Wellbeing Wonderings
INTEROCEPTION:
Interoception is an internal sensory system where the internal physical and emotional states of the body are noticed, recognised, identified and responded to.
Interoception skills are needed for functions such as knowing when to go to the toilet, being aware that you are becoming angry or upset and being able to manage your emotions proactively.
Children and young people will struggle with their own emotions and social interactions if they have not developed interoception skills. Even just being around others may be difficult for them to manage.
Children and young people with well-developed interoception are able to use both logic and emotions to respond to their environment.
BENEFITS OF TEACHING INTEROCEPTION:
- Helps children and young people connect to and learn to understand their bodies and emotions.
- Helps children and young people develop a sense of belonging. Without interoception, social skills are just the application of rules and not a meaningful way of interacting.
- Classrooms where interoception is being taught have decreasing behavioural challenges over the school year.
An interoceptive activity focuses on creating and noticing an internal change. They can focus on any of the following:
- muscles
- breathing
- temperature
- pulse
- touch.
THE FOLLOWING IDEAS WILL HELP YOUR CHILD GAIN AWARENESS OF THEIR INTERNAL BODY SYSTEMS.
MINDFUL LISTENING/RESPONDING TO NOISE:
Listen TO | Listen FOR |
| Music from The sorcerer’s apprentice | Which instruments they can hear |
| The general classroom or playground environment | Natural and created sounds |
| A poem or short story | Language rhythms and rhymes, number of words |
| Special effects eg from http://www.acoustica.com/sounds.htm | Different sounds |
| Recordings of different environments | Natural and created sounds to try and identify the soundscape (place) |
| Contemporary music at different volumes | Instruments, voices, pitch, tone |
ENERGY LEVELS:
Children and young people have their own individual default energy level, some are very high energy or active, whilst others are more passive or low energy. It is important to help them identify and understand their typical energy level so that they can begin to develop an awareness of how their energy levels change and what effect this has on them. Only with an understanding of their own energy levels can children and young people earn how and when to apply strategies to maximise their ability to learn as well as be comfortable in themselves and around others.
Introduce the concept of energy levels through a simple quiz:
- Do you find it difficult to sit still at your desk/table?
- Do you struggle to wait patiently for things?
- Do you have difficulty sitting in the car or bus during long trips?
- Do you enjoy sports requiring lots of movement, like soccer and bike riding?
- During every day activities, like brushing teeth and getting dressed, do you like to move around rather than stand in one spot?
