Ruth Waldrop Occupational Therapist

15 activities for hitting behaviour

Have you ever noticed a child suddenly go from calm to overwhelmed with no obvious warning?

Sometimes the signs were there long before the meltdown, shutdown, or tears. The challenge is that the child didn’t notice them.

Interoception is often called our “hidden sense” because it helps us recognise what’s happening inside our bodies. It tells us when we’re hungry, thirsty, tired, uncomfortable, excited, worried, or beginning to feel overwhelmed. When interoception is difficult, children may miss these early body signals, making emotional regulation much harder.

Our new Bitesize Guide to Interoception explains:
✨ What interoception is
✨ Why it matters for emotional regulation
✨ Signs a child may be struggling with it
✨ Practical ways parents and educators can help build interoceptive awareness

Understanding the body is often the first step towards understanding feelings.

See visual for guide instructions.