Each Unique Child Presents in Their Own Way – Early Years – Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
Last Updated - March 20, 2024
Each Unique Child Presents in Their Own Way – Early Years – Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
As a baby, the child will lift their head, roll over and gradually sit without support.
The child may crawl as they gather more muscle control and co-ordination.
The child may start standing, instead of crawling, using adults/furniture to pull themselves up and for support.
The child will use their mouth to explore objects and pass things from one hand to the other.
The child will gradually gain control of large movements with support e.g. walking, running, climbing, jumping.
The child may enjoy sitting with arms or legs out wide to catch a large soft ball rolled/thrown to them.
The child may enjoy riding on wheeled toys either push along or with guidance.
The child may enjoy physical sensations such as swinging, rolling or sliding.
The child may enjoy exploring with malleable materials: dough; clay; soil; finger paint.
The child may enjoy exploring mark-making movements e.g. with a large or small brush and water or drawing materials with guiding initially to create circular, zigzag or scribbling movements.
The child may independently pour themselves a drink by using their finger inside the cup to know when the cup is full enough.
The child can be encouraged to feed themselves with finger foods, then using cutlery. Introducing a spoon may be easier initially.
The child will benefit from being given choices through tactile signing or verbally or using real objects (objects of reference) which can be explored through touch.
The child may remain mainly silent, with a limited or no use of vocalisations or babble.
The child will respond to touch: stroking their cheek, cuddles, back rubbing.
The child may play mainly silently.
The child may be communicative in subtle ways which need sensitive observation to decode
The child may use other ways of communicating other than talk to express their feelings, wants and needs with others e.g. body language, facial expression or unwanted behaviours.
The child may indicate what they want when they need comfort: comfort object, rocking, cuddling, singing.
The child develops a sense of self by interacting with others.
The child is valued and supported within the group and develops a good sense of their self-worth
The child begins to develop friendships with other children.
The child grows confident with familiar routines and is supported with flexibility when needed by a key person and in time, other known adults.
The child may show frequent bursts of frustration when their needs and wants are not understood.
The child may express themselves using e.g. non-verbal actions, screams or smiles.
