Courtney Stanley MS OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Pineville office of Child and Family Development, enjoyed this information about clothing sensitivity that people with sensory processing difficulties sometimes experience. The article is posted on Understood, an organization dedicated to supporting parents of the one in five children with learning and attention issues.
Lexi Walters Wright provides 6 suggestions for selecting clothing for kids to reduce the tactile issues:
- super soft materials
- natural fibers
- items without tags and seams
- garments without tricky fasteners
- clothes that won’t bunch up
- heavy clothing that provides input
Courtney’s take:
You know those days when you just can’t get comfortable in anything you wear- when a pair of your most worn jeans and your oldest sweatshirt are the only things that seem to fit or feel good? When your body is sensitive to touch, clothing can be an absolute nightmare everyday. This article provides some helpful tips to help make clothing a little less of a nightmare. Her tips include:
- Shopping at consignment stores for pre-worn clothing ensures that the clothing is soft.
- If the clothes are new, make sure you wash and dry them prior to wearing, throw in a dryer ball to help them get even softer in the dryer.
- Boxer briefs and sports bras ensure that clothing stays in place when wearing undergarments is a necessity.
- Weighted or pressure clothing can also give that gentle squeeze throughout the day that many children who are tactile defensive need. Wearing Under Armor (R) or other tightly fitted athletic clothing under clothing is a great way to give that gentle pressure and make the outer clothing more comfortable.
- Check out theses websites that are geared to providing clothing that is sensory friendly such as tagless, seamless, and cotton fabrics including www.smarknitkids.com, www.kozieclothes.com, and www.funandfunction.com
Click here for the full article.
An occupational therapy evaluation will provide standardized and normed data that highlight a person’s sensory processing preferences and difficulties across all senses. Call us to get started with a free phone intake.
