Best-selling and award-winning author Carol has been a teacher for 25 years and has witnessed countless children developing through their initial school years. Observing that some children were out-of-sync as preschoolers, Carol took it upon herself to study sensory processing and sensory integration. She applied and honed her innovative techniques to help preschoolers. Carol has captured her work in a series of books called the “Sync” series. Her first book titled The Out-of-sync Child has been awarded Exceptional Parent magazine’s Symbol of Excellence as well as being featured in Oprah magazine. Carol has helped parents, educators and childcare professionals with recognizing and helping children with sensory issues.

Can you tell us about the idea behind your book “The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder”?C: As a new preschool teacher, I was mystified by children who struggled to work, play, climb, swing, dig, talk, and get messy. After 10 years of asking questions, I was fascinated by an occupational therapist’s explanation of sensory processing challenges and began to learn all I could in order to become a better teacher. If I needed to know how to reach and teach these children, certainly parents and other teachers needed the same information! In the 1990s, no book was available for non-OTs to read and understand, so I decided to write it.

Who can benefit from reading this book? Where can our readers purchase your books?C: Parents, teachers, pediatricians and professionals working with children and adolescents.
All books are available at amazon.com and many are available at other bookstores and libraries. Please note that The Out-of-Sync Child is available as a paperback, an e-book, and also an audiobook.
BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Books:
-  The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, revised (Perigee, 2005)
-  The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder, revised (Perigee, 2006)
-  The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up: Coping with SPD in the Adolescent and Young Adult Years (Tarcher/Perigee, 2016)
-  Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow, with Joye Newman (Perigee, 2010)
-  The In-Sync Activity Card Book, with Joye Newman (Sensory World, 2015)

Cards:
In-Sync Activity Cards: 50 Simple, New Activities to Help Children Develop, Learn, and Grow, with Joye Newman (Sensory World, 2012)

Children’s books:
-  The Goodenoughs Get in Sync: 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory Issues, revised (Sensory World, 2010)
- Absolutely No Dogs Allowed!, a sensory alphabet book with grandson Asher Kranowitz. (Sensory World, 2016)
- 101 Activities for Kids in Tight Spaces (St. Martin's, 1995)

Manuals:
-  Preschool SENsory Scan for Educators (Preschool SENSE) (Sensory World, 2005)
-  Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration, 3rd ed., with S. Szklut, et al. (Sensory World, 2014)
-  Balzer-Martin Preschool Screening Program Manual, with co-author L. Balzer-Martin, PhD, OTR (St. Columba’s, 1992)

Books have been translated into 15 languages:
Arabic, Chinese (traditional), Chinese (simplified), Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

What kind of research was required to write your books?C: I read the books of A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, the genius who formulated the theory of sensory processing and developed the practice of sensory integration therapy. I worked beside Lynn Balzer-Martin, PhD, OTR, to screen preschoolers for signs of sensory challenges, and we co-authored The Balzer-Martin Preschool Screening manual for other early childhood centers to use. I continue to read books and journals and to consult with authorities such as Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR, FAOTA. Some of the most valuable “research" was working with preschoolers and their parents at St. Columba’s Nursery School in Washington, DC.

What is your most memorable writing project and why?C: For sure, writing The Out-of-Sync Child was the most memorable project. I felt compelled to explain complicated neurology and a vast variety of behaviors, as clearly as possible. The goal was to make the book accurate as well as engaging. I especially enjoyed creating the side-by-side vignettes to compare ordinary sensory processing with sensory processing challenges.

What are some of the effective ways to improve children’s sensory systems?C: A. Get children moving. Children are born to move — not to sit in front of an electronic device.
B. Get children moving outdoors.
C. Ask yourself if your child is bothered by a particular sensation (loud noise, messy finger paint, smelly banana), and lower the sensory load if possible.
D. Ask yourself if your child is not getting enough sensation and needs to get outside and run, or to push, pull, lift and carry heavy objects like laundry baskets and sacks of potatoes.
E. Ask yourself what the child does for “self-therapy” such as rocking or running his hands over rough textures, and provide socially acceptable experiences that help him get what his sensory systems need.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?C: Think abilities first, rather than disabilities. What are the children’s strengths? What are their deep interests? Encourage those strengths and interests in every way, with three-dimensional experiennces, not just via computer screens. While therapy takes many hours and tons of energy for families, it is vital to make time for fun.