Tips for Grooming Your Sensory Sensitive Child Using Less Force and More Fun!

There are many great resources available written by occupational therapists providing specific strategies for helping a kid experiencing sensory struggles to engage in routine grooming activities. Here is one of my favorites to check out that has tips for creating a sensory friendly environment by dimming the lights, altering the sound using music or headphones, applying pressure to the child’s body using your hands or a compression shirt, and examples of proprioceptive input activities to calm the child’s system before and after engaging in a dis-regulatory activity.

These are all very useful, however I want to share with you tips and tricks that make a big difference in diminishing the anticipatory anxiety and overwhelm accompanying grooming activities for children with sensory sensitivities.

The added benefit? It diminishes your own experience of anticipatory anxiety as a care-giver and the feelings of frustration and overwhelm that you may experience during these haircuts, nail trims, hair washes, wardrobe changes, etc!

Bribes and threats often don’t work, nor do pleading and yelling. So what else can you try?

Tip 1: Assist your child in getting dressed the night before

Getting Dressed: It often does not matter if you are getting your child dressed for school or to go to their favorite donut shop, if they experience sensory sensitivities then getting dressed can often become a problem. If you are reading this blogpost then there is no reason for me to describe in gruesome detail all the chaos and emotions that accompany getting some kids dressed in the morning. You know. You’re there. Welcome friend. 

The solution? At the end of the day whether they are taking a bath or just switching into their pajamas, ditch the pj’s! That’s right, not only will you save $10 on that cute set of pj’s and have one less load of laundry to do every week, but you are cutting out one more thing your child (and you for that matter) “has to do” in the morning.

Throw them in a t-shirt and some comfy pants and you have accomplished both getting your child into clean clothes before they crawl into bed AND unbeknownst to them ready for the next day.

Voila, throwdown number 483 of the week avoided!

Tip 2: Develop a pretend character that runs a salon out of your home and book your kid an appointment.

Nail Trimming: It may seem like there are two options: Let your child’s nails grow until they eventually whittle away in the sandbox on their own or body tackle them every couple of weeks and cut their nails while they loudly protest and your adrenaline shoots through the roof.

The Solution? I’m here to tell you that there is another way. This way is playful and requires your willingness to be creative and drop the “you’ll do what I tell you” mentality of parenting for a moment. I guarantee you that the feeling you get from being connected to your child while also accomplishing the parental duty of caring for their body feels much more like a parenting win.

Role play!

In this scenario you work for them. While in your role of salon owner, invite them to come for their appointment. If they attempt to stall too long let them know they are your last apointment of the day and your salon will be closing shortly.

Provide your child a preferred snack, as of course your salon offers complimentary snacks to all customers.

This role play allows your child the comfort of still remaining themselves, while also role playing an imaginative real world scenario.(This also works with hair cuts if you are in the habit of cutting your kid’s hair at home.)

You can get as creative as you and your child would like. For example, My neurodivergent son has a special interest in car washes. He pays me for his nail or hair trim appointments with an imaginary free car wash afterwards. Building in this additional component allows him to pair a desired activity with a less desired activity. It also creates space for his body to engage in some regulatory proprioceptive movement following the often dis-regulatory grooming activity.

I hope that these tips better the physical care experience for both you and your child!

Happy grooming!