What Does “Sensory” Really Mean?

If you’re parenting a child with big feelings, big energy, or big reactions to… well, everything, you’ve probably heard the word sensory thrown around a lot.

And because today is my daughter’s birthday — my beautiful, busy, brilliant Miss 7 — it feels especially fitting to talk about this. She’s the reason I stepped into the world of sensory understanding in the first place. Everything I’ve learned, and everything I now share through Sensory Planet, started with trying to understand her — her needs, her patterns, her meltdowns, her joys, and that incredible, unstoppable sparkle she brings into the world.

So if you’re a parent sitting here wondering what “sensory” actually means or whether it explains the things you see in your own home… you’re in the right place. I’ve lived it. I’m still living it. And I promise — it all starts to make sense once you know what you’re looking at.

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Sensory 101: How Our Bodies Talk to the World

At its core, sensory simply describes how our body uses our senses to take in information from the world and respond to it.

Every single moment, our brain is sorting through:

• What we see

• What we hear

• What we feel on our skin

• What we smell

• What we taste

It’s a constant stream of data. For many people, this process happens quietly in the background. For others — especially autistic kids, ADHD kids, anxious kids, or sensitive kids — it can feel like everything is turned up to maximum volume.

Understanding sensory needs helps us support our kids better at home, at school, in daycares, and everywhere in between.
It also guides every product I choose to stock at Sensory Planet.

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The 5 “Famous” Senses (The Ones We All Know)

These are the senses we learnt about in school:

• Sight (visual): bright lights, lots of colour, busy environments

• Sound (auditory): noise levels, loud surprises, background chatter

• Touch (tactile): clothing textures, messy play, brushing hair, hugs

• Smell (olfactory): perfumes, food smells, cleaning sprays

• Taste (oral): strong flavours, textures, mixed foods — often behind “picky eating”

Some kids cope well.
Some are overwhelmed instantly.
Some crave more.
Some shut down.

That’s why Sensory Planet offers a range — because no two children are the same.

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The 3 “Hidden” Senses No One Told Us About

This is where everything suddenly starts to click. We don’t just have five senses — there are three more that explain so much.

1. Vestibular — The Balance & Movement Sense

This sense helps with:

• Balance

• Coordination

• Feeling steady

Kids who crave vestibular input need movement, not just want it.

And in our house, Miss 7 is the poster child for this kind of sensory seeking.

She:

• Has a trampoline outside

• Has a trampoline inside

• Spins on her swivel chair

• Takes over my computer chair

• Runs laps through the house

• And jumps on her bed so much she’s literally broken her mattress (more than once 😅)

She isn’t “hyperactive”.
She’s regulating her nervous system.

Movement is how her body organises itself.
It’s her language.

2. Proprioception — The Body Awareness Sense

This sense tells us:

• Where our body is

• How much force to use

• How to stay grounded

Kids needing more proprioceptive input often:

• Crash into things

• Chew on toys or clothing

• Seek deep pressure hugs

• Love lifting, pulling, pushing and climbing

Weighted products and deep-pressure tools help here — and you’ll see those thoughtfully chosen throughout Sensory Planet.

3. Interoception — The “Inside My Body” Sense

Interoception helps us recognise:

• Hunger

• Thirst

• Needing the toilet

• Emotions

• Temperature

If interoception is tricky, a child might not realise what they need until they’re already overwhelmed or uncomfortable.

This sense is huge for emotional regulation.

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Miss 7 and the Water Connection

Despite being a constant movement seeker, my girl has always had a deep sensory connection with water.

When her brain is overwhelmed or needs calming, she’ll:

• Run herself a bath

• Sit quietly

• Let water run through her fingers

• Pour it from jug to jug

• Focus deeply in complete calm

Water is her reset button.
Her comfort zone.
Her safe place.

Again — this isn’t “just playing.”
It’s sensory regulation in action.

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Sensory Processing: How the Brain Sorts All This

Sensory processing describes how the brain receives, filters and responds to input.

Some kids are:

🔹 Hypersensitive (over-sensitive)

Everything feels “too much.”

• Clothes feel scratchy

• Sounds feel loud

• Lights feel harsh

• Crowds feel overwhelming

🔹 Hyposensitive (under-sensitive)

The brain doesn’t register enough input.

• Kids seek movement, pressure or noise

• They chew, crash, jump, fidget

• They may not notice pain right away

Most kids are somewhere in the middle — sensitive in some ways, under-sensitive in others.

This is why Sensory Planet focuses on supportive, regulating tools rather than “just toys.”

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Why Sensory Needs Matter

Two kids can grow up in the same home and react completely differently to the world.

Some love messy play.
Some hate water touching their skin.
Some crave pressure.
Some want space.
Some thrive in loud, busy environments.
Some need peace and predictability.

It’s all valid.
It’s all real.
And none of it means your child is “too much.”

Understanding their sensory profile helps them:

• Feel safer

• Feel calmer

• Communicate better

• Melt down less

• Recover faster

• Build confidence

• And feel understood

And honestly? It helps us parent with more compassion for them — and ourselves.

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Supporting Sensory Needs in Everyday Life

You don’t need fancy equipment.
Small, thoughtful changes make a huge impact.

For movement seekers:

• Swings

• Trampolines

• Dance breaks

• Obstacle courses

• Heavy work (carrying, pushing, pulling)

For calming:

• Weighted blankets/lap pads

• Deep pressure

• Rocking

• Soft lights

• Quiet corners

• Calming fidgets

For sound-sensitive kids:

• Noise-reducing headphones

• Warnings before loud sounds

• A retreat space

For fidgeters and chewers:

• Fidget toys

• Chew tools

• Stress balls

• Textured items

For interoception:

• Visual toilet reminders

• Meal routines

• Body check-ins

• Emotion charts

Every tool at Sensory Planet is chosen with one goal in mind:
to help children feel calm, safe and understood.

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A Little Note Before You Go

If reading this has made you think, “This sounds like my child,” or if you’re still unsure how sensory needs show up in your home, daycare or classroom — you’re always welcome to reach out.

I’m not a therapist or a clinician, just a mum who’s lived this journey, learned the hard way, and built Sensory Planet so families like ours didn’t have to figure everything out alone.

So if you ever have questions about sensory needs, emotional regulation, or what might help your child — please get in touch.
You don’t have to navigate any of this by yourself. 💛