Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Sensory Integration

The neurological process of organizing sensory input from the body and environment to produce appropriate motor, behavioral, and emotional responses.

Sources (4)
  • Ayres Sensory Integration Framework
  • Montessori (Sensorial Area)
  • Waldorf/Steiner (Nature & Senses)
  • OT Practice Framework (OTPF-4)
8 Subdomains
Vestibular Processing Proprioceptive Processing Tactile Processing Visual Processing Auditory Processing Interoception Sensory Modulation Praxis & Motor Planning7
Tactile Processing

Discriminating and tolerating touch sensations including texture, temperature, and pressure.

Examples & Achievements

  • Tolerates varied clothing textures without distress
  • Enjoys messy play (finger paint, sand, water, clay)
  • Can identify objects by touch alone (stereognosis)
  • Tolerates hairbrushing, nail cutting, and face washing

How to Measure

  • Identifies 3+ objects in a "mystery bag" by touch alone
  • Willingly participates in messy play activities
  • Sensory Profile 2 - Touch Processing section
  • Montessori Mystery Bag exercise
Sources (3)
  • Ayres SI
  • Montessori (Sensorial)
  • OT Practice Framework

Childhood MapSensory Integration

Tactile Processing

Discriminating and tolerating touch sensations including texture, temperature, and pressure.