I recently got my newly walking daughter her first pair of shoes. After trying on several pairs, I finally found the ones - cute pink bows and, perhaps more importantly, Velcro she could manage all by herself. A few weeks later, and she is taking them off independently. As an OT, I notice these little moments. Because sometimes, something as simple as a pair of shoes can open the door to something much bigger: independence, confidence, and that wonderful feeling of I can do it myself.

Ever wonder why your child covers their ears at a sudden noise, avoids finger paint, or seems to be in constant motion - jumping or crashing into couches? It all comes down to sensory processing: how the brain receives, organizes, and responds to the world around us. In this post, we break down how our 5 traditional senses and 2 "hidden" senses shape our daily experiences.