Sensory spaces make a massive impact to children’s mental health. Here’s now: contrary to popular belief, children and young people often feel stressed and anxious. This can come as a result of sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed, particularly in educational or medical settings. Sensory spaces however work to combat this. They provide a space powered by projection that emits lights, sounds, smells and touch experiences to immerse children in an environment designed to ease their anxieties and calm their mind.
But what exactly is a sensory space and how does it reduce stress and anxiety in children?
What is a sensory space?
Our version of a sensory space may look slightly different to the image you have conjured in your mind. I mean, you’re probably picturing bubble lamps, fibre optics and busy activity walls – right? But, to us, a sensory space is a fully interactive, multi-sensory room that immerses children in their environment using interactive sensors and mutli-sensory stimuli, including sight, sound and even smell.
These sensory spaces are powered by projection to incorporate fully interactive walls and a floor, making the entire room immersive. Atmospherics such as LED lighting and wind and aroma machines bring virtual and augmented reality content to life, transforming a single room into anything a child’s imagination can fathom. Whether they want to relax at the beach or go diving with sea creatures, our sensory spaces allow children to expel their disbelief and delve into a world designed to reduce stress and anxiety and transcend the boundaries of reality.
How does this space combat stress and anxiety in children?
Reducing Sensory Overload
Sensory spaces offer children a controlled setting that can easily be manipulated at the touch of a button. As an example, an autistic child at school may slip into sensory overload and need to regulate their emotions. An hour in a sensory room could help them do this. Blocking out the overstimulating elements of the outside world, the sensory room works to help children de-stress and reduce anxiety with soothing lighting, smells and sounds that ultimately evoke calm. They could go snorkelling with sea creatures, float in depths of space, or explore nature with a brisk forest walk – whatever their version of calm is.
Improving Focus
Another way sensory spaces combat stress and anxiety in children is by improving focus and capturing attention. For children with ADHD, AID or for those who simply find it hard to hone in on tasks, the traditional classroom can be overwhelming. This can cause restlessness, fidgeting, fatigue and frustration; leading to a mental block and a lack of information digestion. The interactivity and multi-sensory capabilities of sensory rooms however help children to fully engage with tasks. Gamified content that encourages learning through physical movement is perfect for getting those who struggle to focus to stay engaged in their learning environment, and this is all possible with advancing immersive technology.
This helps children to retain information, feel fulfilled and therefore, feel less stressed about their workload and their processing.
De-Escalation in place of Punishment
Children can also use their sensory space to de-escalate following an emotional outburst. This encourages calm through the senses rather than punishment, providing children with a space that meets their needs and makes them feel understood. This reduces anxiety and encourages children to de-stress with stimuli designed to pacify anger and combat those ‘fight or flight’ instincts.
Conclusion
Sensory spaces reduce stress and anxiety in children by providing a fully interactive, multi-sensory environment that suspends disbelief and immerses the mind of every child – no matter how complex their needs. This in turn treats feelings of sensory overload, improves focus and attention, and de-escalates challenging behaviour, adopting calm rather than punishment. At its core, a sensory space is a singular room that can be easily adapted at the touch of the button to meet the needs of every child, making them feel listened to and understood.
Want to know more about how a sensory space will benefit your students? Contact our friendly and specialist sales team today!
Financing options are available and we’re currently running an offer for 5% off immersive rooms until April 30th!