Sensory Processing Disorder in the School Cafeteria

Sensory Processing Disorder in the School Cafeteria

Jeanette Loftus 

For most children who go to school, the school cafeteria is a place to hang out with friends, chat and eat your lunch but for children who struggle with sensory processing disorder the school cafeteria can be a sensory nightmare.

With all the loud noises, too many talking at once, bright school lights, crowded with too many people in a small spaces and the smell of everyone's else's food can trigger a child with sensory differences anxiety, overwhelm and this makes going to the school cafeteria a very stressful part of a child's day at school. 

There are a lot of challenges for children who have sensory difficulties when they go in their school cafeteria but there are a lot of practical ideas to make mealtimes at school more tolerable for them. 

Children who have sensory processing disorder can experience different challenges when they are in the school cafeteria. We need to understand those challenges before we can think of sensory strategies to help them. 

Some children have hypersensitivity with sensory input and this can affect how they cope with being in a school cafeteria because they are very sensitive to sound of everyone talking, lights, or the smell of the foods.

Other children who have sensory processing disorder may struggle with hyposensitivity. This is when a child is under-responsive to sensory input. This can cause them to seek out more intense sensory experiences. If a child is sensory seeking they are constantly needing more sensory input to regulate themselves. 

When a child is n the cafeteria and they have sensory differences, these sensitivities can cause a child to feel anxious because they are feeling overwhelmed by the noise around them and the crowded environment in a school cafeteria. This can sometimes make a child refuse to eat in a cafeteria or eating very little while at school. Children will refuse to go into the school cafeteria and this can cause a child to have sensory meltdowns or isolation from peers. 

There are many ways to create a sensory friendly space for children to enjoy the school cafeteria or make it more easier for them to cope and eat their lunch with their classmates and friends. . If schools make the school cafeteria a little more comfortable, it can become a more manageable environment for children who have sensory processing disorder. 

Using sensory tools can be very beneficial for children at school, especially in the cafeteria. Noise-cancelling headphones or ear plugs can help block out distracting noises that overwhelm them while they are in the cafeteria. 

Some schools have designated quiet lunch areas for children who have sensory differences. These designated sensory areas may have low lighting and minimal noise. Contact your child's school and ask them if there are other possible eating arrangements where your child could sit in a more quiet area to eat in a less crowded area. 

Wearing a weighted vests can provide your child with deep pressure and this can be very calming fir them while they are at school. You can try offering your child a sensory fidget. This can be a more discreet sensory tool for them.

Using chewelry can be helpful, there are some discreet options available for school. This can provide oral motor sensory input that can help regulate your child's sensory processing. Visual aids and social stories can be very helpful when preparing your child for the school cafeteria. These visuals can explain their routines and expectations while they are in school. 

Your child may require food modifications and their sensory food preferences over what their school is offering. You can always make your child their lunch for school to avoid unfamiliar textures and food smells. Check with your child's school cafeteria to see if they offer any of your child's comfort foods or if they offer the use of a microwave because some children with sensory processing disorder will only eat warm foods. 

Use this opportunity to educate your child's teachers about sensory processing disorder and how to support their students. Be patient and understanding for children who have sensory differences because eating in the cafeteria can be stressful for children with sensory processing disorder.  Offer as much positive reinforcement as you can, praise them and encouragement your child for their positive behavior and how well they are coping each day in their school cafeteria.