A Sensory Room: 9 Things You Must Include
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Recently, we moved to a bigger house. One of the reasons we did this was so that my son could have more room for his sensory equipment. We wanted to make him an entire sensory room filled with equipment to fit his needs.
I know there are other parents of sensory children out there and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to know how to build your own sensory room!
9 Things to Put in Your Sensory room:
1. Play Tunnel
One of the very first things we purchased for my son was a play tunnel. His occupational therapist had been using it a lot in therapy and I happened to see it when we were out and about shopping and just knew I had to get it for him.
What I love about it, is that it flattens for storage so that it’s not always taking up a lot of room. You can purchase one on Amazon: Find Me Tunnel– $23.40 | Hide & Seek Tunnel– $19.99
2. Rocking Chair
A lot of sensory or autistic kids love to rock back and forth, let them feel safe and sound in their very own kid’s rocking chair!
We got ours at a kid’s consignment store, but you can also purchase one on Amazon: Children’s Rocking Chair– $56.80.
3. Sit ‘n Spin
A sit and spin is a great toy for kids who just love to spin in circles. They can sit on it and make themselves go round and round and round… I get dizzy just thinking about it!
Purchase one: Sit ‘n Spin– $24.99.
4. Therapy/Exercise Ball
There are lots of sensory things you can do with an exercise ball. My son has been doing these for years and we still keep an exercise ball in our sensory room for him to bounce on and play with.
Here are a just a few things you can do for sensory input:
- Give squishes with the therapy ball
- Roll on your stomach on top of the ball
- Bounce up and down while seated on the ball
Purchase one at your local fitness store or here: Body Fitness Ball – $25.10
5. Play Tent/Hut
This has been great for my son because he likes dark quiet places. He used to sit in the closet in the dark for what seemed like forever. So getting a tent so he had his own quiet, covered place has been helpful and made it special for him.
There are several different types of tents or play huts you can get: Crawl N Play– $24.97 | My Little Tent– $31.99 | Pacific Play Tent– $24.97.
6. Crash Pad
I never even thought about having a crash pad in my own home until my son’s therapist said something. Ours is homemade with a twin-size air mattress. It was stuffed with foam balls that a company donated to our therapy place and a person associated with them sewed in a zipper.
You can purchase one online, but I highly recommend you make a homemade one or find someone who can because it’s a lot cheaper! Find ideas for a homemade sensory crash pad HERE. Purchase one: Crash Pad– $139.99.
7. Trampoline
The trampoline is a great way for your sensory child to get input and for any kid to get the wiggle-worms out! My son will go and jump when he needs it or sometimes if I can see he is having trouble I will tell him to go jump 10 times. He likes it when we count his jumps! The one pictured is the one we bought.
We love it and it’s been perfect for my son’s needs. Mini Trampoline – $79.99
8. Platform Swing
My son was introduced to the platform swing from day one in therapy. Now that we are in a bigger home we are planning on getting this swing so that he can use it at home.
I have seen occupational therapists use this swing for so much, including vestibular orientation, linear acceleration, balance reactions, and motor planning. My son also loves to spin and spin on it. I hear you can make them, but you can also search online for one to purchase.
9. Hammock Swing
I have seen several different names for this swing, but really they are all the same. These are perfect for sensory kids because it is enclosed and squishes you.
Perfect for quiet time or for sensory input. My son would spend all day in one if he could. Purchase one here: Ikea Hammock Swing – $48.95.
Here is my son using some of his equipment in his very own sensory room!
Did I miss anything? What do YOU have in your sensory room?
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What a great space! We use the trampoline and the rocker regularly. The only things I would add to it for my boy would be some chewy things and some tactile things for him to handle and hold, like balloons filled with rice. Great post, thank you!
Yes!! We regularly use chewey tubes, just not specifically in the room – anywhere! I LOVE the balloons filled with rice idea, never heard of that! Do you have a blog post about it?
I have posted about cool things I have found on Pinterest (which is also where I shared your great post! 🙂 including the sensory balloons. Here are a couple with the sensory balloons highlighted:
http://wp.me/p4Ki55-BB
and
http://wp.me/p4Ki55-uM
Thank you!
This is so interesting. We had a tent and tunnel for Ez and he would get SO MAD at it because it kept falling over or he would get stuck. lol He has a sit and spin and a rocking chair in the basement and he rarely, if ever, uses them.
Adam gets really mad at the tent falling too. The tunnel is separate and it hypes him up so much, but he loves it. If I see Adam spinning a lot needing input I will make him go on the sit ‘n spin or rocking chair. I usually count to 10 – like have him do it 10 times and that seems to help. 🙂
Love all the tips you give here. My son is no longer as much in need of a sensory room, but I notice he still loves sports like gymnastics to still give him the sensory relief he still sometimes seeks. If I had a room in our basement, though, I would probably consider doing something like this when he was younger.
Please take a look at our Bouncing Teeter Totters at BouncingTeeterTotters.com
We are a small family owned company, passionate about raising healthy kids.
Occupational therapists are our number one new customer.
This looks fantastic! I would love to try one out in exchange for a review.
Hi Kathryn. I sent you an email from your website. I am just checking to see if you received it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Chuck
I did, I plan on replying soon! Thank you so much have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank You Kathryn. I hope that you and your family have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. I look forward to your reply later.
Chuck