Building Sensorimotor Systems in Children with Developmental Trauma

Babies and young children who have experienced early adversity miss out on good, nurturing relationships, and the sensorimotor development that goes along with them. Their bodies therefore lack a solid foundation for sensory integration.

This book lays out a practice model - the Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor Systems (BUSS) model - to help identify and assess whether these gaps are present in a child's sensorimotor systems. It also advocates the potential of rebuilding the gaps in these systems - using games and activities that take place within loving parent-child relationships - to offer the child a healthy, attuned base from which to develop sensorimotor skills. Also included is a section on parents' experiences of using these activities with their children.

With a positive view of approaching sensorimotor underdevelopment, these strategies and case studies all demonstrate that, with the right kind of attention, these children's systems can be rebuilt.

Sarah Lloyd is an experienced Specialist Occupational Therapist and Play Therapist, with nearly 30 years' experience working in child and adolescent mental health services. She runs training and supervision courses all over the UK, including training with major adoption organisation AdoptionPlus.

Liv Rose Whitfield is currently in the final year of her BA Illustration degree in Bristol. She is interested in the therapeutic value of art and hopes to pursue it further in her future career as an illustrator.