Sensory room will be oasis of calm for kids

John Elkington, President of the Rotary Club of Sleaford, cut the ribbon to officially open the Sensory Room last Tuesday.

Liz Dickinson, Manager of the Preschool, said this was the highlight of her 27 years at the preschool, which moved to its present location in 2006. She said such an amazing facility could not have been achieved without the help of the Rotary Club.

Mrs Dickinson said they like to do things differently at the preschool, explaining: “We feel that this is especially pertinent for some of our youngest children, who are only two and three years old, and also for those children with additional needs.

“We came up with the concept of a calming sensory room. This was to be a special place in preschool where children could enter a little world filled with soothing music and calming sounds, soft moving colours, calming light sources, a fibre optic star carpet, bubble tubes, twinkly lights and walls covered in projected adventures that children could explore by using their senses.”

She said: “A sensory room is also a place that offers comfort on the rare occasion someone has a sad day, or if sometimes they just need to get away with their Key Person to somewhere quiet and peaceful with a book, away from the hubbub of the main playroom.”

The room provides an oasis for relaxation which is vital for children’s emotional health and wellbeing; a place where they can rest and become interested in their environment. Some children simply lie down and enjoy the magic, while for others it will engage them in more interactive activities.

Mrs Dickinson says it provides enormous benefits for children with additional needs, encouraging hand and eye coordination and development of social and communication skills. An overactive or distressed child can be comforted and calmed, an inactive child may become engaged.

“Funding this wonderful facility is yet another fine example of Rotary’s involvement in local community projects,” said Mr Elkington.