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Wesley: A Bright, Sensitive First Grader Navigating a New School Environment

by Laura Petix
Apr 28, 2025
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Meet Wesley

Wesley is a curious, highly intelligent first grader who recently transitioned to a Waldorf school, which was perfect because he thrives in environments rich with movement, creativity, and hands-on learning. Academically, Wesley is ahead of his peers, quickly grasping new concepts and engaging deeply in subjects that spark his interest. He forms strong bonds with adults and is well-liked by his teachers, who recognize his enthusiasm and emotional depth. He’s also beginning to build peer friendships and deeply values them.

 

Despite his many strengths, Wesley was facing some challenges with maintaining regulation at school, which prompted his parents to reach out to me for a coaching call. Specifically, his teachers noted behaviors such as:

👉🏼Yelling

👉🏼Constantly moving around the classroom

👉🏼Pinching and pushing peers

👉🏼Impulsively touching peers during transitions or while waiting in line

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"Something's wrong with me"
Welcome to part 2 of Wesley’s story. You can go back to part 1 here, but as a quick reminder, Wesley’s family is seeking support for his dysregulation at school, leading to some peer conflicts and interfering with his participation in other classroom activities.  ❇️Click here to catch up on other case studies   I asked his parents to find out more information for me about the behaviors and wha...
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
  Welcome to the finale of Chelsea's story. We’re tying it up today as we focus on a challenge that comes up for many anxious, sensory-overwhelmed kids: decision-paralysis or indecisiveness.  Click here to catch up on Chelsea's story    You know that feeling when you’re so hungry and you get the dreaded question: "what do you want to eat?" and the person who's trying to be helpful rattles off ...
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  Welcome to part 3 of Chelsea’s story. If you want to catch up, click here to read part 2 and click here to read part 1.   By now, it's clear that Chelsea is a very insightful kid who feels conflicted by her desire to participate in some things and her anxiety over the dysregulating experience that might come with it. We know that anxiety plays a huge factor in her dysregulation and behaviors...

The Sensory Code by The OT Butterfly

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