types of swimwear, including ones that don't flap around. For boys, try Speedo-type bikini racers, and suits for girls without skirts or ruffles. Some girls find two-piece suits that expose their tummies to sun and wind unbearable while others can't stand the feel of wet nylon on their tummies when wearing a one-piece.
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before heading to the beach. This gives it ample time to soak in before you hit the sand so it doesn't work like a sand magnet.
Chlorine can be intolerable for a child with sensory issues. If your child refuses to go into a swimming pool, try noseplugs — or better yet, find a pool that uses something other than chlorine (good luck!) or go to a lake or beach. Also, an indoor pool stinks more and can be unbearably loud with echoes, so try an outdoor pool.