17 Oct Interoception: The Hidden 8th Sense and Why It Matters for Kids
When we think about the senses, most people name five — sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. But as occupational therapists, we know there are actually more. Alongside balance (vestibular) and body awareness (proprioception), there’s another lesser-known sense that plays a vital role in how children understand and manage their emotions: interoception.
Interoception is the sense that helps us recognise what’s happening inside our bodies. It lets us know when we’re hungry, thirsty, need to go to the toilet, or when our heart is racing due to anxiety or excitement. It’s essentially the body’s internal messaging system — sending signals to the brain about how we’re feeling physically and emotionally.
For some children, especially those with sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, or a history of trauma, interoception might not develop typically. They may struggle to recognise early signs of stress, fatigue, or emotional overwhelm. This can lead to sudden meltdowns, outbursts, or shutdowns — not because they’re being “naughty” or “defiant”, but because their body cues aren’t being recognised or understood in time.
Why is interoception important?
To build self-regulation skills, children first need body awareness. If they can’t identify that they’re becoming overwhelmed or overstimulated, they won’t know when or how to use calming strategies.
By supporting interoceptive awareness, we help kids make powerful connections:
💡 “My heart is racing — I might be feeling anxious.”
💡 “My tummy feels tight — I think I’m upset.”
💡 “I feel a bit heavy — maybe I’m sad or tired.”
Understanding these cues is the first step towards managing big emotions in a safe and healthy way.
How can we support it?
Through play-based activities, movement, mindfulness, and gentle curiosity, we can help children start noticing what’s happening inside their bodies. For example:
- Using visuals and body charts to label sensations
- Practising breathing and asking, “What do you notice inside?”
- Building routines that include body check-ins throughout the day
Interoception may be “invisible”, but it has a huge impact on how children experience their world. When we help kids tune into their bodies, we’re not just teaching emotional regulation, we’re giving them tools for life.
Check out our Emotions Detective Group we run in the holidays where we teach children all about interoception.