I love having a multi-sensory room for my students to access. And today I’m sharing 5 reasons you need a multi-sensory room too! (This is great for putting together a proposal for school management too!)
1. Provides a Safe and Calming Environment
I love being able to give my students a space in the school where they can feel safe. But also a place that promotes helping them to self-regulate and be able to calm down. It’s a great room to use whether my students need that time to calm down, or whether they just want to go there for a visit and enjoy the environment.
All students can really benefit from having a multi-sensory room and the calming effect. But I have always found these rooms to be especially beneficial for my autistic learners and students with sensory processing disorder. The room is best used when it’s not too busy or over-stimulating. This way, students are able to self-regulate within the room and help to work on their focus skills too.
2. It Enhances Learning!
Ok, hear me out before you think, no way. A multi-sensory room can actually provide lots of opportunities to help students improve their learning. The rooms are great because they allow our students to self-regulate themselves, which we know is important for learning. But it also gives them an opportunity to come to a sense of peace and calm.. And then focus on different things around the room. Working on this time where they are focused and concentrating can be beneficial when back in a learning space. Because students are naturally working on those important skills.
The room has different items that provide students with different sensory experiences. All of these different experiences will engage different parts of our brains. This is great for our students to work on skills like retaining information!
3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try.. The classroom, or school in general, can be a stressful and anxious place for our students. It may always be that way for them, or it could be on certain days. Or, it could even be down to the morning that they have had.
The multi-sensory room is a calm and neutral environment where students can go and work on easing that stress and anxiety.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m feeling stressed or anxious, I’m usually unable to work. Or I’ll force myself to work, but I know I won’t be doing my best. I’ll also be easily frustrated and just want to give up. And it’s the same for our students. I often find that for certain situations, if I put myself in my student’s shoes.. I can think about how they are feeling and what I need to do to help them. This usually results in better learning outcomes for students!
When we are feeling less stressed and anxious, naturally we are in a better mood. And naturally, the whole environment around us is going to feel calm and more welcoming. So having a multi-sensory room can really aide with this.
4. Promotes Creativity and Imagination
Sensory rooms provide students with a space where they are able to explore their surroundings. It’s a safe and errorless space, meaning many students will feel more confident exploring around them. This really helps our students to feel the enjoyment that comes with exploring and experimenting. And that is going to have a direct beneficial link on our classroom learning too.
5. All Students Benefit
Literally, everyone can benefit from a multi-sensory room. And while I titled this one ‘students’, I really should say everyone benefits. Because event adults and members of staff can benefit from a multi-sensory room!
I’ve always loved to book the multi-sensory room for a Monday afternoon before the end of the day. It’s a nice and calm way to end our first day back after a weekend, and I know my staff have always loved this just as much as students!
And while these multi-sensory rooms are definitely hugely beneficial to our special education students, all students can actually have a benefit from using one. And I’m sure, if give the chance.. All students would want to have some time spent in here. This means that we are able to promote a more inclusive and welcoming environment in a part of our school. While also providing a calming environment for our students to be able to unwind and de-stress.
What do you think? Do you have a multi-sensory room? What do you think the benefits of having one are? Share your comments below in the comments section. I love to hear from you!
If you found this blog post helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues on social media.
You may also find the following podcast episodes and blog posts helpful;
- Creating a Sensory Room or Area
- Sensory Profiles and How to Create Them
- What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Thanks,
Nikki
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