Sensational Sensory Respites!

Date posted: October 21, 2014


We had a solid start to the sensory respite season for the teen boys back in September and more recently for the girls and younger boys in the beginning of October. I must say that transitioning from the sunny days of summer camps to the brisk air and beautiful colors of fall Sensory Respites has been a whirlwind of fun times, new friends and exciting adventures!

The Sensory Needs Respite Program provides one on one staffing and specialized programming and equipment for kids and teens with extreme sensory needs and behavior challenges. The program allows the participants to have fun and get away from home while fulfilling their needs for sensory input and constant support. Each of the groups’ first Sensory Respite sessions were spent getting to know each other and the spaces we use during Fall programming.

One of our Sensory Needs areas is the construction room. The construction room is set up like a workshop with work benches and tools along the wall. This is an area we use to work on further developing fine motor skills while having a blast! Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscles in the body in activities like writing, grasping small objects, or even fastening clothing. They involve strength, fine motor control and dexterity—all things we can practice with cool things like Legos, K-Nex, and Squigz that participants can use to build wild and crazy structures with!

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Another one of the areas we use is called the Gross Motor Room. The gross motor room is set up in the back part of camp and is filled with bright colors and a wide variety of things to help further develop gross motor skills while getting some energy out. Gross motor skills involve the use of large muscles in the body in activities like walking, kicking, sitting upright, lifting, throwing or swinging. We currently have swings, exercise balls, medicine balls, crash mats and more in the gross motor room that participants and staff can use to help build up some energy for the day by swinging around or calm down a bit with a crash on the mats!

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The last area I would like to share with you is our super stellar, intergalactic sensory room! The sensory room encourages each participant to explore their environment while providing a place to relax and decompress. Our sensory room is outer space themed with planetary carpets and interactive wall games and art. Lining the walls are sensory toys that are squishy, sticky, light up and more! Our Sensory Room is amazing; it is meant to provide the participants with a safe place to explore their senses!

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Hope you enjoyed learning a bit about some of our spaces: Until next time!
-Katie

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