Some days I would give all that I could to be a morning person. That person who wakes up with a smile on her face, doesn’t even know the definition of “snooze button”, and has time to drink a cup of coffee at home and not in between red lights while driving to work. Alas, I’m not a morning person. Yet, somehow I managed to deal. But adding in two children with sensory processing disorder to the equation just made morning routines all the more complicated….Take a moment to imagine this scenario:  you’ve undergone full anesthesiology for surgery and are just coming out of the fog when the nurse comes all cheery and says “up, two- on your feet now! ” The thought of jumping to your feet after being in a state of paralysis a few minutes before is just ludicrous! And yet, we ask just that from our kids when we wake them from a state of deep sleep.

Luckily, these are some sensory tips to make the transition from sleep haze to fun filled days!

• Smell- a few minutes before you actually need to wake up your kids up try spraying a lemony scent in their room.

• Touch- in this cold weather try popping their clothes into the dryer so it will be more welcoming to change into from their cozy pjs

• Deep pressure- follow a good morning hug with a quick massage and compressions to joints.

• Vestibular- give a little spin as you carry them from one room to the next  or have them jump on a mini- trampoline

• Visual –turn on the lights or open shades gradually.

• Organizational- Have a picture schedule of their morning tasks in clear view.

• Taste- just like coffee-  a  drink or small snack  will make them more alert.

• Hearing- setting the alarm to their favorite music .

These tips can help make morning transitions easier.

Malky Shapira,

Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Mother of two terrific toddlers