Are you looking to create a sensory space or add to your sensory area/room for your students who are dealing with sensory processing disorder? Don't worry if you only have a small space, or you are just getting started, you can make a great space to meet the needs of your students! It took me 9 years to complete our space and I am constantly adding to it. My room started as a swing and a trampoline and has grown from there. In this post, I list my top 10 sensory must haves. I am compiling this list based on my student's combined preferences over the past 9 years! But before I dive in, a quick sensory room picture tour is in order:
As I stated above, my "room" started as a corner in my classroom. I started with a swing and a trampoline. I added over the past 9 years, and I am constantly looking to add more to it. A lot of the items in this room were gained through local grants and a lot of the items in this room were purchased with PTO money (our PTO gives us an allowance per year, I typically save mine to buy items for the room). As with most teachers, a lot of this is also my own money. So really, this room is a combination of efforts, and has taken quite a while to create. If you plan on spending your own money to create your space, I have a few suggestions on how you can save! You can find the "Ultimate Sensory Strategy Guide" in my TPT Store Linked Here: The Ultimate Sensory Strategy Guide
However, on with the list! The following are the top ten most frequently used items in our sensory area! (Please note this post contains affiliate links in order to make it easier to find items related to the post).
10. Ball Pit/Tunnel
I don't have a live action picture of this in use, because it's put away at the moment (due to summer cleaning). We have a Ball Pit tunnel (similar to the item below). It is collapsible so it's easily stored when not in use. We have a tub full of balls that we keep on the top shelf. We add the balls to the tunnel and the students crawl in, creating the perfect "chill zone". We are also looking into getting a ball pit. If you're looking to save money on this, you can use an inflatable or plastic pool, and fill it with balls! I also found this collapsible pit, that is now in my amazon wish list!
9. Trampoline
This was one of the first items we had in our sensory room. It is a great activity for alerting-- student's who are under-responsive to stimuli. Just set the timer and let them jump!
8. Light Table
This was one of the items that I got with a grant. Light table's can be expensive! This one was a little over $300, BUT they don't have to be! When I wanted to create a light table for my daughter's at home, obviously without paying $300 for it, I created my own! I bought a clear storage tub, a strand of white Christmas lights and some tracing paper. I taped the tracing paper on the inside of the storage tub to create a soft appearance when I turned the Christmas lights on. It worked perfectly, and the best part? It cost me $20!
Our light table at school!
Light Table I created at home for $20
7. Fidgets
We have a fidget drawer in our area where the students can go and grab whatever they need at the time. Some things I have in there are: large soft pipe cleaners (found at my local craft store), scarves, ribbon dancers (for rythmic gymnastic-- huge hit!), tangles, LED light toys, slinky pop tubes, sensory balls). I am constantly adding new things to this drawer! I linked a few below!
Classroom fidget drawer
6. Cozy Corner/Area
A cozy space for students to calm down or relax. Bean bags, tents, canopy's are all great ideas. For us, our cozy are is our tent. A hugely popular place to just "chill out". I have two of them, and they are pretty worn. These were found at local thrift shops for super cheap ($5). The one in the picture below was donated to our room by our SLP. It's pretty worn as you can see in the photo, but this is definitely a place my friends like to go to get a break! This tent is fold-able and is easily stored when not in use (as seen in the first few pictures above in the room tour photos!).
This tent is currently our favorite "chill zone"
5. Weighted Blankets/Lap Pads
These items are essential for student's who are over-stimulated! Our weighted tools get used frequently, and are such an effective way of helping a student self-regulate. Our weighted blanket was ordered from a special education catalog, but you are able to find people who make weighted blankets on Etsy, or even on Amazon! Weighted blankets have been proven effective in helping relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, and ADHD.
Our weighted blanket
Drawer with weighted lap pads, vests, vibrating weighted snake
4. Soft Lighting
We use blue Christmas Lights. I wasn't able to snap a picture of it because I had to replace the strand of lights, but we hang the blue lights throughout the room so that we can turn off the lights when necessary but still create a calming environment. This is a cheap, easy way to add to your sensory room/area. We also use lamps whenever possible to create a softer lighting experience for my kiddos.
3. Light Filters
I am 100% obsessed with the light filters in our sensory room. It creates such a calming and relaxing environment as soon as you hit the door. We bought these a few years ago, before I had a designated "sensory room" and we had them in the corner of the classroom to create that calming space and since then I have bought so many more... I can't get enough. Students who suffer from sensory processing disorder can be particularly sensitive to fluorescent lighting (which is what most schools have!) so getting light filters can be a major game changer!
These light filters are a game changer!
I AM GIVING AWAY A PACK OF 4 BLUE LIGHT FILTERS! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENTER, FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM WITH YOUR EMAIL!
2. Swing
Our swing stand is ancient and I have been asked many times where we got it from and the truth is, I have no idea. It was given to me when I started to build upon my sensory room from my district. It's very, very old, but I know that it is called a "C-Swing" stand. I have linked a few below. We have three different types of swings currently (but always looking to add more!). We have 2 different sized platform swings. One is small and round, and the other is large enough for the kids to lay down on and is rectangular. Our absolute favorite swing is the Airwalker swing which is shown in the photo below. This airwalker swing cuddles the students when they get in it, making it feel like a giant cozy hug! Another question I get is about the padding-- the padding is just regular old gym mats from the gym teacher. I just walked down and asked if he had an extra and he offered up two! I just propped them up against the wall and used heavy duty velcro to keep it to the wall.
Airwalker Swing and C-Swing Stand
1. Sensory Table
Our most used, most coveted item in our sensory room is our sensory table. It is used every day, multiple times a day. The table pictured here was around $150 but if you don't have that, you can create small sensory "tubs" and use that as a sensory table! I bought tubs from the dollar store when I want to do several different sensory table activities at the same time (see picture below). I change out my sensory table monthly so that there is something new to explore in it every month! My student's absolute favorite sensory table item? Colored dry pasta. Yep, that's right, cheap, easy, colored dry pasta! They LOVE it!
I hope you find these tips helpful! I will be making another blog post to answer all of your questions about my sensory room soon! If you have a question, drop a comment below!
If you would like to be entered to win 4 of the blue light filters for my giveaway follow the link and enter your email!
Sensory Gym Long Island provides a supportive environment for individuals of all abilities to thrive and engage in meaningful sensory experiences. Highly recommended for families seeking inclusive recreational activities!
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