Here are a few tips to set up your own sensory hideout at home.
If your child has a sensory processing disorder, then a sensory hideout is the perfect place for them to take a break if they experience overstimulation. Sensory hideouts can be found at schools, hospitals, and therapy centers. A sensory hideout can be a great resource for coping and self-regulation as well as both over and understimulation. Here are a few tips to set up your own sensory hideout at home.
A Quiet Space
A sensory hideout is usually a corner of the room set aside for a child to escape the chaos of the world for a while. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or build an entirely separate room. As long as you can find a place in your house that is quiet and out of the way of where the most activity takes place, then you can set up a sensory hideout. The most common base for a sensory hideout is a kid’s tent, or you can make your own by draping some blankets or sheets. This way, your child will feel that they have a private space to get away but you can still keep an eye on them.
Make it Comfortable
But what goes inside of a sensory hideout? Make it comfy with pillows or a bean bag chair, and you can also include a weighted blanket. Try to find gentle lighting, such as with white string lights, to create a calming atmosphere. But it’s also important to ask your child what works for them. There could always be something you might overlook otherwise, like which colors they prefer that are the most calming. And letting your child help design their sensory hideout will help them make it their own.
Sensory-Friendly Activities
Once you have set up a sensory hideout in your home, you can add things to do while your child is taking a break. You could include some books or about emotions to help your child work through their feelings. For children struggling with understimulation, you can give them activities like puzzles and games. Adding a journal or coloring book will give your child an opportunity to be creative.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center is a top therapy center serving families of children and adolescents with disabilities. Our team consists of the leading experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavior sciences. We offer intensive, hands-on therapy for children and adolescents as well as resources for families. We are real therapists helping real families with real issues. If you are concerned about your child’s behavior, take a moment to fill out our quick questionnaire. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, call 202-561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or 301-577-4333 (Lanham office) or contact us via our website. Want to keep up with our latest news and blog posts? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.