When I entered our doctor’s office waiting room with my children, they immediately became calm. They spoke in quieter voices and were content to wait with something quiet to do. I thought, “what magic is this?” The waiting room had soft lighting, an indoor waterfall and earth tones. The sensory designs in the room seemed to help my children relax.
Whether or not a child has been diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder, children can become overstimulated and easily experience sensory overload. Sensory rooms provide a space where calming sensory input is provided, so the nervous system can recover and regulate.
Making sensory of it
Benefits of spaces designed for kids sensory needs include:
- Calms by reducing overstimulation
- De-escalates when kids are melting down, showing aggression or other challenging behavior
- Accommodates many types of disabilities
- Reduces stress and resets mood
- Supports children to focus
Sensory rooms can be found now in some schools, community centers and hospitals. Many parents are incorporating elements of sensory rooms in their homes, sometimes even setting aside a room for that purpose.
Rooms can be set up to be soothing with mood lighting, comfortable seating and quiet activities; an active environment for them to safely climb on things, explore and use some energy; or a mix of both.
Every child’s needs are different
Jennie Geiman, teen services coordinator at The Ability Center, recommends parents pick items based on the needs of your child. “Some questions I would think through as a parent, business or school would be: What is the purpose of the space — calm down, move about, private place to relax? What will help them stay regulated? What types of sounds, lights, seating do they gravitate towards in that situation? What are the textures that they like or don’t like?”
For home use, a sensory room can be designed around the specific needs of the child or children who are using it. Active rooms are designed for kids who are sensory seekers. They include opportunities to climb, swing, jump and move their bodies in a variety of ways. Calming rooms often include soft music, fiber optic lighting. Weighted objects help send calming signals to the brain and gentle rhythmic swinging can aid in calming when overstimulated. Hybrid rooms contain a mix of active and calming options for kids who need a wide range of sensory input.
Calm space ideas can be a tent, closet or corner with soft lighting. Equip the space with a soft chair or cushions, a weighted object, headphones and other small sensory objects or fidgets. You can include soft blankets, stuffed animals and other textures.
If space is scarce, create a sensory board stored under the couch or a box with sensory objects in it. Sensory walls or boards have different textures, colors and shapes for kids to explore. You can DIY it with a cork board and found items from around the house.
Designing the space
Some factors to consider when putting together the space:
- Decide on your budget and space
- Neutral calming colors are best for walls and floor. You can add bold, neutral or earth tone accents according to how your child responds.
- Use window coverings to reduce or increase natural light. Add dimmers and avoid fluorescent lights.
- Consider flooring thoughtfully. Mats might be great for kids who are active and sensory seeking, but not provide enough stability for kids with mobility issues.
- Don’t forget the sense of smell. Check for irritating smells on new products, use lavender or other soothing scents, and unscented cleaners.
Sensory rooms work best when they are part of a child’s regular routine and not just when a child needs to reset. Give them a space where they can be in a soothing sensory environment every day.
The Ability Center is a local resource which offers a “Lending Closet” where parents can check out sensory equipment for up to three months. More information on the Sensory Equipment Lending Closet can be found at abilitycenter.org/lending-closet.
