Sensory safe spaces at home and at school
If your child is regularly experiencing their environment as sensorily challenging, you may have thought about creating a safe, sensory space for them to use: as a place to retreat and regroup.
Sensory spaces can be created in a variety of ways and this blog will share some of those with you.
The old fashioned ‘den’: This can be simply created by draping sheets or a blanket over a table or chair to create a small enclosed space. Lining this with cushions or cuddles of the child’s choice will create that sense of safety and individual ownership.
Some children seek a smaller, enclosed space and these can be created in the space between a bed or sofa and the wall behind.
Cardboard boxes: these can be personalised with the addition of windows, doors and flaps as appropriate. Your child may like to paint / decorate their box, which they may also find calming.
Play tents: these can be a wigwam style, pop up tent or a dark den cube for the classroom.
Some children love a gentle swing and being contained in a hammock: this can be created by tying a sheet around a table end to create this.
Your child may prefer to crawl under their bed or to bury themselves in a pile of cuddly toys.
There is no one way to create this safe space: be guided by your child’s preferences and support them to create their own safe, sensory space to enjoy and to re-centre themselves.
It’s really important to share these ideas with school too. Let the teacher know your child’s preferences in readiness for the new school year, so that a similar version can be created in a corner of the classroom.
Rachel White
Children’s Occupational Therapist