What Are Sensory Motor Skills?

You have probably heard the term "motor skills" before. But sensory motor skills are a little different, and understanding them can make a big difference in how you support your child's development.

What Makes Them "Sensory Motor"?

Regular motor skills refer to movement: things like running, jumping, drawing, and catching a ball. Sensory motor skills are what happens before and during that movement. They are the brain's ability to take in sensory information and use it to guide the body.

Every time your child moves, their brain is pulling from multiple senses at once: proprioception (awareness of where the body is in space), the vestibular system (balance and movement), and the tactile system (touch and pressure). When all of these are working together smoothly, movement feels natural and coordinated.

When they are not working well together, you might notice your child bumping into things often, struggling with handwriting, avoiding playground equipment, or seeming clumsy compared to other kids their age.

Some Everyday Examples

Sensory motor skills show up in everything. Knowing how hard to press when writing with a pencil. Figuring out how to climb stairs without looking at your feet. Keeping your balance on a curb. Tying shoes. Playing catch. Cutting with scissors is a great example — it requires the brain to coordinate grip strength, hand positioning, and visual tracking all at once. These tasks all require the brain to take in sensory information and use it to plan and execute movement, a process called sensory motor integration.

What Happens When It Is Delayed or Disrupted?

Kids with sensory motor challenges often get labeled as clumsy, uncoordinated, or not trying hard enough. In reality, their brains are working harder than you might think. The disconnect between what their body is feeling and what their brain needs to do with that information takes real effort to manage.

This is an area where pediatric occupational therapists work a lot. Sensory motor development can absolutely be supported with the right activities and input.

How to Build Sensory Motor Skills at Home

The good news is that building these skills does not require any fancy equipment. You just need movement, challenge, and repetition.

Obstacle courses check all three boxes. Crawling, balancing, jumping, carrying, and climbing all challenge the sensory motor system in a fun, low-pressure way. And because kids want to do them over and over, they get a ton of practice without it feeling like work. Check out our obstacle course activity ideas to get started.

If you are concerned about your child's sensory motor development, our team at Brainwaves OT in San Luis Obispo would be happy to talk with you.