Well…to even begin to answer the question about what causes tantrums, you have to know a little bit about the sensory systems and the purpose of behaviors.
Sensory Systems:
When I was growing up and for the longest time, I thought that there were 5 sensory systems- hearing, vision, touch, smell, and taste.
Most people only seem to know these 5 systems as well. But… what would you say
if I told you that there were not 5 sensory systems but 8. YES, there are 8
sensory systems. The last 3 include: vestibular system, proprioceptive system,
and the interoceptive system. These are all major sensory systems that we use daily to help us manage our interactions and be able to function in our environment.
More about the 3 lesser known sensory systems:
The vestibular system helps us know where we are in relation to gravity- how fast or slow we are moving, are we standing up or lying down, are we right side up or upside down. For example, have you seen kids who spin, spin, and spin? Well, they are seeking vestibular input. These kiddos are also movers and shakers, meaning that they only seem to slow down when they are asleep.
The proprioceptive system helps us to know where our bodies are in space and how much force we need in order to complete an activity. For example, I have worked with many kids who like to bang on things, press their pencils too hard onto the paper, or give too tight hugs. These are signs of an under responsive proprioceptive system.
Lastly but not least, the interoceptive system is all about body signals. The sense of being just right. This sense helps us to know how we are feeling (happy, sad, angry). It also helps us to know if we are hungry or not, thirsty or not, or need to use the bathroom. When people have trouble with this system you might see toileting accidents or not going to the bathroom at all, sleep disturbance, getting emotional very easily, overeating or not eating enough, and more.
All of our senses come together to help us to do homework, play with friends, socialize with people, go to work, buy groceries, drive a car, etc. When we have difficulty modulating or managing all of the sensory information coming at us, then that can lead to sensory hyper responsiveness (sensitivity)-not wanting to be touched, not liking certain texture or foods, sensitivity to lighting or sounds, getting angry or mad quickly; sensory under responsiveness- not being aware of people or items in your path, always sitting, not wanting to participate in sports or gym; and/or sensory craving- can’t stop moving or touching things or people. Sensory meltdowns can occur when people have trouble managing their sensory information.
Behaviors/tantrums/meltdowns:
After having kids or working with kids, one thing you learn quickly is that all behavior is communication. This may look like a child screaming and crying or throwing themselves onto the floor because they want to keep playing with their toy, or someone trying to run away from doing homework because they hate it, or someone who was told that very bad word “NO.” These kids are usually trying to escape or avoid or get out of doing something they don’t want to do.
What do you do?
Well... You look at what your child typically does on a daily basis, and you also look at each individual situation. For example, you may know that your
child always moves around and can’t sit still. You may also know that they hate
math and tend to run away every time it is time to do it. This is a situation of
both sensory and behavior. Honestly, most of the kids that I work with are a
mix of sensory and behavior. This is where you pull out your tool bag and use a
mix of sensory and behavioral strategies: reinforcers, work/then visuals and/or
verbiage, wiggle cushion seat, yoga ball chair, etc.
There are a lot of strategies that you can try but most importantly, it depends on what your child responds to the best.
As always, I hope that this helps and bless you in some way.
Disclaimer:
Though I am an occupational therapist, I am not your occupational therapist. The information that I provide is for general education purposes only. If you find that you or your child needs any help, seek out a trained provider and work in partnership with them.
