Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues

by Lindsey Biel, Nancy Peske

A ground-breaking handbook for parents of children suffering from Sensory Integration (SI) Dysfunction examines the causes and implications of the disorder and offers indispensable advice on how to help youngsters overcome the ailment to normalize affected motor, speech, and social skills. Original.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Education, Reference, Health

399 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jackie Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read all the books in this genre, I'm particualarly impressed with this one written by Lindsey Biel and nancy Peske. The book is PACKED with information and I find myself using it often as a reference.

The authors start with understaning your child (and I find this helps understand yourself and family too!). They explain the seven senses in detail and how and why their functioning is important and how their senses alter their behavior.

The next section is about working with Occupational Therapists and how YOU can help your child at home, in school and in the community. They go through EVERYTHING; from eating (at home and in restaurants - including special feeding issues!), potty training, the dreaded birthday parties and family get togethers, and much more...

How to decorate and make your house more sensory friendly is explored as well as how to advocate for your child in their school. It's seriously a one stop shop book. There is too much info for me to list - it's all in there.

The writers are clear and discriptive, making a sometimes difficult subject matter easy to understand and apply to your every day life.

A MUST READ section is "Quick Tips for Calming an Overwhelmed Child." Thank you, thank you, thank you for this priceless advise. This book is fabulous!

[Katherine Rodger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I certainly appreciated the amount of genuine research, and picked up some nice nuggets to use at home.
I wish I had noticed the publishing date: with how fast research moves these days, 2009 for a second edition is a long time ago. It’s pretty out of date. She lost me once she discussed vaccines and vaccination schedules (including the false link to Autism) as “controversial.” Also, a little too much emphasis on “It’s ok if your kid isn’t going to be a lawyer, they might become a gourmet chef! (Famous artist, great writer, etc)”. At some point I’d love if we all are just ok with people growing up to be average functional humans with our survival needs met and satisfying relationships.
Well written overall, though, well organized and easy to get through.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very complete reference for parents who have a child severely affected by sensory disorders. (Or, I suppose, individuals.) It had a ton of information and ideas for seeking therapy or dealing with school issues. The book does throw out a number of concrete examples of things that can be done to help with a variety of sensory issues.

My biggest gripe is that I don't think it had very specific information for children who might have sensory difficulties, but aren't likely to seek out professional treatment. (Sensory disorders appear to be functional to me - that is, everyone has weird sensory processing to some degree, and only in some of those people does it cause enough trouble to get a professional diagnosis and expensive treatment. In my case, I am reading to help figure out how to address some problems that are mostly likely sensory related, but not terribly severe.) I found it a bit frustrating that most of the home-solution ideas seemed to be good for ANY child, and it was hard to match up which techniques to use for which sensory-behaviors. (Do we do this for hypo, or hyper sensitivity? etc.)

Still, I think it is well worth the time for someone who feels like they may have to deal with these problems, even if further research for more specifics for their individual problems will be needed.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a few sections of this book were applicable to us, but I can see how it would be a great resource to parents of kids struggling with severe sensory processing disorder.

[Lgordo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well subtitled. It felt exhaustive, covering both conventional medicine and integrative, as well as discipline and nutrition and IEPs and... well, everything. This was an interesting read.

[Sinara · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is also a anti-vax book.
In a world of Trump and Bolsonaro, misinformation and all related misfortunes, we indeed need to say this about this book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was empowering. My child has sensory issues, but doesn't quite fit any "mold" of a child with sensory integration issues. I've read the Out of Sync Child, and it was okay. This book almost made me hyper because it gave me so many ideas that would benefit my child and those that I work with professionally. It was by far the most comprehensive, user friendly, and applicable book on sensory integration that I've read to date. I actually ENJOYED it. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a child with sensory issues or sensory issues themselves. Very informative and user friendly.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE definitive parenting book for those raising a child with serious sensory issues. It actually helped me be a better partner to our pediatrician and our occupational therapist. It was sometimes emotionally difficult to read but well worth it.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful and informative! This has been one of the only resources so far that has been helpful to me as a parent with a child that has sensory issues without another accompanied diagnosis such as autism or adhd.

There were so many helpful sections of this book, but the sections on how to handle everyday sensory issues such as trips to the dentist, haircuts and bathing...as well as the section on how to advocate for your child at school by using IEP'S and 504's were the most desperately needed sections for me.

This book is rich with strategies, book and website resources, therapy recommendations, products made specifically for kids with sensory needs (and where to actually buy them!), as well as a short primer on laws and your legal rights when it comes to public schooling.

This is one that I will be buying a hard copy of for my own personal library and will be recommending to friends who also have kiddos with sensory processing needs.

[Michelle Salera · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your child has sensory processing difficulties, this is the book to get. I am a pediatric OT and this is will be your bible. I always tell families "buy this book and DO NOT let your friends borrow it. It breaks down all the language a family needs to be better able to communicate with their OT and team. You will be able to better understand your child and will learn some great activities/strategies for them. Children's sensory needs are always changing so you may find that you read a few chapters, get some ideas, and put the book down. A few months later, you will pick the book back up and see your child in a whole new light because their body is processing input much differently. This book allows the parents to identify needs.

[Andrea Fine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was a labor of love - started in May and finished in December 😭 Not for any reason that it was boring ... more so because of the density of topics discussed. Raising a Sensory Smart Child has TONS of awesome information in it - including strategies to help kiddos with very specific needs in the home/school/public settings. I appreciated how the authors guided through processes that I am sure most parents can find confusing - including the IEP (individualized education plan) document. As an OT of three years, I still find it somewhat confusing! This book is definitely a great resource to have on hand, I see myself referring to it in the future!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful read. I learned ways to help my child who struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder. It took several years for me to pinpoint what was bothering my daughter and making her act out. It's been so reassuring and validating to be able to learn about SPD and how it can affect kids. Good resource for parents and teachers.

[Meredith Hourihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and comprehensive read on sensory processing disorder (SPD), this book defines what SPD is, how it's diagnosed, and how to support a child who struggles to process sensory input in everyday situations - like at school, home, and in their community. After reading this book, I had a much better understanding of how to navigate and use therapeutic interventions like OT, PT, speech, and developmental peds to support my child.

Highly recommend for anyone with a child who has sensory processing differences which often accompany developmental delays, ADHD, learning difficulties, or autism.

[Melissa Coffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for learning about sensory processing disorders. I recommend it to anyone who spednds time around children. I really learned a lot about my two young boys and how to deal with some of their issues and also learned things about myself thathatg I never realized before!

[Shelbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and comprehensive bible of all things sensory. This is one of those books I will now be purchasing in a hard copy so I can continue to reference for my daughter. I have tried a few techniques and they have already seemed to help my girl immensely.

[Jami Lilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive look at sensory issues with children and how to help. Massive amounts of situations and solutions. Highly recommend to parents, teachers, and caregivers.

[Robin Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book about sensory child development book I have read so far.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for information about toddlers which some of this book was relevant. But, the primary focus is kids in school.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting info and useful perspectives, but written in quite a long winded style. Could be a lot shorter.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only took a couple years to get back to this and finish. Lots of great tips for raising kids w neuro sensitivities or even if struggling w behavioral issues.

[Alison Young Sleight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sensory information for any therapist or caregiver of kids with sensory processing difficulties.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and informational book, I've read several times as my child grows and changes.

[Danielle Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. Totally changed the way I understand my son… and has helped him have tools so much. Life changing!

[Jeremiah Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well researched and jam packed with lots of useful and interesting information. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that this book is entirely applicable to our situation.

[Joana Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informação muito útil e pratica!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most comprehensive book for Sensory Processing issues in children that I've come across. A great resource!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book & helpful. Covers a lot and has certainly given me ideas to use as home. It’s an older book though so much has changed and probably needs to be updated.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

helpful

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a ton of information. The beginning was a little overwhelming, but the last chapters were really helpful.