Interoception: The Hidden Sense That Helps Kids Understand Their Bodies

As paediatric occupational therapists, we often talk about the five senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing, plus a couple of "hidden" ones like balance and body awareness. But there's another important sense we work with that's often overlooked: interoception.

Interoception is how our brain understands messages from inside our body. It helps us know when we're hungry, thirsty, tired, need the toilet, or when we're feeling upset, excited, or calm. For many of the children we support, especially those who are neurodivergent, these internal signals can be hard to notice or understand.

For example, a child might:

·       Suddenly have a toileting accident because they didn’t notice they needed to go

·       Seem unaware of hunger or thirst until they’re very cranky

·       Struggle to explain how they feel, they just “don’t feel right”

·       Go from calm to a full meltdown without warning, because they missed the early signs of stress building

During OT, we help children develop interoceptive awareness through fun, playful, and developmentally appropriate activities like:

·       Body check-ins: Using visuals or story-based activities to explore how different body parts feel

·       Sensory play and movement: Helping kids feel connected to their bodies through games, obstacle courses, or heavy work

·       Emotion and body-matching games: Learning to link feelings with body sensations, like "when I feel worried, my tummy feels wobbly"

Why is this so important? Because when children can notice and name what’s happening inside their bodies, they’re better able to self-regulate, ask for help, manage big feelings, and become more independent in daily routines like toileting, mealtimes, and rest.

Building interoceptive awareness takes time, but it's one of the most powerful ways we can help kids feel more comfortable in their own skin.

Sophie Gilbert - Occupational Therapist at Kids Inspired