Special Needs Parenting

I have been wanting to create a sensory room for years. There were a few things that held me back. I had looked into the cost of some of the sensory equipment used in other sensory spaces and knew I couldn’t afford that. I was also worried about where to put it. The kids got older. I still saw the need for a sensory room. I knew that if I didn’t create one now, they would soon be grown. That prompted my decision to use a storage closet as the space. I began planning how I could make things myself instead of purchasing expensive equipment.

One day while at my daughter’s therapy appointment, we visited the sensory room there and I watched her mood transform. I knew we absolutely needed one at home. I had run out of excuses and knew it was time to just do it.

(photos courtesy of Shelley of STEAM Powered Family)

What are the benefits of a sensory room?

• help a child feel safe
• engage the senses and provide sensory input (sensory diet)
• improve balance and coordination
• work on fine and gross motor skills
• support therapeutic treatment
• better manage challenging behaviours
• encourage exploration
• increase sensory experiences and tolerance
• build confidence
• increased vocabulary and communication opportunities
• improved caregiver relationship
• reset mood
• reduce stress

If you are worried that you don’t have enough room to make a sensory space, I’m going to tell you that it’s possible no matter how small your classroom or home is.

If you have no space at all to devote to a sensory area:

• make a sensory board and store it under a couch, under a bed, or behind furniture to pull out when needed.
• create a sensory box that is filled with fidgets and calm down tools.

If you have limited space to devote to a sensory area:

• make a sensory corner in your classroom, playroom, child’s room, basement, or living room.
• use a closet or storage room as the sensory room.
• convert a shed or an area of the garage.

If your concern is more the cost, I have some awesome money saving tips for you.

I know that sensory rooms can cost thousands if the equipment is all purchased. For organizations who have those funds, that is a wonderful option. For the rest of us, there are ways to create a sensory room on a budget.

See a video tour of our sensory space:

What to include in your sensory room:

I took a look at the space that I had and took into consideration my kids’ needs and their individual sensory preferences and planned the room accordingly.

Sensory Wall

I knew that I wanted to include a sensory wall. It would be a place for them to explore different textures and colours and shapes. I had looked online and seen that sensory walls easily cost hundreds of dollars. Using a cork board and a bit of imagination, I was able to create ours for under $25 plus the cost of the cork board. 

Read the full instructions on how to make your own sensory wall and get a list of other texture ideas that you can use.

Calm Down Corner

The room at my daughter’s therapy includes a fibre optic curtain corner area that she loves. The problem was that when I looked up the cost, it was nearly a thousand dollars. Yikes! But I had a vision for a calm down corner that included fibre optic lights that changed colour with a remote so that each child could choose the colour they found most soothing.

The solution? We bought these fibre optic lights and then one of my sons drilled holes in a board. He attached that board to another board and then we strung the light strands through the holes and set the board on top of a shelf so that it hangs down over the corner of the room.

I placed a bean bag chair under the fibre optic light curtain and a mermaid pillow on top of the bean bag chair. I also have a few “brain friendly” books sitting there in case one of the kids wants to read while they are in the calm down corner. There is a long mirror across from that corner. This is for two reasons. The first is that the room used to be a storage closet so it’s very small and the mirror helps it feel bigger. The second is that kids can use the mirror to monitor their breathing and facial expressions which can help them to self-regulate.

Fidget Box

I’m so in love with the box I found to hold fidgets for the room. It has all kinds of encouraging phrases on it including “Just Breathe”, “Help Others”, and “Enjoy the Journey”. It’s so perfect for this.

The box contains all kinds of fidgets including pencil toppers, Chewelry, glow in the dark sticks, stress balls, slime, putty, and lots and lots of fidgets.

Pea Pod FidgetsCuberSpeed Rainbow Ball MagicPencil Topper FidgetsMeshballsMulti Fidget PackTANGLE Original Fidget ToyMarble Fidget ToysKoosh BallsMunchables Owl Chew NecklaceMunchables Unicorn PendantChew Sensory Teether NecklaceSquishy Stress Relief Fidget

Shelf of Sensory and Calm Down Tools

I used a shelf that was already in the room and set items on top for the kids to use as needed. This includes a sound machine, the remote control for the fibre optic curtain light, a lava lamp, fibre optic lamp, plasma nebula ball, light up wand with sensory ends, liquid motion timer, and felt board.

On the felt board, I put the words “In Through Your Nose Out Through Your Mouth” as a reminder for my kids to do their calm down breathing.

Other Items in the Sensory Space:

Purple fuzzy throw rug – I bought it at WalMart.

Teal fuzzy large box with lid – This can double as a chair and it can hold books. I also put a few books on top that are designed to boost how kids see themselves.

Sensory Steppers – Kids can use these to touch, walk or stand on, or to sit on. They provide great sensory feedback.

Sensory Bin – I swap this out depending on what our current sensory bin is. You can see all our sensory bin examples here. You could also include sensory bottles or sensory bags.

Fiber Optic Curtain LightLavender Polka Dot Bean Bag ChairSensory StepperzLava LampPlasma BallFiber Optic LightLiquid Motion Bubble TimerPink Felt Letter BoardConair Sound Therapy MachineMermaid Sequin PillowLight Up Wand

Join me for a free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities that has helped thousands of people and get your Sensory System Behaviours Easy Reference Cards.

You might also like:

How to Create a Calm Down Kit for Your Child

How to Make a Sensory Wall

Hair care can be torture for some kids with sensory issues. While all of us have sensory preferences, for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder or autism, having their hair washed, combed, or cut can go beyond just being unpleasant. I’ve put together a list of tips to help kids who struggle with sensory issues when it comes to their hair.

Lately, a lot of readers have been contacting me for advise about their child’s hair. I understand this concern well as one of our sons used to cower in the corner when he saw me reach for the hair brush. He would scream and beg me not to comb his hair.

Mornings became difficult for both of us. His beautiful curls became knotted if I gave in to his pleas not to comb it which only made it worse. And bath times were another battle ground as he hated the feeling of the water on his face when rinsing the shampoo off.

Obviously with his scalp being as sensitive as it was, there was absolutely no way he would allow a hairdresser near his head.

We got to the point where we just shaved his hair super short so that it didn’t have to be such a daily battle.

Since then, I’ve learned a lot about sensory and together, he and I have come a LONG way! He is a teenager now and actually enjoys getting his hair cut at the barber. He does prefer to keep it short still, but is happy to have it washed and cut.

A lot of sensory kiddos are super sensitive about having their hair washed, cut, combed or even touched. There are many reasons for this.

Sensory Reasons for Hair Struggles:

Vestibular – Some kids are sensitive to having their head tilted backwards or forward for rinsing when having their hair washed. Your vestibular system controls your body’s sense of balance and motion. Kids with vestibular issues can feel unsteady, uncomfortable, or even afraid when tipping their head.

Olfactory (Scent) – Your child may be sensitive to the smell of the hair products you are using on them.

Tactile – Many children with sensory issues have very sensitive scalps or are sensitive to touch in general from hands, brushes or combs, and even water. Water on their face, in their eyes, or having shampoo get in their eyes can be difficult for all kids, let alone ones with higher sensitivities. Tactile is the most common reason for problems with hair care in kids with sensory sensitivities.

Auditory – Some kids struggle with the sound of the clippers at the hairdresser or the sound of the water in a shower.

Tips for managing hair care and sensory needs:

1. Determine the root cause. Talk to your child and also make your own observations and see if you can determine what the biggest sensory issues are. That way, you’ll be tackling things accurately.
2. Acknowledge to them and to you that this is not a child being difficult. This is a real thing that is causing them real pain or discomfort. Doing this will give you more patience and empathy.
3. Wash their hair less often. Kids do not need their hair washed daily (unless your physician has given you a medical reason why your child does). Every third day should be sufficient unless they happen to play in the mud on the in between days. You can also use a dry shampoo for the days in between if you’re concerned about the cleanliness of their hair.
4. If shampoo is your main battle, skip the shampoo. Wash with water and a conditioner and use dry shampoo.
5. Give your child more control in the process. Allow them to choose their hair products. Let them smell shampoos and conditioners at the store and decide what they like or buy unscented. Let them comb and style their own hair.
6. Choose a low maintenance hair style for them. This was easier for me to do with my son than it was when one of my daughters had a hard time with having her hair combed and wanted it cut short, but I knew that “pretty hair” wasn’t worth the tears it would take every day to get there.
7. Don’t expect your child to hold still while you comb or style their hair. Give them a fidget to play with or a weighted lap pad. Let them play Lego or watch TV or both. It won’t be easy for you to comb hair on a moving target, but it will be less stressful if they are less upset.
8. Make changes. (see list below)

• Try a different comb such as a Tangle Teaser or Wet Brush.
• Try a bath rather than a shower or a shower rather than a bath.
• Wash their hair in the sink rather than in the bath.
• Try dumping water on their head using a Rinse Cup rather than having them tip their head back.
• Have your child use a Bath Visor to avoid getting as much water on their face. You can also use this during haircuts to avoid pieces of hair getting on their face.
• Allow your child to wear swim goggles or a snorkel mask in the bath or shower.
• Be sure you are using an excellent detangler so that knots are not making the hair combing situation even worse.
• Use a visual timer so that your child knows how long they have to “endure” having their hair brushed.

Rinse Cup for hair washingBath VisorDive MaskSwim GogglesVisual TimerTangle Teezer BrushWet BrushDry Shampoo

A note about haircuts:

Our hairstylist comes to our house and used to cut our kids’ hair where they are comfortable while they play with toys or read or watch TV to distract them. If this isn’t possible for you, pass these tips along to your salon to help them be more sensory friendly.

You also may want to ask them about the calming clipper kit. This sensory friendly barber kit is made just for kids with sensory needs. You can also use it yourself at home where your child is most comfortable.

Biggest tip about hair and sensory needs:

As odd as this sounds, don’t work at all on trying to increase your child’s ability to handle having her head or hair touched. Leave the hair alone as much as possible and instead, focus on increasing other sensory activities: sensory play, heavy work, sensory input.

If you are working with an OT, ask them about dry brushing. This type of brushing is for the skin, not the hair, but is best under the care of an OT.

By increasing your child’s range of sensory experiences (sensory diet), it will eventually begin to be easier for them to have their head and hair touched.

Get a copy of Sensory Processing Overload Signs to print off and keep as a reminder here. 

Sensory overload can happen to all of us. In children who struggle with sensory issues, it can happen more frequently and more easily. It can also lead to sensory meltdowns. The key is to prevent sensory overload in children whenever possible.Even if you don’t struggle with sensory issues yourself, I’m sure you can relate to the feeling of sensory overload. We’ve all been there. For some, it may be at a concert or crowded event. For others, it’s being in a gymnasium full of screeching preschoolers. Or perhaps for you, it’s public bathrooms or an amusement park. Myself, I find the swimming pool too loud.

The combination of the background noise in there, the smell of the chlorine, the sounds of the water from the fountain and waterslide, the jets in the hot tub, the laughter and screams of all the kids, the visual overload of so many people and so much movement…I find that I can only take so much before I need a break.

What causes sensory overload?

Our society is increasingly fast paced. In many cases, places are becoming louder, more crowded, and more visually stimulating. Add in advancing technology and it’s easy to see why sensory overload occurs.

Have you ever been somewhere and suddenly, you are acutely aware of the noise or smell? It’s possible that you may have been experiencing sensory overload.

Be on the lookout for signs of sensory overload in your child. If caught in time, sensory overload doesn’t have to lead to a sensory meltdown or a fight, flight, or freeze response.

Read about the Sensory Processing Overload Signs and print them as a reference here. This will allow you to recognize them in your child.

What triggers sensory overload?

Sensory overload can be triggered by a variety of things and for most, it is actually a combination of more than one source of sensory input that causes the overload.

Here are just some of the things that can trigger sensory overload:

Visual (sight):

• bright lights or fluorescent lights
• flashing lights
• colours
• decorative displays
• busy decor
• clutter
• new places, people

Auditory (sound):

• many people talking at once
• music
• background noise such as fans, air conditioners, birds chirping, or traffic sounds
• loud noises such as alarms, sirens, screaming

Olfactory (smell):

• strong food smells
• new smells
• cleaning agents
• candles, air fresheners, or potpourri
• perfume, cologne, scented lotions, or scented hair products

Gustatory (taste):

• new flavours
• strong tastes
• flavours disliked

Tactile (touch):

• new textures
• clothing (new material or seams or tags)
• being touched
• touching an unusual or new object, person, or animal
• rain or snow or wind

Vestibular and Proprioception:

• movement such as the motion of a vehicle, rocking of a boat, swinging
• being bumped in a crowd
• spinning
• having a heavy coat on or being confined in a car seat
• change in air pressure
• jumping

Interoception:

• hunger or being too full
• thirst
• change in temperature
• needing to go to the bathroom

Tips to Prevent Sensory Overload in Children:

1. Keep your outings to a minimum for kids who are prone to sensory overload. Choose times and days when places will be less busy. Avoid crowds whenever possible. I know that not all errands can be avoided, but if your child is particularly sensitive, you may need to get groceries at times when you don’t have to bring your child with you.
2. Minimize the amount of activities you register your child for. Reports show that overscheduling your child can actually lead to an increase in anxiety. Swimming lessons, karate class, art class, school, soccer, drama club, and other sports and arts are all wonderful for kids, but pick and choose. Be sure to leave plenty of space for free time.
3. Be aware of the environment and take steps to reduce sensory input. One example would be to have your child wear noise reducing headphones in places that are loud.
4. Talk to your child’s school about removing unnecessary visual, auditory, and olfactory (smell) distractions from the classrooms and hallways. Schools are already full of noise and colour, but thee are some things that can be minimized.
5. Smells are a sensory trigger for many kids (and adults). Don’t wear perfume or use scented lotions or hair products if you know your child is sensitive to them.
6. Maintain as predictable a schedule as possible. Ensure your child is getting adequate water, nutritious meals and snacks, and a good amount of sleep.
7. Allow extra time so that you aren’t rushing and so that you can allow for extra time for transitions.
8. Provide sensory breaks at regular intervals during the day.
9. Teach your child calming breathing techniques and have them practise them daily.
10. Provide a quiet place your child can go to when they are feeling overwhelmed by their surroundings.

Check out these other helpful articles:

How to Stop Sensory Overload from Turning into a Sensory Meltdown Recognizing the Signs of Sensory Overload in Children Sensory Meltdown Tips from Moms Who’ve Been There