Sometimes it can be difficult to find answers about why our children are the way they are. Finding out what we can do to help them can be even more difficult. Here are some reading materials that we think are great resources for parents whose children who are in occupational therapy, who may be on the autism spectrum or have sensory processing disorder (SPD).

Is your child sensitive to sounds that don’t seem very loud to you?

Does your child refuse to eat certain foods because of their texture?

Do they like the way certain clothes or blankets feel, but can’t stand others?

Do they like to be wrapped up tightly in a blanket and could that way for longer periods of time?

If these questions apply to someone you know, The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. will help to explain it all in simple terms and give suggestions on how to help children (and adults for that matter) better adapt to the world around them.

This is a must-have book for any parent or caregiver who cares for a child with sensory processing disorder. If you don’t know what sensory processing disorder is, The Out-of-Sync-Child will provide you with all of the information you need. I found this book to be extremely interesting. I was reading this book in order to better help the children I was working with but I ended up learning quite a bit about myself! This book explains so many of the little idiosyncrasies that we have that we just don’t quite understand.

Along with The Out-of-Sync-Child, The Out-of-Sync-Child Has Fun  also by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. is another fantastic resource for parents. After reading The Out-of-Sync Child, you may wonder, “What are some activities I can do with my child that will help them?” Well, this is the PERFECT book. the activities in this book are for every child, not just for children with disabilities. They use common every day objects for games and sensory activities that can help stimulate or calm your child, depending on their needs. You’ll learn everything you could want to know about the “sensory diet” and how to feed your child every day.

Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel, Nancy Peske is another book I often use. This is a great resource for parents because it written in a very family-friendly matter and has practical every day examples. If you have a child who hasn’t yet been diagnosed with some kind of sensory processing issue or if you suspect there’s a problem, this book takes you through the process of what you should do as well as some other great websites and books that may help you.

And as always, if you suspect your child is having some kind of sensory processing issue, talk with your child’s pediatrician or an occupational therapist — who specializes in sensory processing — in your area.