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If your child has been to any type of therapy outside the home, then you are probably familiar with sensory rooms. Sensory rooms can be very beneficial to children who have Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, or ADD/ADHD among many other things. Creating a sensory room at home can be extremely beneficial for your entire family.
Today I am going to share some tips and ideas for creating a sensory room in your home, along with introducing you to a great company, Achievement Products for Special Needs.
This is a sponsored post by Achievement Products for Special Needs. I was compensated for my time in writing this post, reviewing the Gel Aquarium mat, and also running the giveaway in this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own. Please read my disclosure policy for further questions.
What is a Sensory Room?
A sensory room is basically a safe place in your home for your child to go when they either need a break or calm themselves if they are starting to unravel.
Stimming behaviors are often a sign that your child may need a break or a place to relax. Stimming behaviors are any repetitive movement or behavior that your child does in order to try and cope with the environment around them. These behaviors or movements are obviously different for each child. Some may crash into objects, others may fidget, spin, flap their arms, etc. It all depends on how they cope.
Having a sensory room gives them a safe place to collect themselves and work on self regulating their behaviors.
Creating a Sensory Room at Home
A sensory room is really a little misleading in the name. It does NOT have to be an entire room in your home. It could just be a certain area in a room, a safe corner, or designated space.
The first thing you need to do is make sure the area that you pick is completely safe for your child. No sharp corners, outlet covers in place, cords and other objects that could cause harm if you child is having a particular bad day. There are times when children may be so upset that they will throw themselves into things or throw things at other people. So just make sure that this area is free from any objects that could cause harm to them or others.
The next step would be to make sure there are no fluorescent lights in the specific area. Many times fluorescent lights can be irritating for children with visual sensitivities. Instead of calming down, the lights will only make their behavior worse. If you don't have an option with changing out the lighting, simply cover the fluorescent lights with heat safe paper to help cut down on the glare, or just don't turn them on.
Include soft lighting such as Christmas lights along the ceiling, or a dim lit lamp. A light table would even be a good option.
The color of the room should also be calm and soft colors. The brightest shade of red would definitely not be appropriate. 🙂 Ask your child what colors help them to feel calm and base your color choices off their suggestions. Pale or natural colors often work best: tans, blues, greens, or light yellow for example.
What Items To Include in Your Sensory Room
Here are some ideas of items to include in your sensory room at home:
- Large crash pillows or mats
- A net swing or therapy swing
- Fidget items that allows for repetitive moment
- Gel Aquarium Mat
- Weighted blankets or vests
- A resistance tunnel
- Therapy balls
- Balance beam
- Calming, alerting and organizing activities for kids – free printable included to hang in your sensory room
- Brain Break Cards
These are just a few ideas to get you started. If your child is seeing an Occupational Therapist, definitely talk to them and see what they recommend for your child to use in a sensory room at home. They will be able to advise in what products would be beneficial based on your child's unique reactions and behaviors.
Achievement Products for Special Needs was kind enough to send me one of their Gel Aquarium mats to review. My daughter loves fish, so I knew that she would be immediately drawn to this mat.
The Gel Aquarium mat is actually weighted as well, 8lbs total. This makes it perfect for a weighted lap activity or with your child sitting on a bean bag or large pillow cushion. There are 4 fish included in the gel that your child can push around with their fingers or hands.
This Gel Aquarium is a great fine motor, bilateral coordination and motor planning activity. It does take a little effort for the gel to loosen up enough to move the fish around. This provides a great strengthening activity for your kids too. My daughter also enjoyed holding the Gel Aquarium vertically and watching the fish slide down to the other side of the mat. Then she would turn it and watch them go back to the other side.
The Gel Aquarium allows for a lot of repetitive movement which, as we talked about above, is a great way for many kids to calm and restart themselves.
The gel and vinyl material used for this is non-toxic. What is also really neat is that you can put it in the fridge to chill or heat it gently in warm water to add an extra sensory experience for your kids. It is also advised for children ages 3 and up
You can find Achievement Products for Special Needs in the follow ways:
Website: Achievement-Products.com
Achievement Products on Pinterest
Achievement Products on Facebook.
They would really love to connect with you on Facebook, so be sure to head over and “like” their Facebook page to keep up on new products, sales, and other news.
Tonya says
The aquarium lap pad looks interesting. I have not seen it before.
Katie says
My children would benefit greatly from a sensory room. I have two that has sensory issues as well as one with ASD so he already uses weighted blankets I would love to try the weighted gel lappad, and I would definitely want to get my hands on a weighted vest for him.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
Oooh, that lap pad looks really cool. I can’t enter because I’m Canadian… but I loved this post. It certainly would be helpful for families with children who have sensory needs.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Rebecca says
I stay at home and can’t afford many products although we do make our own sometimes. My little has SPD and is on the spectrum.
Kori says
My daughter has autism and I know that she would highly benefit from having a swing. I’ve looked into getting one for her, hopefully going to get one by Christmas.
Katie Davis says
My 6 1/2 year old son has Sensory Processing Disorder. He is greatly comforted by weight so I love that this product is weighted! The aquarium would be very visually calming for him as well. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Shelly Smith says
Yes, it would be absolutely wonderful for my boys! They would love the aquarium!!
carol says
I think my son would enjoy a sensory room with a swing in it.
Gretchen says
I love the aquarium mat! It would be great for our grandsons, ages 4 1/2 and 5 months! Our little fella could enjoy it along with his older brother.
Theres Just One Mommy says
My son loves fish! We haven’t tried a weighted product with him yet, and I’m interested in seeing how that would help him. I’d definitely add the gel mat to our homeschool sensory box!
Deceptively Educational says
You have so much great information and advice! A sensory area seems like such a great idea for my boys. Thanks for the suggested items and how to create the best environment. (Oh, and thanks for sharing at the After School Linky Party, too!)
Carla says
I think a sensory room would be awesome! I have a preschooler with some SPD issues, and he would love it! I would especially like to have a weighted mat or a balance beam!
Karaleigh says
My little boy would love a sensory room, and I think he would be fascinated by the aquarium mat!
Lisa says
Do you think a sensory room would be beneficial for your child?
I do not have a child of my own but I am a lead teacher in a special needs early intervention classroom and I absolutely feel like my classroom would benefit from having a sensory area! I have so many children who need input all day long and having all my items in one area would help me to help them faster and teach them to ask for what they need and eventually do it themselves!
Out of all of the products mentioned, which one do you think your child would enjoy the most? I believe that my children would enjoy the net swing most but I believe that all the items you mentioned would give them enjoyment as well as the input they are seeking.
Lindsey R says
Absolutely! I believe she’d enjoy the aquarium mat, because she loves aquariums and it would be like her own personal, touchable aquarium at home.
Melenie says
I have been thinking about turning a spare room in my house into a sensory room for some time now. Thanks so much for your suggestions! I have a non-stop schedule, and I often take advantage of sensory breaks. I am a COTA and currently work in the school system. Hopefully from my own tinkering and experimenting I can make suggestions to parents for their own homes!
Ashley Miller says
It’s one of my dreams to have a sensory room in the house. I think my children would love the crash pillows and also the aquarium mat.
Heather F says
I think the weighted gel mat and weighted blankets would be best at my house. I would love to have a sensory room, but I do not have the space to devote a whole room to it. I wish i did though!
Jenny Unger says
I think all children can benefit from sensory products. All of the products are great, but that Aquarium mat looks awesome!
Kristen Stehli says
love this giveaway! awesome!!
Liz York says
My son would absolutely benefit from a sensory room. I am in the process of buying a house, and will be slowly building a sensory/play room for him. The number one thing he needs is a place to crash! So it will be padded accordingly. I am so excited!
Colleen Kessler says
YES! THe net swing or the weighted mat would be the best for my 5yo.
Jessica says
My son could definitely benefit from his own sensory room! He is the oldest of four and the noise and movements of his younger siblings make it hard for him to concentrate. We’re new to the SPD, so every bit helps!
Full Spectrum Mama says
OOOOH! I want one. and I love how you acknowledge that not all of us are able to set aside a whole room…
A key thing for me – ahem, my son, too – would be no scents. i occasionally find plastic stuff to be a bit chemical-smelly.
Lovely thoughts, thanks!
Heather Greutman says
Glad this post was helpful for you! Thanks for the sweet comment.