What is the Tactile sense?

The tactile system is our sense of touch. It tells us:

• What things feel like (rough, smooth, soft, sticky)
• Whether something is hot or cold
• How much pressure or force we’re feeling

Touch helps us feel safe, aware, and connected, to our bodies, to objects, and to other people. It also affects our emotions, focus, and energy levels.

When touch feels too strong, too light, or unpredictable, we might see behaviours like avoiding hugs, seeking extra pressure, or fidgeting constantly.

Understanding Touch differences and needs . . .

Touch can be a very personal sense and, like many of our other senses, people’s responses to varying types of touch can be very different.

So it is good to be able to identify different responses and have some strategies on how to support them.

Feeling Under-responsive (hyposenstive)

These people may not notice touch, or may need a stronger input to feel it. You might notice:

• Constantly touching objects, surfaces, or people
• Not noticing pain, temperature or light touch
• Chewing on clothing, toys or pencils
• Enjoying textures or movement combined with touch

How to balance this:

• Offer strong, structured touch: pushing, pulling, carrying or squeezing objects
• Include different textures in play or daily routines
• Pair touch with movement; crawling, climbing or rolling
• Try fidget tools, textured toys or crunchy snacks

Feeling Over-responsive (hypersensitive)

These people feel touch too strongly. Even normal touch can feel uncomfortable or alarming. You might notice:

• Avoiding hugs, handshakes or party games
• Disliking certain fabrics, tags or tight clothing
• Flinching, withdrawing or becoming upset with unexpected touch

How to balance this:

• Offer slow, firm, predictable touch rather than light or tickly contact
• Give choice and control: “Do you want me to help or do it yourself?”
• Introduce messy play and new textures gradually
• Try weighted blankets, firm hugs or deep pressure if welcomed

What is the Proprioceptive system?

Proprioception is the automatic sense that tells us where our body is in space and how to move freely without conscious thought. It’s what enables us close our eyes and still touch our nose, grip items with the right amount of pressure, or control the strength of a hug.

We have proprioceptive receptors in our muscles, joints, and tendons which send messages to the brain every time we push, pull, squeeze, stretch, or move our body.

These signals help the nervous system:

• Know where the body is in relation to space and things around us
• Control our movement and posture
• Feel calm, grounded, and secure
• Regulate our energy levels and emotions

Why is it important?

When this system is working well, you will feel grounded, stable, and ready to learn. You’ll be able to move confidently, judge force accurately, and stay more regulated during challenges.

BUT… when it’s not fully balanced, (so is under or over-responsive) you might feel the need for constant movement, often bump into things, or experience clumsiness. In children, you might witness boisterous behaviour or they might completely avoid touch and physical play altogether.

How to spot your Proprioceptive needs…

The way you move and interact with others will change depending on lots of different factors, your environment, stress levels, emotions, the people you are with etc.

So it is good to understand the different behaviours and how to counteract them to stay balanced.

Feeling Under-responsive

You are craving more input to “wake up” the body and you might:

• Constantly be on the go! Jumping, spinning, running etc.
• Often bump or crash into people and objects
• Struggle to sit still or concentrate
• Use too much force in play, writing or grip
• Enjoy tight hugs, wrapping up in blankets, or carrying heavy things
• Seek rough or high energy activities.

How to balance this

Movement helps you wake up and feel alive but it needs to be structured to be controlled and healthy:

• Schedule ‘movement breaks’ in the day
• Push/pull or lift/carry heavy items/toys
• Build dens, move furniture, or dig in the garden
• Do exercise to activate big muscles (for children that could be a game of moving like animals, bear crawls, frog jumps etc.)
• Include rhythm by dancing, skipping or marching to satisfy your need for high tempo movement

Feeling Over-responsive

You are oversensitive to input and easily overwhelmed by sensations or touch. For example:

• Movement feels too much, or unsafe
• Feel dizzy or unsettled by sudden movements.
• Prefer light movement and controlled activities
• Being hyper aware of tags, seams or zippers on clothes. Tight or ill-fitting clothes can be stressful.
• Children actively avoid messy play and rough-and-tumble games.

How to balance this

Keep physical movement slow and at the level you are comfortable with so it isn’t overwhelming. You/they must feel in control:

• Deep pressure – weighted blankets, firm hugs (if welcomed), or rolling a ball over the body
• Rocking, swaying or gentle walking.
• Try yoga or relaxation exercises
• Develop calming routines that include safe, consistent physical touch (maybe bedtime massage or cuddles).