Tactile System

This is the information we receive through our skin telling us what we are feeling and protecting us from dangers such as heat and pain.

An individual who seeks out tactile input:

• Will touch everything and often sit close to other children and be tempted to touch them.
• His hands will often seek out something to touch and he will need to feel more intensely in order to notice what is in his hands.
• He may not notice if they are too cold or wet and will enjoy being messy.

An individual who avoids tactile input:

• Will not like to be dirty, therefore, avoiding messy activities, or getting wet or muddy,
• Will not like the feel of clothes, labels, seams, etc.,
• May perceive light touch as painful and so react aggressively.
• Will often be labelled as tactile defensive.