sensory overload Archives

Young students smiling waving outside of school bus window.

What Is a Sensory-Friendly School Bus?

Sydney-Ellen Cooke August 2, 2021

For many students, taking the school bus is stressful and overwhelming. A crowded bus, traffic noise and a high-energy environment induce anxiety for many children. Sensory sensitivity, sensory overload and sensory processing difficulties add to the challenge of school bus transportation. 4Seasons Transportation is an organization based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It provides sensory-friendly school

Young students at school sitting at a table completing a writing activity.

How to Create a Sensory-Friendly Classroom

Sydney-Ellen Cooke July 14, 2021

So you might think that a sensory-friendly experience or environment is something that happens at the movies, the theatre, or a store. Consider that a sensory-friendly environment is needed at school too! Many children, both with and without diagnoses of sensory disorders, have sensory sensitivities. Schools and teacher often do not know how to help

Two young business women running their sensory-friendly business.

How to Get Started With Your Sensory-Friendly Business

Sydney-Ellen Cooke June 13, 2021

Are you like many other businesses? You want to increase your customer base. You are interested in being more accessible. Inclusion is important to you. Maybe, you’ve heard about sensory-friendly hours. Do you wonder if that is for you? You think you might already have some sensory-friendly features at your business. But, you don’t know

Young family sitting on hotel bed with suitcase while on a sensory-friendly vacation.

Plan a Sensory-Friendly Vacation

Sydney-Ellen Cooke June 12, 2021

Are you planning your next vacation? Does a member of your family struggle with sensory sensitivity or sensory overload? Traveling can be stressful and challenging at the best of times! Especially so following COVID-19 and long periods of social isolation. A sensory-friendly vacation is a solution for a less stressful and more enjoyable vacation, be

Young woman sitting on couch with laptop reading a sensory-friendly email.

How to Create Sensory-Friendly Emails

Sydney-Ellen Cooke June 6, 2021

Do you find yourself communicating more by email these days? Maybe you are working from home. Or, only going into the office some of the time. Ever receive an email that you simply don’t understand? On the other hand, have you ever sent an email that was misunderstood? These are common experiences for email users.

Young family sitting on beach towel at sensory-friendly beach.

Make your Beach Sensory-Friendly

Sydney-Ellen Cooke June 6, 2021

Many people enjoy visiting the beach. However, did you know that some families avoid the beach? The crowds of people, loud noises and lack of shade can all be very overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivity. That is true for adults and seniors too! Have you ever considered making your beach sensory-friendly? There are easy,

Young blind woman walking with cane visual aid.

Sensory Preferences: Yours, Mine, & Ours.

Sydney-Ellen Cooke May 18, 2021

There are simple changes you can make so that an event or location is sensory-friendly. When thinking of common sensory-friendly changes, consider dimming bright lights, adding closed-captioning to videos or creating quiet zones. However, there is no single recipe to create a sensory-friendly event or location for everyone, all of the time. Each person is

Young boy and swim instructor during sensory-friendly swim lessons.

How to Create Sensory-Friendly Swim Lessons

Sydney-Ellen Cooke May 8, 2021

As summer camps and outdoor swimming pools begin opening for the summer in the Western Hemisphere, it important to include as many children as possible in swimming lessons. The World Health Organization tells us that drowning is the third major cause of death for children and youth. Sensory-friendly swimming lessons are needed. A common summertime

Children and camp counsellor smiling at outdoor camp.

What to Pack for a Sensory-Friendly Camper

Sydney-Ellen Cooke May 2, 2021

Summer is almost here. Are you thinking about summer camp for your child? For many children, day and overnight camps are a huge part of their summer. However, if your child has sensory sensitivities, sending them to camp may seem daunting. Children with sensory challenges feel overwhelmed by sensory-rich events or locations. A sensory-rich event

Young girl watering a plant in her backyard.

6 Steps to a Sensory-Friendly Backyard

Sydney-Ellen Cooke April 29, 2021

Have you thought of creating of a sensory-friendly backyard? You might still be sticking close to home due to COVID-19. As a result, are you searching for things to do at home with your family? On the other hand, it might be difficult to find sensory-friendly events or locations in your community right now. Oftentimes,

Blog Tag: sensory overload