Depending on if you have a tactile seeker or sensory avoider, your experience with hair accessories can be vastly different. When I say accessories, I mean anything from hats to barrettes and headbands.
Read these special needs parenting tips from folks just like you!
Having boys, I haven’t had to manage all of the hair accoutrement and decorations that goes with longer hair. Even as a kid I personally wanted shorter hair so I didn’t have to deal with all of the pains of having long hair.
However, trying to get my older tactile-sensitive boy to wear a hat to protect him from the sun or cold is a serious battles some day. And don’t even get me started on sunglasses!
My hypo-sensitive tactile boy, however, would wear winter fleece hats in the heat of summer and walk around with sunglasses even when we were indoors.
How Does Your Child Handle Hair Accessories?
Here’s what many of you had to say to this question….
“She pulls [barrettes] out like they’re annoying but she’s recently let me start putting them in without a meltdown. I say progress!” – Laura W.
“One of my SPD kiddos LOVES hat and anything he can out on his head including his sisters headbands and all. My other SPD kiddo hates anything on his head, even water! BUT he LOVES his winter hat! ” – Melissa C.
“My 3 yr old wont let us brush her hair, wear a hat, or otherwise do anything with her hair or head.” – Nikki G.
“My youngest doesn’t like clips or other hair accessories in her hair. She’ll take them out almost as soon as I put them in. Unless her sister does her hair and makes her look like a “princess”…she can tolerate for a little while. ” – Michele D.
“Washing, brushing and cutting hair is a no, but he will live in a wooly hat.” – Naomi N.
“Hats she loves. But she hates pig tails, ponies, barrettes, and this kills her but she hates the way tiaras feel on her head.” – Beth K.
“My Aspie SPD 8 yr old took to wearing an bright pink balaclava as she hates the wind/cold. Problem was she wouldn’t taken it off when the weather improved! Got us some looks in May!” Bobbie S.
“My 2.5 year old will wear hats but I think it’s because I always put then on her as a baby. She won’t, however, wear any bows, clips, headbands, etc. She also doesn’t let me brush or comb her hair.” – Jennifer D.
“My daughter will only use one ponytail and it has to be low. It took a lot of time but she does usually let me brush her hair as long as I speak sweet words to her while doing it. It is a lot of work but she is getting better at these situations.” – Esther R.
“I can’t even touch my daughter’s hair most days! We live with crazy hair!” – Kate W.
“Mine hates anything to do with her hair. We have resolved in cutting it short. But she still cries when I brush it, wash it. Or try to do anything with it… ” – Amanda S.
Every day or so, we ask our followers on our Facebook page for tips, tricks and ideas for managing sensory issues (stemming from Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism and even ADHD) and what it’s like being a sensory parent. Read what other people have to say and join in on the discussion!
SHARE YOUR TWO CENTS: How Does Your Sensory Kid Handle Accessories?
One sensory product that people swear by in our community is the Wet Brush, which lets your brush your child’s hair even when wet without pulling on the hair.
My 3.5 year old son is a seeker and he loves tight caps and especially beanies. He also likes gloves/socks on his hands. However, that silly seam in the socks can be a bugger when they are on his feet. Otherwise, no problems really…thankfully.
Oh don’t even get me started on those sock seams!
My 8yr old daughter shouts and screams when I brush her hair, I use leave in conditioner which helps. She wants to grow her hair because short hair is for boys! She refuses anything in her hair.
My 4 year old girl will let brush (she only yelps a little!) and put clips in her hair, which I’m really glad for, since I have to yell to get my 7 year old boy to even wash his hair! Thank you for letting me share!