Hello! I’m Louisa Hargett, the owner and director of Sensory Children.
All of us – and our children- are fundamentally sensory beings. Sensory development starts in the womb and usually develops during childhood years. 80% of our brain energy is busy processing sensory information at all times, so it’s pretty important set of processes for living! We need good solid sensory development in order for more complex skills to develop- skills for eating, bonding / attachment, moving our bodies, communicating, playing, dressing, learning… and much more.
For this reason, most of the support we offer is based on Sensory Integration Theory, which is an exciting, cutting edge area of child development. You can read more about Sensory Integration here.
I work collaboratively with a growing group of amazing experts to deliver a holistic, fabulous service to the families and clients we with serve. You can read more about my colleagues here.
Sensory Children was founded shortly after the birth of my first child so it’s growing with my toddler! When I became a mother, I found that my knowledge of my son’s sensory development was so empowering and helped me to understand what his brain and body was going through as he grew and developed. I’m inspired to help all parents understand their child’s sensory development and be more in-tune with the experiences their children are having. This leads to a more joyful motherhood experience, a happier childhood and a more relaxed family life.
As a new mother, I relocated to Sussex and started learning how to live differently than I did in London. I knew that although I wasn’t aiming for recreating the past and I certainly wanted my child to travel widely, live sustainably, and embrace the modern world, I didn’t want him to spend the first years of his sweet life in a state of constant hurry, on a screen or eating his meals from a packet whilst strapped in a car seat. Brain development in the first few years of life is so critical and precious and children’s brains weren’t designed for the ways of modern life!
But in order to accomplish my goals of parenting in a way that honoured my baby’s sensory development, I had to make some changes. And to make changes, I had to get myself in a good place first- as the path of least resistance is definitely with the status quo! I started to build moments of mindful quiet into our daily routine, to slow down and enjoy the development of my relationship with the baby, to spend most of our days outside in nature, to embrace whole foods and slower food routines, to celebrate the magic and fun of movement.
And I’m now working to inspire and empower other mothers, especially those who have any concerns about their child’s development, behaviour, eating or learning to find these moments and make these positive changes to their lives.
I am a big advocate for living a rich, multi-sensory life, full of experiences that really nourish each child as the sensory being that they are. If we think about the experiences of walking barefoot in the grass, climbing trees, laying in the surf at low tide, balancing on logs- these are critical activities for child development that are increasingly not available for many children to experience- but they should be!
I provide inspiration and support for parents to develop a strong foundation in themselves so they can operate from a place of calm and confidence. This enables them to process new information more effectively and to implement changes in a much more powerful way than if they are feeling stressed or fearful about their child’s development. I spend a lot more time educating parents, so they can really understand and get in tune with the experience their child is having. This knowledge and awareness is powerful, life changing and very motivating for parents.
Being a mother is so challenging and it can be easy to dwell on things that might not have gone well that day and to miss those small but significant things that did if you don’t know what you are looking for and you don’t give yourself time to stop and look for them. So I really encourage all parents I work with to focus on the positives and the small achievements first, as this naturally provides a greater capacity for growth.
I’ve made some changes to my professional practice since becoming a mother and I have seen remarkable, magical progress and increased joy to the children and their families that I work with. This is incredibly rewarding and I’m excited to see what I learn next on my journey- from my wonderful clients, from the exciting advances in neuroscience and from my own child!
My qualifications include:
Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist (MSc), registered with the UK Health and Care Professions Council
Qualified Advanced Sensory Integration Therapist (PGDip), registered with the Sensory Integration Education Network
Registered Feeding Therapist via the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding
Qualified Teacher (PGDip)
My Professional Experience:
Prior to opening Sensory Children and having my son, I spent several years working at an outstanding West London special school for children with severe and complex Autism, learning disabilities and developmental delays (ages 3-25). I took part in a range of training to support children with Autism and have integrated these into my practice (including TEACCH, PECS, Team Teach).
I am a professional mentor for therapists completing their postgraduate Sensory Integration training at the University of Ulster via the Sensory Integration Education Network and provide clinical supervision to therapists within the NHS and independent practice. I also hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, and a Bachelor of Art. I am member of the Royal British College of Occupational Therapists.
Prior to qualifying as an Occupational Therapist, I travelled around the world for 5+ years, fascinated by indigenous cultures living close to nature, and studying Spanish and Mayan weaving. I then taught Art & Design in school, college and the community and worked in the creative industries. Consequently, I have a creative and innovative approach to supporting families and 20+ years experience working with children and young people in a variety of settings and cultures.