CairnsMoir Connections
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us
for those living or working with the impact of trauma

Book of the Month Aug 2016 - [Improving Sensory Processing in Traumatised Children]

1/8/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Improving Sensory Processing in Traumatized Children 
By Sarah Lloyd 

​
This excellent little book provides a timely reminder of the significance for fostered or adopted children of the sensory and movement experiences to which they have been exposed in early life.  


The author, Sarah Lloyd, suggests that when we think of trauma and neglect we usually draw on theories around Attachment and Trauma.  Bringing theories around Sensory Integration into the picture can add helpful insight and by helping babies and children to “go back” and become more in touch with themselves at a bodily level, they become more able to deal with their emotions.

Sarah Lloyd draws on her experience of working in Fife as part of the Springfield Project to write the book. Based on her considerable experience as a Specialist Occupational Therapist and Play Therapist, she reminds us that secure children have lots of movement and emotional experiences that allow the brain and central nervous system to develop good, strong pathways.  The things we take for granted such as rough and tumble play, carrying a baby on a hip, the “jiggling” interaction that we have with babies, are all helpful in developing their vestibular system.  By contrast, children affected by trauma and neglect lack not only the warm interaction from caring adults but also the movement experiences, beginning in-utero, that go alongside this. They often have poor muscle tone, poor posture and poor balance.  Sensory Integration Theory is thus very useful if used alongside Attachment Theory.

The third section of the book provides some helpful exercises which can be used to  increase sensory awareness in children. The author gives really good examples of how, starting with the tactile system, games such as taste tests, blow football, food that gives sensory stimulation, “feely” bags, “Simon says”, doing “wheelbarrows” and using a yoga ball can all be helpful. Many of these exercises and games fit well with what we know from PACE (Dan Hughes), from Theraplay, from the “Brainchild” work of Viv Hailwood or the interventions on perception and the senses offered by “Motorvate”. 

In this helpful little book Sarah Lloyd reminds us that, “relationship experiences combined with bodily and movement experiences form the development of social and emotional skills and learning”.  She offers us ways of identifying the gaps in the development of children who are affected by trauma and neglect.  Her generous sharing of exercises provide a valuable tool for parents and for professionals too. I feel sure that there’s another book to be written by this experienced practitioner and hope that she will write further.

**** star rating   
Heather M Drysdale 
Systemic Psychotherapist/Adoption and Fostering Consultant

1 Comment

    CairnsMoir Connections

    Check out our
    Book of the Month
    - expert reviews and special offers!

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Activities With Children
    Anxiety
    Attachment
    Autism
    Bereavement
    Children's Book
    DDP
    Education
    Empathic Behaviour Management
    Empathy
    ESSENCE
    Executive Functions
    Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Grief
    Mindfulness
    Neuroscience
    PACE
    Parenting
    Play Therapy
    Polyvagal
    Self Esteem
    Self Harm
    Sensory Processing
    Shame
    Sleep Issues
    Theraplay
    Transitions
    Trauma
    Young Adult

    Archives

    February 2025
    October 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

Tweet
CAIRNSMOIR CONNECTIONS LTD  is a company registered in Scotland  No. SC488337   [Returns Policy | Privacy Policy]
Registered address: 92 Glasgow Road Bathgate United Kingdom EH48 2AH  For telephone enquiries please leave a message at 0771 242 1250
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us