5 Benefits of a Sensory Room for Special Needs Children

Children who have special needs, such as those with autism, have difficulty communicating, interacting, and comprehending in ways that are easy for the rest of us. These challenges facing them result in their inability to focus on something or pay attention easily. A safe and effective solution involves introducing them to a sensory room. This is a sort of sensory gym used in occupational therapy, helping special needs children engage cognitively and physically.

The pandemic, with all its lockdown restrictions, has made life more challenging for special needs children and their parents. Thankfully, introducing children to a sensory room is a great way to reduce the hardships suffered due to the pandemic.

Coronavirus Precautions

 

What Is a Sensory Room?

A sensory room, also called a sensory gym, is a space that engages multiple senses simultaneously, helping to regulate the brain’s negative reactions to outside stimuli. It can help develop coping skills when a child is placed within one of these spaces.

A sensory gym can be an entire room, or it can be part of a room that has been carefully crafted into an occupational therapy space for special needs children. Each one of these safe spaces should match the needs of the particular child to ensure they are as effective as possible. Children who have autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, or ADHD can greatly benefit from having easy access to a sensory room.

Sensory Gym

 

Sensory Room Benefits

There are a number of benefits to having a sensory room for your special needs child. Each year we receive thousands of calls from parents who are looking for a safe and effective outlet for their children. Here are the most significant and impactful benefits of a sensory gym:

 

Calming

  • A dimly-lit and calm-inducing room will soothe a distressed child. Items like a white noise generator, aroma diffuser, and others can all help a special needs child to become calmer and more soothed.

 

Stimulating

  • To increase the experiences of awareness and positive well-being, stimulation can be very helpful for a special needs child. Uniquely-designed toys and other objects will let them become more aware of their senses and learn how they interface with the world they interact with.

 

Socializing With Others

  • A sensory gym can be for more than just one child. In this special sensory space, children can learn how to interact and socialize with other children. It can become a de-stressing zone that children can explore with one another, as well as observe how their movements respond when there are others around.

 

Increased Focus

  • Children, especially those with autism and ADHD, tend to become easily distracted. Inviting them into a sensory room expands their awareness of their surroundings, which helps them to deal with real-life scenarios that require concentration. The improvement in their focus will make it easier for them to pay attention in school.

 

Improved Motor Skills

  • Special needs children often have trouble with their motor skills, which is something a sensory gym can improve. There is plenty of tactile stimulation available thanks to the equipment within a sensory room that all encourage jumping, bouncing, and stabilizing their cores.

 

Wrapping Up

A sensory room is a type of occupational therapy that helps children with special needs, such as those with autism, with sensory integration. This is vital due to it being a major cause of developmental, behavioral, and information processing issue. When you provide your special needs child with a sensory gym, you help their sensory systems either become more active or less overactive. The pandemic has caused new challenges for special needs children that can be alleviated thanks to interacting with and exploring a sensory room.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

  • Leaps and Bounds Physical Therapy

    After five years in practice, I decided that I needed to upgrade the look of my office to allow for optimal patient care. Upon researching some possibilities, I came across the Fun Factory Sensory Gym. I immediately called the company to purchase my own gym unit. We scheduled an install date and in three short days, my gym and my vision were complete. My patients and their parents walk in and are amazed at the beautiful and fun set up. I truly feel that my patients are getting the most effective and efficient care because I have the best equipment to address their individual needs. With the Fun Factory Gym equipment, I am able to help these children improve by Leaps and Bounds!

    Jill Kissel
    Clinic Owner
  • The Kaufman Children’s Center

    The Kaufman Children’s Center was proud to announce an exciting upgrade made here at the KCC. Over a long weekend in late January 2013, we completed a huge remodel to our sensory gym.

     The Kaufman Children's Center
  • Our Fun Factory Sensory Gym has been life changing for our family! The entire experience of having the FFSG team in our home was so enjoyable. The crew’s heart and soul is behind the work they’re doing. From the first phone call, FFSG was committed to helping our family and our 3 small children with their various special needs. We have already experienced the calming effects of the net swing and the multiple ways the entire gym provides sensory input and regulation for our intense sensory seekers. What a great tool for our family and more than worth the investment!

    Heather Helms
    Parent
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