Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Physical & Motor 8 › Sensory 8 › Executive 7 › Cognitive 6 › Language 5 › Communication 5 › Emotional 5 › Social 6 › Self-Care 7 › Literacy 4 › Math 5 › Creative & Artistic 5 › World & Science 5 ›
by Robert Pankowecki
Sensory Integration

The neurological process of organizing sensory input from the body and environment to produce appropriate motor, behavioral, and emotional responses.

Sources (4)
  • Ayres Sensory Integration Framework
  • Montessori (Sensorial Area)
  • Waldorf/Steiner (Nature & Senses)
  • OT Practice Framework (OTPF-4)
8 Subdomains
Vestibular Processing › Proprioceptive Processing › Tactile Processing › Visual Processing › Auditory Processing › Interoception › Sensory Modulation › Praxis & Motor Planning7 ›
Interoception

Awareness of internal body signals including hunger, thirst, toileting needs, temperature, and physiological markers of emotion.

Examples & Achievements

  • Tells an adult when hungry or thirsty before becoming distressed
  • Uses the toilet proactively rather than waiting until urgent
  • Identifies "my tummy feels funny" when anxious
  • Knows when they are too hot or too cold and adjusts (removes jacket, etc.)

How to Measure

  • Independently initiates toileting with no accidents for 2+ weeks
  • Reports hunger/thirst verbally before meltdown (parent report)
  • Can point to where in body they feel a named emotion
Sources (2)
  • OT Practice Framework
  • Emerging SI Research

Childhood Map › Sensory Integration

Interoception

Awareness of internal body signals including hunger, thirst, toileting needs, temperature, and physiological markers of emotion.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources