The Sensory Child Gets Organized

July 1, 2013
A professional organizer and mother of a “sensory” child, Dalgliesh asserts that organization and structure are particularly useful for children who are rigid, anxious, or distracted as a consequence of autism, AD/HD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other sensory-related disorders. Though there are a number of profiles and diagnoses for a “sensory” child, she contends that many core challenges are similar; attention problems, inflexibility, anxiety, and social and emotional challenges are among the difficulties that these children (and their parents) face. Dalgliesh helps parents determine their child’s learning style (auditory, visual, tactile), then segues into support plans that can be implemented at home, using organization, structure, routine, and visual aids. The author addresses daily issues including the morning rush, after-school transition, homework, and chores; she also helps parents and kids declutter and use visual organization tools to make environments more user-friendly (i.e., clear plastic bins labeled with words and pictures, calming colors, creating a “chill-out zone” in bedrooms or playrooms). Packed with practical suggestions, the book effectively shows how the home environment can be modified to support the sensory child and make life run more smoothly for the entire family. Parents of sensory kids of all kinds will welcome this useful, positive tome. 25 b&w photos. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.