Make your Sport or Recreation Center Sensory-Friendly

Are accessibility and inclusion important to you? Indoor and outdoor recreation centers or rec centers, sports centers or clubs, community centers, activity centers, and play parks are busy, noisy and bright! For people of all ages who experience sensory sensitivity or sensory overload, a busy, noisy and bright environment is a barrier. As a result, many people, including families with children, avoid going to activity centers, rec centers or sports centers. Create a sensory-friendly recreation center or facility and you make it accessible to more families and include more people.

Are you curious about becoming more accessible, inclusive and sensory-friendly? Read on to discover simple ways to create a sensory-friendly recreation center or sensory-friendly activity center of any type. Welcome more people, of all ages, and make them comfortable at your location.

Why are sports and recreational activities important for children with sensory differences?

It is important for children, adults and seniors alike to engage in different sport and recreational activities. This is especially true for children with sensory differences or disorders. Participating in sports and recreational activities helps to build physical skills. Furthermore, it also affords children the opportunity to build other skills, like problem-solving and social skills. Research by Sefen et al., (2020), “Beneficial Use and Potential Effectiveness of Physical Activity in Managing Autism Spectrum Disorder” found that participating in physical activity helps to improve emotional regulation in neurodiverse children. All the more reason to make your sport or recreation center sensory-friendly. 

Additionally, many centers have different equipment and toys that children can play with. Exposure to different types of equipment and toys increases children’s physical capabilities, motivation and self-confidence. Ultimately, this helps healthy childhood development.

What are ways to create a sensory-friendly recreation center or sports facility?

Many recreation centers, activity centers and the like are sensory-rich. However, it can be easy to introduce a few changes that make a difference. Discover simple changes to make your center or facility sensory-friendly, accessible and inclusive.

Add sensory-friendly activities and equipment

You have more than five senses. Include activities and equipment that helps children explore their different senses:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Taste
• Touch
• Smell
• Movement
• Balance
• Interoception (Internal Body Sense)

For example, following a leader activities include the sense of vision (in person or on screen). Dancing to music includes hearing. Having a snack area to eat/drink involves taste and smell. Water, sand or sensory boxes incorporate touch.

Oftentimes, movement and balance activities and equipment are often the focus of sports, activity or recreation centers. Include activities and equipment that truly do encourage and invite all types of movement and balance. In particular, incorporate safe and fun things that encourage children to get their heads out of vertical. With so much screen time, children’s heads and bodies do much less moving through space in all directions. Therefore, make movement and balance fun.

Additionally, interoception is your internal body sense. It tells you when you are hungry, thirsty or have to go to the toilet, as examples. It also helps regulate your breathing and your emotions. Choose activities that incorporate breathing, like yoga, and encourage mind-body connections like meditation.

Create a low-sensory space

Another important aspect of creating a sensory-friendly space it to have a quiet zone or low-sensory space. For many children, exploring the senses through movement and activity can become overwhelming. Create a special calm-down space or chill zone to help. For example, include features like:

• Screen-free zone
• Comfortable seating
• No overhead music
• No bright lights

Offer sensory-friendly hours

Plan special times to make changes to the whole space that are sensory-friendly.

• Minimize crowds. Consider adding in a schedule for special times for people to book in advance to visiting your facility. Ensure that there are not too many people in your facility at once. Oftentimes, large crowds lead to increased noise and lack of personal space. Ultimately, people who experience sensory overload will be uncomfortable.
• Lower lighting. Typically, flashing and fluorescent lights are problematic and uncomfortable. Therefore, adding in special times with lower lighting helps. Make sure lighting is adequate for safety, though!
• No background noise. Background music or noisy equipment are often irritating for people with sensory sensitivities. Simply turn off noises and music at specific times to create a more inclusive environment.

Provide sensory-friendly staff training

Another important feature of a sensory-friendly facility is having sensory-friendly training. Ensure that your staff members are aware of the ways to interact with different children and families at your event. In particular with people who have disabilities. For example, it might be common that children with sensory differences may be less talkative. Therefore, it is important that staff help to facilitate comfortable interactions.

uilding Inclusive Spaces: A Sensory Friendly Solutions Approach

Here at Sensory Friendly Solutions we go beyond providing informative resources. We offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower businesses and organizations to create inclusive and welcoming environments for all. From in-depth training programs to industry-recognized certifications, our services can help you navigate every step of the sensory-friendly journey:

• Training & Education: Our expert-led training programs equip your staff with the knowledge and tools to understand sensory processing and create positive interactions with individuals who have sensory sensitivities.
• Sensory Friendly Certification: Demonstrate your commitment to inclusion with our sensory-friendly certification program. This program provides a roadmap for creating sensory-friendly experiences and recognizes your achievements.
• Consulting Services: Our team can tailor a sensory-friendly solution to your specific needs. We offer comprehensive assessments, design consultations, and ongoing support to ensure long-term success.
• Product Recognition Program: Highlight products that cater to diverse sensory needs with our product recognition program. This program allows manufacturers to showcase their commitment to sensory inclusion.

Creating an Inclusive Aquatic Experience: Sensory Friendly Swimming for Sport and Recreation Centers

This blog post highlighted the importance of activity, sport and recreational activities for children with sensory sensitivities and ways to create your own sensory-friendly facility. Is a pool part of your facility? You can read our blog post: Making a Splash for All: Sensory-Friendly Swimming Lessons and take our course!

Enhance your sport or recreation center with our Sensory Friendly Swimming course! This essential training equips your staff with the knowledge and skills to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Learn how to adapt swimming lessons and recreational activities to ensure that everyone can enjoy the water comfortably and confidently. Make your center a destination for all with our expert guidance—enroll today!

By partnering with Sensory Friendly Solutions, you can create a more welcoming and enriching space for everyone, fostering positive interactions and a culture of inclusivity. Get access to all the courses you need to create sensory-friendly experiences at your Recreation Centre, with our help! Watch a short video from our founder about our low cost Training Membership:

Finally, interested in learning more about the creation of sensory-friendly spaces? Then, check out:

• How to Create a Sensory-Friendly Event
• What Is a Sensory-Friendly Environment?
• How to Create a Sensory-Friendly Classroom
• Create a Sensory-Friendly Camp