Tips on creating a sensory friendly home environment

Sensory needs can create challenges for autistic children, sensory overload can become particularly challenging during the holiday season.

Tips on creating a sensory friendly home environment

Children with autism often have sensory needs that can dictate how they feel and behave. For example, they might be over-sensitive (hypersensitivity) or under-sensitive (hyposensitivity) to light, sound, touch, smell, taste and balance. Sensory needs can create challenges for autistic children in everyday settings and can result in feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and frustration. Sensory overload occurs when sensory stimuli become too much, and this can lead to challenging behaviour and upset. It’s therefore important to recognise and understand your child’s sensory needs to help them feel comfortable at home and away.

Once you have identified your child’s sensory needs, you can determine what can help them to self-regulate. In this blog, SpecialKids Company will give you some ideas of creating a sensory friendly home environment.

Create a safe space in your home with minimal distractions

Ensure that there is a space in your house that your child considers to be a safe space for them, such as their bedroom. This room should ideally be free of clutter and distractions, with soft furnishings, minimal noise, disruption and things that they like. A safe space is particularly useful if you have a busy house as it will be somewhere that your child can escape to if they are feeling overwhelmed and need to self-regulate.

Choose calming colours

Choose neutral calming colours in your home to promote a relaxing, calming environment if your child is sensitive to bright colours. Ideally, minimize clutter – although this might be easier said than done!

Recognise smells that can be triggering and avoid them in the home

This may seem obvious but avoid smells in your home that might be overwhelming for your child. If you are unsure, it might be helpful to keep a note of their behaviour around certain smells to try and identify which ones that they do not like.

Use a dimmer switch for lights

If your child is hypersensitive to lights, consider using a dimmer switch in rooms as reducing the brightness might make them feel more comfortable.

Consider noise and how you can reduce it

Certain noises in your home might be over-stimulating for your child. Having aids to help block or distract from certain noises might be helpful, such as ear-defenders or using a white noise box or music that they like.

Use a dark den

Dark dens are tents that use ‘black-out’ material. There are versions that can be built up with poles or ‘pop-up’ ones that can be assembled in an instant. They are a great place for children with autism to decompress and if they like lights, the sensory feedback from having them in a dark space can be captivating and stimulating in a positive way. Dark dens are great for creating a safe space free from distraction and room to enjoy visual and sound simulation.

 Have fidget toys

There are lots of fidget toys available at SpecialKids. Company that can provide a sensory outlet for children with autism. Having these around the house can be helpful.

Use a weighted blanked or cushion

Weighted blankets and cushions can provide deep pressure, much like a tight hug, which can reduce anxiety and feelings of uneasiness. They can help your child to feel safe and secure.

We hope that you find these ideas helpful. Please share with us anything that we may have missed!