5 Tips for a Sensory Friendly Classroom

Creating a sensory-friendly classroom environment does not need to be time-consuming or budget-busting. Today we are sharing 5 tips that can help you turn your classroom into a sensory-friendly classroom for all children.

Brain Breaks 

The average student can attend for 10-15 minutes at a time before needing a break. A brain break can be as simple as standing up and doing some stretches, having a 30-second dance party, or even just switching to a different location or station.

Setting up sensory-motor walk in your school hallway can be used during transitions in the hallway or before returning to class from lunch/recess.

Remember with all brain breaks to end with a calming type activity to achieve that just-right level of arousal and balance before asking a child to sit down again.

Alternative Seating 

If you aren't sure where to start with alternative seating, our therapy friends at The Inspired Treehouse have a great post on alternative seating in the classroom.

You can include wiggle seats, exercise ball, t-seats, ways to stand/kneel, or a rocking chair or bean bag chair in your sensory space.  

Alternative Lighting 

Florescent lights are not only very bright and unnatural, but they can also cause a “buzzing” noise that may be distracting to children who are hypersensitive to auditory input. Finding some alternative lighting solutions can be a great way to create a sensory-friendly environment in your classroom.

Use Christmas lights if allowed, turn off overhead light or cover lights with heat-safe cover. Replace overhead lights with lamps. Double-check with your school for any safety protocols with the use of extension cords or covering the overhead lights.

Set up sensory corner or space

A sensory space does not need to be elaborate.

Include a rocking chair or bean bag chair, a calming bottle, breathing exercise cards, posters of breathing tips, books, paper, crayons, simple/quiet brain break activities. 

Sharla set up a sensory space in one of her closets at home. While it isn't a classroom, she shares a lot of great ideas that can be adapted for a classroom.

Minimize class decorations/visual input

• Be strategic in your visual prompts and decorations. 
• Use visual schedules for common routines 
• Visual timers for transitions between activities and environments 

We talked about all of this in a recent Facebook live video on our Facebook page. You can also watch it below on our YouTube channel.