Creating a Sensory Space on a Budget

by Michelle Davies- Program Manager-Child Care Resource & Referral at Options Community Services

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A Calming Space at Home to Help your Child with Big Emotions

Throughout childhood, children navigate a variety of changes, experiences, and overwhelming challenges, resulting in intense emotions.

Some children and youth struggle further. The BC Pediatric Society shares research that 15-20% of BC children and youth have mental health disorders. This is anything from ADHD or Autism to Anxiety or bipolar disorder.

Sensory spaces are intentionally designed areas that can provide numerous benefits for our children’s diverse needs, across all developmental stages. They are often used in support environments like ours, supporting children with Autism and providing children the sensory input to self-regulate and decompress. Lacking overstimulating elements, the space surrounds them with welcoming and relaxing stimuli for a calming experience. 

These calming spaces are not only beneficial for neurodiverse children. They are essential for every child, providing a secure place for them to engage their senses while processing and regulating feelings.

These spaces are cozy nooks with soft lighting, soothing sounds, and calming textures, creating an environment where children can learn to manage overwhelming emotions more effectively. Whether your child is experiencing challenges with peers, feeling anxious about family stressors, or feels overwhelmed with their stage of development, a small sensory space at home can help.

These spaces do not need to be large or full of expensive tools. You can create meaningful environments using everyday household items and affordable items that are easy to source.

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Here are my tips for creating a calming sensory space at home, without breaking your budget.

• Play Tent: find a quiet and comfortable private area at home where your child feels secure. Use an affordable small play tent or even a sheet securely anchored, a string at two points while forming an A-frame shape. Add soft blankets and cushions, and the base of your space is set.
• Natural Elements: can have a calming effect. Use neutral colours and bring the outdoors inside. Use child-safe plants, collect items from a walk, creating a basket of stones, pinecones, and leaves.
• Playdough: set up a small table and chair for playdough. Make a batch of playdough without adding any colour. Use nature-inspired items like stones, sticks, and leaves. The repetitive and rhythmic movements involved in feeling and casually creating with playdough can have a calming effect. By offering tactile stimulation, and allowing children to manipulate sensory objects, this can help them learn to self-regulate and build a strong mind-body connection.
• Sensory Basket: put a basket together with fabric squares, dryer balls, bubble wrap, sponges, or room temperature gel ice packs for feeling and exploring.
• Sensory Bottles: create sensory bottles using water, oil, glitter, and small objects. Use hot glue to make sure the lids remain securely closed.
• DIY Lightbox: make a DIY lightbox using an opaque storage container, with a lid, and place a battery-operated light, such as flashlight or portable LED lights, inside. Use objects like blocks to make shadows and translucent items like tissue paper or scarves to let the light through.
• Bubble Fish Tank Tube Lamps: if you would like to add a new  product to the space, bubble fish tank tube lamps are available on Amazon for as low as $30. These can be calming and appealing to observe.
• Sound Jars: create sound jars using small containers filled with various materials to shake. Everyday household items like popcorn, coffee, salt, Legos, and coins all work.
• Relaxing Sounds: uuse a white noise machine or search for “relaxing sounds” on your favourite streaming platform.

Recommend a few minutes of private, and calm, exploration time in your home space when emotions are high. You can join your child in the space the first couple times to highlight the items, reassuring them that the space is safe. Having a conversation about the emotion, and potential issue, after your child has spent time in the space will be more helpful to both the child, and to you as the caregiver.

About Options Community Services Options Community Services serves Delta, Surrey and White Rock and has a collection of play tents and sensory items that are free to borrow for parents and childcare providers. Follow Options Community Services Instagram: @optionscommunityservices Facebook: OptionsCommunityServices LinkedIn: company/optionsbc

Don’t forget to check out our kids directory! We have a list of wonderful family photographers, local kids shop, Pediatric Dental Centre, Sleep Consultants, etc. http://www.vancitykids.com/directory/