Kiddipedia
Imagine you’re right in the middle of the semi-organised chaos of a children’s birthday party at a bustling indoor play centre. Judging by their excited shrieks, the kids are having a lot of fun; no doubt egged on by the loud music, vivid colours and party food.
There’s a lot to take in when you’re in a place like that. Your senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and proprioception – help you interpret the world around you. Sometimes, though, there’s far too much information to manage in this busy, non-stop world.
That can trigger sensory overload. Perhaps that’s why you feel restless and irritable as you head home from the party and your child is teetering on the brink of a meltdown.
How can you soothe those senses and help your child feel better? By entering a sensory space.
What is a calming sensory space?
A sensory space is carefully designed to engage and soothe your child’s senses for a therapeutic benefit.
Imagine a room with:
- Very low light – so your child can rest their eyes.
- Gentle music – your child’s heart rate may slow as they listen.
- Delicate floral aromas – encouraging your child to breathe slowly and deeply.
- Comfortable seats – where your child can relax.
- Weighted cushions or blankets – to stimulate proprioception (your child’s awareness of where their body is).
- Illuminated visual elements – your child can focus on the lighting effects and slow transitions.
If there’s too much sensory input in a brash play centre, there’s just the right amount in a calming sensory space.
How does a calming sensory space work?
A great deal goes into creating a sensory room where all the elements work well together. This work draws on many different areas of research, including positive psychology, receptive arts engagement, restorative environments and multisensory interventions.
But all that work is done before your child even enters the room. Once in there, your child simply relaxes in their own way and lets the room do the work.
Who benefits from a sensory room?
Because anyone can experience stress or sensory overload, we can all benefit from a calming sensory room. However, they may be particularly beneficial for children with:
- Sensory processing disorder
- ADHD
- Autism
- Anxiety
- Intellectual or learning disabilities.
Such children are already dealing with far more than their peers. They may find it harder to process sensory information and experience sensory overload more quickly, which may make school or childcare feel challenging.
Creating a sensory space at home
With a bit of planning, you can create a DIY sensory space at home, perhaps in a corner of your child’s bedroom or play space. Ideally, you want somewhere that can be darkened to soothe the eyes – a dark play tent can be ideal.
Create the sensory space using items such as:
- Tactile pillows – you can buy plastic wobble cushions used in therapy or can make a pillow using tactile-rich fabrics like sequins, silk, faux fur or velvet.
- Weighted blankets, pillows or toys – these provide calming proprioceptive input.
- Fairy lights, salt lamps, lava lamps or other types of gentle mood lighting.
- Sensory fidget toys – things your child can squeeze or stroke.
- Soothing music.
- A soft, spongy rug.
- Bean bags to sink into.
- Quiet activities – like some colouring pages and scented markers.
The effects of spending time in a calming sensory space
Studies show that a sensory room can help to:
- Regulate emotions
- Improve self-awareness
- Feel comfortable, relaxed and safe
- Enhance a sense of control and choice
- Develop communication and social skills.
No wonder an increasing number of health practices, childcare centres and schools are choosing to install a calming sensory room to support children in their care.
About Dr Bliss Cavanagh
Dr Bliss Cavanagh is an artist and academic who began creating sensory-based works as a student to relieve her symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome. She later completed a PhD on the benefits of calming sensory rooms and is now one of the world’s leading experts in their design and installation. Dr Cavanagh is the founder of https://sensoryspaces.com.au/
