Sensory rooms are growing popular in schools as an effective way to help students regulate their senses and emotions. As awareness about conditions like autism and sensory processing disorder grows, more schools are seeing the benefits of creating dedicated spaces for sensory support. Let’s explore ten sensory room ideas every school should explore.
What is a Sensory Room?
A sensory room is a specially designed space that provides students with a quiet, calming environment to help them self-regulate. The controlled setting limits overstimulating sensory noises, sights, smells, textures, and movements that can easily overwhelm students. Within the room, students can access various tools and equipment that provide the specific sensory input and experiences they need to feel centered, focused, and organized. For students who feel anxious, distracted, or distressed when overstimulated, the sensory room is a safe space where they can retreat to decompress, regain emotional regulation, and ready themselves for learning.
10 Sensory Room Ideas
You can create an effective sensory room with proper planning and research. Carefully consider equipment that provides varying sensory input - auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive. Offering multi-sensory experiences helps retrain the brain to process sensory information appropriately. Here are the sensory room ideas in detail.
Sensory Swings
Swings provide vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile input, which can regulate and calm students. The rhythmic movement and sensation of swinging release feel-good endorphins in the body. Look for swings with padded, comfortable seating that are easily adjustable for students of different sizes and abilities.
Consider options like platform swings, hanging swings, compression swings, cocoon swings, hammock swings, and sensory pod swings, depending on the available space. Platform swings allow for whole-body movement, which provides comprehensive sensory input. Hanging swings and cocoons offer an enclosed, safe space for students to retreat when overwhelmed.
Sensory Seatings
Include various seats and cushions of differing sizes, shapes, textures, and functions. Options like bean bag chairs, rocking chairs, wobble cushions, stability balls, etc, allow for constant, subtle movement as students shift and adjust. It stimulates the senses and provides regulating vestibular and proprioceptive input. It gives them something to focus on if they are overwhelmed.
Balance Tools
Equipment like balance beams, pods, stepping stones, and rocker boards challenge students' balance while strengthening core and leg muscles. Balance tools are excellent for sensory seekers or students who need regular movement breaks throughout the day. Provide accessories like therapy balls and bolster swings to use on balance boards. They can be used independently or connect multiple pieces to create obstacle courses encouraging social interaction.
Tactile Mobile Activity Tables
Mobile activity tables with textured surfaces, built-in toys, and interactive play allow sensory exploration and fine motor development through art, writing, and building activities. The portable surfaces enable students to complete activities standing up, sitting in chairs, or on the floor alone or in small groups as desired. Moving and adjusting the tables to meet their needs helps students self-regulate. Whiteboard or chalkboard table tops also allow students to draw and erase creatively.
Weighted Blankets
Weighted blankets, vests, and lap pads apply deep pressure across the body, which has a calming, grounding effect for many students. The gentle compression can relax the nervous system by releasing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Weighted items help students feel centered, less anxious, overwhelmed, or distracted.
Bubble Tubes or Lava Lamps
Visual sensory tools like bubble towers, mirrors, fiber optic light sprays, and lava lamps provide soothing, mesmerizing lighting effects. It helps maintain the students' interest and relaxation. Watching the predictable movement of bubbles, colors, mirrors, and lights regulates the mind and emotions. You can add controllable visual equipment to allow your students to interact with them.
Trampoline or Bouncy Castles
Jumping on a mini or full-sized trampoline or bouncy castle provides stimulation with each bounce. It makes students more aware of their body position and can create a feeling of calmness. Trampolines are great for students who need regular movement breaks or seek extra sensory input. Mini trampolines with handlebars are inexpensive, portable options that can be folded and stored easily.
Bouncy castles are colorful alternatives to trampolines for small children. It can be converted into a group play activity as well. Look for stability bar frames and padded protective covers to prevent injuries.
Sensory Toys
Fill classroom supplies and sensory bins with fidget toys like spinners, tangles, stress balls, modeling clay, kinetic sand, and putty. These toys can help improve fine motor skills while providing different tactile experiences. Easy-to-clean plastic, rubber, or stainless steel toys are best for general use. You can also offer creative materials like beads, pom poms, and lacing cards to stimulate their minds.
Crash Pads
Sturdy foam climbers and crash pads allow students to jump, crash, roll, and fall freely without injury. Soft play structures build students' awareness as they scale, climb, and crawl through. The impact of crashing and jumping provides stimulating sensory input.
Thick mats can be placed on the floor for cushioned space to lie down, stretch, or move around. Cover them with durable waterproof covers that are easy to clean and sanitize. Use mats under swings, play structures, and jumping areas to protect against injuries.
Learning or Sound Wall
Interactive learning or sound walls can help students explore and learn through touch, sight, and sound. Look for walls with varied surfaces, textures, and elements to keep the students engaged. You can get activity boards with gears, locks, mazes, images, and more. As students activate the interactive components, they receive stimulating sensory feedback.
Activity boards are a fun and exciting way for the child to develop motor skills or express their emotion nonverbally. These boards attach to your walls, or you can use them with an easel or activity table.
Sensory rooms offer safe, supportive environments where all students’ sensory needs can be understood and accommodated. It becomes a space of renewal that allows students to be fully present and learn. If you are looking for sensory equipment for your school, live chat or email our sales representative or call us at 1-877-398-6449.
