Sensory play is an important aspect of growth for every child. Interacting with the world around them begins through their senses. A sensory room combines beneficial tools, activities, and designs to create the perfect space based on your child’s senses.

Children with sensory sensitivities find great fun and benefit from sensory rooms. Designing a sensory room around a child’s sensory needs ensures a safe space where they can thrive and learn. Here are three tips to consider when building a sensory room. As well, we’ve included five sensory-tailored products from Lily and River to furnish your new sensory room.

A sensory room is, above all, safe. It’s full of soft and comfortable surfaces. For example, beanbag chairs and puffy pillows are always popular. Soft play mats make great floor covers, especially for active children.

Or, consider tailored sensory items like the Little Rocker. With a comfortable memory foam pad liner, the Little Rocker is a climbing tool, play place, and resting seat all in one. Kids can relax in comfort while rocking back and forth as they self-soothe. Flip it upside down for a fun reading cave. With the Little Rocker, the sensory possibilities never end.  

Here are even more ideas to create the perfect sensory room for your kids.

Activities, from motor skills to hand-eye coordination, are a great way to build key abilities. Tactile tools and other sensory toys provide safe learning opportunities in a sensory room. Children with sensory sensitivities find great benefit in targeted, sensory toys. Tunnels and ball pits are fun additions that foster body awareness and spatial perception. Sensory bins and fidget toys soothe and help condition children to various textures.

Entire playsets exist around sensory touch. The Little Learner combines matching, stacking, and number games with a Lego/Duplo smart table. Suitable for art, play, and anything the imagination can come up with, the Little Learner creates a perfect sensory base for your children’s room.

Sight and sound elements provide excellent finishing touches to your sensory room. Focus on items that engage and offer additional means of exploration. For example:

• Fiber optic lights come in many shapes and forms. Create a fiber optic curtain or spray to display calming colors in safe, interactive means.
• Bubble tubes provide soothing colors and playful bubbles for your kids to watch. Like lava lamps, bubble tubes promote focus and relaxation.
• Vibro-acoustic platforms play sounds that you feel. Your kids will literally feel their favorite songs and sounds when using vibro-acoustic devices.

For kids with audio sensitivities, noise-canceling headphones create safe areas even when others are in the room. Many visual aids are great at building memory, as well. Little Matchables feature 18 wooden pieces. Each piece highlights a colorful image for your kids to enjoy.