We all need a space to call our own, and that includes autistic children. Every child is different, but learning their sensory needs will help you create a perfect space. Their sensory needs can immensely benefit from a calming space to relax and cool down, no matter their sensory need.
We have one for each child in our house (well, the teen has her room. But that makes her happy). One of our spaces is an open closet transformed into a calming room, with calm lights, sensory tools, a bean bag for her to crash into, and has a light-blocking curtain hanging on it.
We built him a smaller bedroom for our son to help him have his own small space to feel comfortable with calm lighting. For our third one, we got a wooden loft bed and transformed the space underneath for her to use her room space the most efficiently.
Creating a calming space for your child with autism, ADHD, sensory processing, or other disabilities is essential for allowing them to self-regulate.
In this resource guide, I have compiled all of the items we use throughout our three autistic children‘s individual calming spaces. No matter what your budget may be, there are many different resources to make this space their own!
Create a Calming Space for Your Autistic Child
These are all the items we use in our children‘s calming spaces. Not every room has each item. Each child’s room is based on their personal sensory needs and personalities. Tailor your child’s calming space based on their own sensory needs. This list serves as a starting point to know what you might want to look for.
- Light Blocking Curtains (pink) (blocking off a closet)
- Light Blocking Curtains (blue)
- Push Lights (create calmer lighting)
- Blue Water Sensory Projector Light and Sound (calm lights and sounds)
- TeePee (to create a space)
- Sensory LED Tube 3ft
- Reusable Sensory Water Beads
- Squishy Sensory Toys
- Weighted Blankets
- Sensory Swings
- Crash Pads
- Chewerly (Necklaces, Bracelets, & other tools to Chew on Safely)
- Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Fidget Toys (here’s a link to a bundle pack)
- Bean Bag Chairs (this one doubles as a stuffed animal storage!)
- Adult Coloring books and pencils (flowers and such)
- Coloring books, stickers, and big crayons (for our 3 year old)
That About Wrap’s It Up
As you can see, we use a ton of different sensory tools and creative resources to create each of our children’s individual calming spaces. It’s not hard at all to create a calming space for your autistic child, even on a small budget. Many of these items you can find at Dollar Tree, Amazon, and other major retailers.
