BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV) – Connections Early Learning Center in Bridgewater has a new sensory-friendly space for children when they feel overwhelmed.
The new space is full of interactive activities, plushies, lights and sound machines to stimulate different nervous reactions in kids. Amanda Peters, director of the center, said kids can get overwhelmed in class and become a disruption. The sensory space is designed to help kids calm down so they can continue learning.
“Just a few months ago, this was an empty space,” Peters said. “Something we’ve recognized in our classes is that our children need emotional regulation support and the idea became that we’d love to have a space we can go to. Some schools have a sensory room space, so we started to collaborate and figure out how we could meet those needs.”
Peters said leaving kids in the room where they become overwhelmed and trying to discipline them can be counterproductive. The sensory room is in the front office space of the building, designed to get children away from the negative stimuli that set them off in the first place.
Peters recognized the importance of explaining the impact of the space because it might seem like a reward for bad behavior to someone who doesn’t understand what a safe space is. She discussed how much a rowdy student could disrupt a classroom and interfere with both their learning and their classmates’ learning. She also explained that many of the children are becoming disruptive unintentionally because they have behavioral needs.
“When I was growing up and many of our staff were growing up, going to the office was seen as a negative. It was a punishment and you were going to get in trouble. Here at the center — before we had the sensory room — it was a space where we allowed children that time and space to regulate,” Peters said. “That’s sometimes hard for adults to understand because that wasn’t our experience as children.”
Peters compared the children’s experience to the adult experience. If an adult is overwhelmed and needs to get away from a space, most have the free will to do so. However, kids are not afforded the same luxury because their schedules are structured.
Peters said parents who have children with behavioral problems recognize the importance of helping kids calm down rather than berating them. She said those parents have been open to a sensory room in the center.
“Parents seem to be really receptive. Parents whose children best benefit from this space are aware of their behavior. A lot of times, they are actually shocked at this approach,” Peters said. “They’re assuming that there is going to be trouble and their kids are going to be kicked out or something like that. A lot of parents find it a breath of fresh air to figure out these things.”
The sensory room was aided by a Valley school counselor who works directly with a sensory room. Peters said the counselor helped pinpoint her team in the right direction and what kind of things to do and not to do in the space with the kids. Each staff member also got specific training to help kids unwind in high-stress spaces, ensuring they can calm down and return to class.
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