The first years after an autism diagnosis can feel like learning a new language. A child may cover their ears at the blender, melt down in a crowded store, seek deep pressure by crashing into cushions, or become calm when watching leaves move in the wind. These reactions are not “bad behavior.” They are clues about how the nervous system is taking in the world. For children under 5, sensory support works best when it is gentle, predictable, and woven into daily life. Nature,
