Sensory Sensations NZ
Created with support from Whangārei District Council
Sensory Sensations NZ
Created with support from Whangārei District Council
Exploring the Senses, Together
Thanks to the generous support of the Whangārei District Council, we are creating a series of engaging, free resources for whānau.
Our eBooks and stories are designed to help children and families explore the fascinating world of the senses. Discover how each sense works, why they are so important, and understand the experience of sensory overload through relatable narratives.
Each topic includes:
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An Informative eBook: Explores the science of a specific sense.
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A Follow-Up Children's Story: Brings the concept of sensory overwhelm to life, sparking conversation and building empathy.
Learn More About Sensory Support
Sensory Sensations NZ is dedicated to providing high-quality, NZ-focused research and information on sensory processing. Our work is designed to help everyone—parents, teachers, therapists, and individuals—discover tools and strategies that can reduce anxiety, improve focus, and promote emotional regulation through play-based learning and sensory integration.
Seeing
Sight is the sense that allows us to see the world around us. It helps us notice colors, shapes, movement, and light using our eyes. With sight, we can read books, recognize faces, enjoy nature, and stay safe by noticing what’s near us.
Tasting
Taste is the sense that lets us enjoy different flavors using our tongue. It helps us tell if something is sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or umami (savory). Taste helps us enjoy food and also keeps us safe by warning us if something is spoiled or too spicy.
Feeling
Touch is the sense that helps us feel things through our skin. It lets us notice textures, temperature, pressure, and pain. With touch, we can feel if something is soft or rough, hot or cold, and know when we’re being hugged or hurt. It helps us stay safe and feel connected to the world around us.
Hearing
Hearing is the sense that helps us detect sounds through our ears. It allows us to enjoy music, hear voices, and stay aware of our surroundings. With hearing, we can tell if something is loud or quiet, near or far, and it helps us communicate, learn, and feel connected to others.
Smelling
Smell is the sense that helps us detect scents through our nose. It allows us to enjoy pleasant smells like flowers or fresh baking, and also warns us of danger, like smoke or spoiled food. Smell is closely linked to memory and emotions, often reminding us of people, places, or special moment.
Balancing
Proprioception is the sense that helps us know where our body parts are without looking. It lets us move smoothly, balance, and control our actions—like touching our nose with our eyes closed or walking without watching our feet. Proprioception helps us stay steady, safe, and coordinated in everything we do.
The World Feels Different To Me is a beautifully illustrated, easy-to-understand book that helps children and families explore how sensory overload feels for autistic people. Using real-life examples and gentle language, it explains what happens when the world feels too loud, too bright, too itchy, or just too much. Each sense is explored in its own chapter, helping readers understand why everyday places like supermarkets, schools, or birthday parties can be overwhelming.
This book is designed to build empathy, spark conversations, and support a more inclusive world—one sense at a time.
Created with support from Whangārei District Council
