Sensory activities and resources are extremely popular, both in school and at home. Sensory activities or resources help organize, calm, and process sensory information well.

Sensory aids and activities in the classroom or at home are intended to help children with sensory processing disorder. Children with sensory processing disorder have difficulty processing information that comes in through the senses. Using sensory aids and performing various sensory activities contributes to good sensory processing. Good sensory processing ensures that a child understands his or her body better.

In this article we inspire you with 5 sensory room ideas that you can apply in the classroom or at home!

1. Sensory Sleep Tunnel

A Sensory Sleep Tunnel is a cover that you slide the mattress into. The sleep tunnel fits tightly around the mattress. Because the tunnel fits tightly, it gives a safe and secure feeling while sleeping.

The benefits of a sensory sleep tunnel:

• Improved Sleep - Gives your child a deeper, more restful sleep for more energy and a better mood the next day (so you'll feel better too!).
• Creates an embracing feeling - The sleep tunnel provides deep pressure and helps your child to reduce anxiety during sleep. In addition, the Sleep Tunnel provides a comfortable feeling so that your child can relax.
• Great alternative to a weighted blanket - A weighted blanket can feel heavy and hot. A safer, cheaper and cooler option is our Sensory Sleep Tunnel. Our sleep tunnel is the right size for every age.
• Recommended by top occupational therapists - They know that proprioceptive feedback promotes your child's sensory regulation so they can organize input about their body.
• Stays on the bed - Is your child an active sleeper? No problem! The Sleep Tunnel stays on the bed, even when tossing and turning. It provides compression but also stretches so that your child still experiences the cuddle effect, even during dream battles with dragons!

2. Sensory Body Sock

Children with ADHD or autism can often have trouble calming down, often resulting in stress and anxiety. When a child experiences stress and anxiety, it becomes even more difficult to calm down. One way to reduce anxiety and stress is to create a sense of safety. A sense of safety automatically calms the nervous system and reduces brain activity. A sensory body sock creates a sense of safety by applying constant compression to a child's body.

The constant compression feels like an endless hug to a child, there is no safer feeling, right? The constant compression of the body sock stimulates the muscles and proprioceptive system of a child, which is beneficial for motor skills and balance.

3. Playing with balls

Even playing with different types of balls contributes to good stimulus processing. A yoga ball, stability ball or physio ball is a flexible tool that provides a lot of sensory input. Try lying as still as possible on your stomach on a yoga ball, an excellent way to practice your balance and to test the strength in your upper body!

Use a soccer ball as a chair and try to find your balance and keep your balance as best as possible. Another good exercise is squeezing the ball with both hands. Hold the ball in front of your chest, then press the ball as hard as you can with both hands and try to keep it still… This is harder than it looks, good luck!

4. Trampoline jumping

One of the most fun activities for kids is of course trampoline jumping. Jumping on a trampoline provides proprioceptive and vestibular input to people of all ages. The proprioceptive system determines your balance and how much force you need to exert in certain situations. The vestibular system is also known as the balance organ.

Trampolines come in different shapes and sizes, some versions have a handle for younger children, and others can accommodate multiple users. There are both indoor and outdoor trampolines.

Let us know what you think of our sensory room ideas and sensory products!