When a child throws a tantrum, clams up before a performance, or suddenly becomes clingy, our first instinct is to ask: “What’s wrong?” However, the truth is that, often, the child doesn’t know how to answer—because they don’t yet have the tools to feel and understand what’s happening inside them. This is where interoception comes in. Welcome to the world of interoception—a sense that’s as vital as seeing and hearing. Yet, despite its importance, it remains largely overlooked in parenting books and classrooms. Consequently, many children grow up without the language or awareness to recognize their internal signals.
In this blog, we explore what interoception is, why it’s foundational for emotional development, and how educators and parents can foster it using simple, everyday tools.
What Is Interoception?
Interoception is the brain’s ability to sense and interpret signals from inside the body. These include:
- Hunger and thirst
- Heartbeat
- Muscle tension
- Breathing patterns
- Digestive sensations (like butterflies in the stomach)
- And, emotional cues like tightness in the chest, flushing, or lump in the throat
Think of it as your child’s internal dashboard—sending constant updates about how their body is doing and, by extension, how they are feeling emotionally.
Why Interoception Matters for Children
Interoception isn’t just about bodily awareness—it’s directly tied to a child’s self-regulation, empathy, and mental health.
Emotional Regulation
Children with stronger interoceptive awareness are better at recognizing emotional states like anxiety, anger, or sadness early—when they’re still manageable. Instead of hitting or shutting down, they can pause and use coping strategies.
Body Awareness and Safety
From recognizing the need to use the bathroom to understanding when they’re too hungry to focus, interoception supports children’s functional independence and comfort.
Empathy
When children can tune into their own inner experiences, they become better at understanding the feelings of others. Emotional intelligence begins in the body.
Interoception in Children with Neurodiverse Profiles
For children with ADHD, autism, and sensory processing disorders, interoceptive awareness can be disrupted. These children may struggle to notice when they are hungry, tired, or overwhelmed, leading to frequent meltdowns or shutdowns.
And the good news? Like any sense, interoception can be developed through intentional practice.
How to Support Interoceptive Development in Children
You don’t need a clinical setup to help your child build interoceptive awareness. Here are research-backed, practical ways to nurture this sense:
1. Body Scans
Guide your child through a simple body scan. Ask them to close their eyes and notice:
- Is their heart beating fast or slow?
- Are their hands warm or cold?
- And, is their stomach full or empty?
Doing this regularly strengthens their brain-body connection.
2. Mindful Movement
Activities like yoga, stretching, and slow dancing help children become aware of their muscles, breath, and tension levels. Pair movement with questions like “What do you feel in your chest when you stretch?”
3. Emotion and Body Mapping
Use emotion charts or draw outlines of the body. Ask, “Where in your body do you feel excitement? What about worry?” Over time, this helps them recognize patterns.
4. Storytelling with Somatic Cues
When reading or telling stories, pause to ask:
- “What do you think was happening in the character’s body?”
- “Did their chest feel tight when they were scared?”
As a result, this trains them to think of emotions as embodied experiences.
5. Breathing Games
Play games involving blowing feathers, pinwheels, or candles to help children notice their breath and use it as a calming tool.
Interoception is the Emotional Bedrock
By teaching children to tune in to their internal cues, we equip them with the tools to navigate a complex emotional world. In fact, interoception is not a luxury—it’s a lifelong skill that supports resilience, empathy, and self-trust. Moreover, it lays the foundation for emotional intelligence and mental well-being.
As adults, we can model this behavior as well. For instance, when you say, “I’m noticing my heart is racing—I think I’m a little nervous,” you teach your child that emotions don’t just happen in the head—they live in the body. In doing so, you normalize emotional awareness and create space for authentic expression.
Therefore, let’s bring interoception into the spotlight. Let’s teach children that listening to themselves isn’t selfish—instead, it’s the first step to understanding the world around them. After all, when children learn to trust their inner signals, they’re better equipped to navigate life with clarity and confidence.
Curious to learn more? Read our previous articles here!
