CASE STUDY
Recess Romp Around
A hybrid sensory space helps students focus in class
Start My Sensory SpaceStart My Sensory Space
The Background
Rabbi Avrohom Schwartz, principal of YTY, a private K-12 boys’ school located in Brooklyn, NY, needed a constructive way for students to release excess energy between classes. He contacted Fun and Function to learn more about how a sensory room could benefit his students.
The Vision
To create a hybrid room where active elementary-aged boys could let off steam during breaks, enabling them to focus during class time.
The Challenge
Incorporating both calming and active elements into the room, with as many useful sensory products as possible, while ensuring ample space for movement.
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter
The Process
Step 1: Choosing the Sensory Tools
The Sensory Room Design Team chose a great combination of products that would let kids release excess energy and calm them at the same time.
Release Energy, Build Strength
For the active part of the room, the team started with the Safari Steppers, offering the boys a fun balancing challenge. The Wild Web makes rock climbing accessible indoors! Kids enjoy climbing while strengthening their muscles and improving coordination along the way. The Adaptive Climbing Wall provides additional climbing action and helps develop balance, body awareness and muscle strength.
Release Energy, Build Strength
For the active part of the room, the team started with the Safari Steppers, offering the boys a fun balancing challenge. The Wild Web makes rock climbing accessible indoors! Kids enjoy climbing while strengthening their muscles and improving coordination along the way. The Adaptive Climbing Wall provides additional climbing action and helps develop balance, body awareness and muscle strength.
Exciting, Cheerful Outlets
The SensaSoft Rocking Balance Beam is a versatile product that can be used in a variety of ways, all of which strengthen balance reactions and core muscles. The Jungle Jumparoo has fantastic visual appeal and provides an exciting outlet for high-energy kids.
Exciting, Cheerful Outlets
The SensaSoft Rocking Balance Beam is a versatile product that can be used in a variety of ways, all of which strengthen balance reactions and core muscles. The Jungle Jumparoo has fantastic visual appeal and provides an exciting outlet for high-energy kids.
Satisfying Sensory Input
Kids love to roll around in the Sensa Soft Play Barrel, or just go inside and hide! Rolling down the padded Sensory Roller Slide offers students deep pressure input with a visual LED light component as well. And what sensory space is complete without some Gel Floor Tiles for kids to jump on, sit on or mush with their hands?
Satisfying Sensory Input
Kids love to roll around in the Sensa Soft Play Barrel, or just go inside and hide! Rolling down the padded Sensory Roller Slide offers students deep pressure input with a visual LED light component as well. And what sensory space is complete without some Gel Floor Tiles for kids to jump on, sit on or mush with their hands?
Bring on the Focus and Calm
The team also included a calming area. They recommended the LED Fiber Optic Cascade as a focal calming element in the room. This calming curtain helps with stress reduction, focus and attention-and the strands are so much fun to touch! The Bubble Tube and Platform provides soothing lights and bubbles, helping kids relax and unwind. The Organic Cotton Hammock Chairswing offers a gentle rocking experience and supports sensory integration.
Bring on the Focus and Calm
The team also included a calming area. They recommended the LED Fiber Optic Cascade as a focal calming element in the room. This calming curtain helps with stress reduction, focus and attention-and the strands are so much fun to touch! The Bubble Tube and Platform provides soothing lights and bubbles, helping kids relax and unwind. The Organic Cotton Hammock Chairswing offers a gentle rocking experience and supports sensory integration.
These sensory tools create a nurturing environment where kids can relax, explore and unwind in the way that works best for them.
Step 2: Design & Layout
The Fun and Function team skillfully integrated both active and calming elements into the small space.
The back corner was designated as the main calming area and included calming seating options for the students (like the Squeezie Seat and Bean Bag Chairs). The team added wall boards (including the Distortion Mirror and Sensory Acoustic Tactile Panel) in this section as well, for some additional self-regulating activities.
The active components of the room took up the remaining three walls, providing students with ample room to spread out and move as needed.
The End Result
Rabbi Schwartz needed no more convincing of the benefits of a sensory space; the results spoke for themselves:
“The room has been a tremendous tool for helping the boys burn off excess energy so that they can go on with their day and focus in class… Fun and Function was a pleasure to work with and the team is competent and knowledgeable.”
- Michelle Howlett, assistant principal of Washington Elementary School
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