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7.05.2018

Our Work in Progress Sensory Corner/Playroom

I recently joined a Sensory Processing Disorder Support group for Cason and have been sharing what we've learned along the way. Below is a post that I posted to the group and the feedback and response was so heartwarming to say the least. I am so happy that the post has reached so many and brought other mamas insight, encouragement and inspiration. Several people have asked for a way to share the post but because it is in a private group I couldn't find a way. So I thought I'd use my blog as a resource for those who wanted share and save. For now I am simply copying and pasting the post. We haven't shared our journey publicly with too many yet so for those who are reading this and have no idea what is going on I plan to share more details at a later time. I hope to blog more about everything rather than just dumping this post here but that is life right now so this will have to do. Please free to reach out to me with any questions.









Post from support group:

"I've seen a lot of mamas on here crying out for help on things that we struggled with for SO LONG. And I have to say my heart goes out to you because I was there almost in tears at the end of every day wondering where I went wrong. Posts pertaining to how to get through daily activities, transitions, behavior, public outings, meals, sleep discipline etc. These were some of many of the problems we were having before our DX. Prior to our DX I felt so burnt out, my patience was few and far, I began becoming reactive instead of responsive because NOTHING was working. We went to parenting workshops, tried so many different techniques for all the things listed above and everything would work great for my daughter but not my son and I felt so hopeless. Then entered our DX and all of the stars aligned but I couldn’t help but think okay it all makes sense now but is this what our life will look like from now on with no improvements. Then we entered OT and we have absolutely fallen in love with our therapist. She has been so resourceful and I saw such a change with the things that she was doing with him and his behavior throughout the remainder of the day after therapy but we couldn’t do therapy every day of course. We began to make a plan together of what we could do at home for a sensory diet. We have started to incorporate a sensory gym area/corner and some tools for meal and bed. The things we have done at home has CHANGED our lives. Not just my sons but my mine and my husbands and his siblings. Of course this isn’t a cure and we still have our challenges but we are getting through our days much more smoothly. I’ve talked to so many mamas who’s occupational therapists and ABA schools who aren’t equipping them for home life. So I thought I would share what we have incorporated at home in hopes of helping others get some inspiration for needed relief and give some of you some hope in how powerful providing these tools can be.. not just for your little one but your entire family.
Our room/area is still a work in progress. We are currently in the midst of trying to determine if we will be selling our home so at this time we had to make the space work for us rather than losing an entire room. Down the road the goal is to have a room entirely dedicated to this space. 
If I had more room I would incorporate a slide that can go into a ball pit, a rock wall and interchangeable swings. Also would love to have a wedge mat and large building foam blocks. Just to give some further ideas if you are able to have an entire space devoted to a sensory room rather than a corner.
We still have a bean bag that will sit between the two pod swings coming and a saddle roll ball/ peanut ball coming that will go with the rest of the items on the trampoline and a weighted ball. We are also trying to incorporate a platform swing on the other side of the room where it says “play” and if we cannot make that work we will resort to a sit and spin for the time being. The platform swing will be probably only pulled out for when in use/supervision can be provided and for the sake of saving space. We will also be installing wall mats around the climbing gym for protection with Velcro 
Down the road we plan on adding a sensory/busy board and Some snoezelen items. We’ll put the EZ blackout panels/coverings on the windows that can roll up and down for when that is in use to provide the darkness needed. I also intent on having a custom crash pad cover made just for aesthetics so it will match and flow better. 

***** PLEASE RESEARCH THE BENEFITS OF VESTIBULAR INPUT AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT to get an idea of why the tools are listed below and how they can benefit and even correct the way your little one is processing their senses.

We currently have:
- two pod swings
- crash mat
- climbing gym
- trampoline
- bilibo
- teeter popper balance board
- bouncing/jumping ball
- hedgehog balance pods (would also like to get the gonge hill tops)
- bean bag
- Velcro dart board
- sheepskin rug
- down throw pillow
- firm lumbar pillow
- 2 foldable gym mats
- foam roller
- wiggle cushion
- foldable tunnel (stored)
- tee pee (stored)
In our calming area we have a black and white striped bin that we call our feel better box for when his engine is running too hot. The items in this bin include:
- sensory sock
- weighted snake
- chewies and chewlery
- fidget toys
- weighted blanket.
The rest of the room has educational toys in the drawers and bins for building, creating and manipulating. We also have a dress up area where that mirror wardrobe is that has masks capes different textures costumes 
Items not in this room for sensory (which we can’t keep in the room because I have a seeker that will eat, dump etc) include:
- water bead box
- bean box
- kinetic sand box
- play doh box 
We also have some vestibular toys that we keep downstairs because they won’t work on the carpet
- little rider wiggle car
- a little tikes car
- game craft security scooter
- ride on snail
- stroller and shopping cart that we fill with “heavy” items for pushing 
For eating we have a speech mirror and wiggle pod for his chair
For bed we have a rotating star projector nightlight and we incorporate the weighted blanket and melatonin. We do story time in the pod swing as research has shown that the swinging and compression that comes from the pod swing is calming and great before bed.
UPDATE: SOURCES (Please let me know if I have left anything out)
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- LITTLE TIKES HOPPER BALL (originally purchased from toysrus here is a similar one)
https://www.amazon.com/…/B…/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MEypBb4GVTVK5
- SPEECH MIRROR (used for visual stimulation while eating)
https://www.amazon.com/…/B07…/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00…
- SHOPPING CART: (recommend filling with homemade weighted rice bags)
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Shopping-…/…/ref=sr_1_1…
SENSORY BINS:
- Lakeshore Learning Store
BUILDING & MANIPULATING TOYS:
- Lakeshore Learning Store
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A GREAT RESOURCE YOU CAN FIND FOR DIRECTION THAT I HAVE FOUND HELPFUL IS THE FUN AND FUNCTION CATALOGUE.
- some of the items are pricey and some are no brainers but its a great resource to get ideas and then start researching where you can purchase that item from a different source.
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DECOR & Furniture: (Decor and Furniture was purchased quite a few years ago so I will just source the store it's from. Decided to go ahead and source this since it has been coming up in the comments.)
SECTIONAL: IKEA
WALL STORAGE SYSTEM: Pottery Barn Kids
CORNERY CABINET/SHELF: Pottery Barn Kids
THROW PILLOWS: Pottery Barn Kids
RUG: At Home
BINS: At Home
PLAY LETTERS: Hobby Lobby
PICTURE FRAMES: IKEA
COFFEE TABLE: IKEA
POTTED PLANT: IKEA
WOOD CRATE (on shelf): World Market
DRESS UP WARDROBE: Kid Kraft off of Amazon
GREY STRIPED PAINT COLOR: Cumulous Cloud Benjamin Moore
CURTAINS: Land of Nod
CURTAIN RODS: Home Depot
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RESOURCE: Sensory Diet: explanation and break down of different types of possible sensory needs to give you a starting point in understanding the tools sourced above and their purposes. You can do further research on how to work on each of these different senses and what the benefits of each are.
1. Proprioception
2. Vestibular
3. Tactile
4. Auditory
5. Visual
6. Smell
7. Taste
8. Interception
https://www.sensorysmarts.com/sensory_diet_activities.html
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SUPPLEMENTS WE USE: (These supplements have been suggested to us by our neurologist for our sons particular needs and I do not advise nor suggest self medicating your kiddo but am simply listing these out as some suggestions to inquire with your doctor about to see if your child would benefit from the following)
- Melatonin
- OMEGA 3
- L CARNOSINE POWDER
- Multi- Vitamin
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