Anyone put together their own DIY sensory room?

[AmberLeaf]

I've been looking.....they are v expensive to have 'put in'

Thinking if someoneelse can do it so can I!

So has anyone made their own?

How hard/easy was it?

Any tips or links to websites to get cheapish but decent things to put in one?

Thank you.

we did a sensory room a few weeks ago, it cost us about £50, we got a pod light from maplin, dd loves this as u can have fast or slow and shines off mirror ball, most of the items we got off the car boot, i made some patchwork cushions for textures, used fur fabric, cord, cotton, velvet etc, dd loves fibre optic light, it can be done on a low budget, dd also found bubble tube at car boot, cost her £3, hth

Thanks, wow thats really cheap!

I didnt think of boot sales, I will keep my eyes open.

Im going to have a look on Maplin website, we were at a wedding reception recently [which I was dreading, didnt think DS would be able to handle it] and he was really taken by the lights and lazers that the DJ had, thats what got me thinking.

Thanks thats really helpful.

Is this the sort of pod light you have?

www.maplin.co.uk/pod-lights-led-225773

Ive just remembered I have one like this in a cupboard somewhere that I bought for a party a while ago. [didnt realise thats what a pod light was!]

yes thats similar to dd but hers was just a single light, its great when pointed at mirror ball as it shines different coloured spots moving around the room

We did a sensory room for our dd.We put up blackout blinds.Ther are shiny door hangers hanging on the walls.We bought a star machine from find me a gift.DD did get a rompa laser projector for Christmas last year.She has glow teddies.Relaxing music and relaxation cd,s.We put textured siver sticky back paper from b&q on bits of the walls.Also cheap stick on mirrors.This time of year is fantastic for differant lights.Have a look around christmas shops,diy shops.We have just got these butterfly lights and a sun in a jar.You can do a sensory room cheaply buy just looking around the shops and thinking of things in a differant way.

shadow light from argos is fab. If your child like to lay on the floor, fill a quilt cover with bean bag balls, sew it up and then put another one over the top and that is then washable

Years ago I went to Action for Leisure (a small national charity based locally, not sure if they still exist as cant find on google) and they had a "budget" sensory room. - some ideas we took away were -
the mathmos projector lamp - www.mathmos.com/space-projector-light-6502-0.html. (cheaper than the specialist ones when I got ours) If the child cant see as far as the ceiling they also suggested that it could be projected on to a photographers light reflecting umberella (see amazon).
At xmas mirror balls and the like tend to be in all the gadgetty shops.

Lisa what colours does the Argos Shadow lamp go please? I assume it is this one.

Yes that's the one. It goes green, blue, red and I think purple. It has loads of different settings it's great

argos do a bubble tube, I've just ordered one for dd3 so don't know if it's any good yet though.

Lisa, it has red and blue then it's for us! No point buying it if it didn't include those colours, thanks .

THanks Ninja. Will have a look at that too.

Ds has a sensory space under his raised bed, and a calm corner in the lounge. I have not spent a lot on things. The space under the bed has a mattress and various squichy cushions and a choice of cool lights. again we have used christmas lights. Ds likes confined spaces to relax in.

Thanks everyone, this has all got me thinking!

Hi Amber, I just remembered this website: www.playpennies.com/sensory-rooms-on-a-budget/

Thanks tallwivglasses.

Im posting from my phone so cant look at your link right now, but it looks like the sort of thing im looking for.

Hi all! Very interesting thread and great ideas! I was wondering if a standard lava lamp would be suitable for children? I know ds1 (he's 4.5) would LOVE it, but am just a bit worried as not only is he quite young himself, but he has 2 younger brothers who do venture into his room too. What do you think?

I wouldnt, they get hot and easy to knock over :(

lisa thank you. hmmm, maybe not the best option then for a ds who has practically no impulse control...I guess the space projector would be a safer alternative then

What about a tent which you pop up and down whenever you want?

www.amazon.co.uk/SunnCamp-Blackout-Two-Man-Tent/dp/B001NPCVX0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1316462744&sr=8-6

You can put light up toys and fluffy stuff and fiddly stuf in there?

www.amazon.co.uk/SunnCamp-Blackout-Two-Man-Tent/dp/B001NPCVX0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1316462744&sr=8-6

That tent looks good, ive seen a similar one in the www.specialneedstoys.com catalogue.

Theirs is I think £39.99 so that amazon one is a good buy.

re lava lamps; My older son had one and I can also confirm they do get quite hot so not a good idea

www.specialneedstoys.com

have you got wilkinson shop in your area, pop up tent is summer item, in our wilkinson theres 75% off summer and garden items, the pop up tent was about £4, not available online, only in store

I think theres one not too far away, is it a black one?

they had different colours