Blog / Sensory & Play centres to visit
Sensory centres are a great place to meet other carer for family days out and are often a hub of information for local carers. When your destination is a supportive environment, you are all set for a great day!
Another great benefit is that sensory centres have lots of expensive sensory toys. I've saved lots of money seeing what my son likes before I buy.
Pendragon - Northallerton
PENDRAGON is located in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, and provides support to the lives of those with:
- Physical difficulties
- Emotional difficulties
- Mental health issues
- Learning difficulties and their families and carers.
The specialist Multi – Centre provides a range of Sensory equipment and sensory experiences including:
- Therapeutic, respite and relaxation
- Developmental opportunities and support to visitors.
- Reduce isolation and encourage networking
- The extensive use of sound and light using the latest technology.
It includes a large studio based specialist multi- sensory environment for groups of up to 14 in number and a smaller environment for more personalised use by up to 2 clients.
The centre has full hoisting facilities and a purpose built changing room.
There is also a café area where clients and their families and carers can meet and relax.
WHISH (Whitby Hidden Impairments & Help) - Multi Sensory Centre
A multi-sensory sensory room is a stimulating environment aimed at developing coordination, motor skills, colour recognition, communication and sensory skills for children and adults with sensory impairments.
The senses can be auditory, visual, tactile, motor, cognition, communication, proprioception or vestibular.
The facilities can be used both passively and interactively to:
- calm overactive behaviours
- relax and bond with children / parents / carers
- engage or stimulate the senses to learn
- control new movements or recover / re-learn / rehabilitate
Research shows that for individuals with learning and physical disabilities, sensory impairments and autism, regular access to a sensory room or sensory equipment assists with sensory development. Sensory integration is effective in addressing challenges associated with sensory processing problems and behavioural difficulties in children and adults.
Individuals with regular access to sensory stimulation can make significant improvements in emotional health and enhance their learning experience.
Sensory room
Our sensory room is specifically designed to stimulate and assist in the development of young children, babies and individuals with additional needs. Come and delight your senses around our sensory tree with twinkling fibre optic lights and touchy feely sensory box. Get lost in a flurry of bubbles whilst relaxing on our cushioned beanie surround at our colour changing, vibrating bubble tube. Very small babies or the visually impaired will benefit specifically from our black white and red area where you can enjoy a range of colour relevant toys. For the more agile, we have a large ball pool with obstacle course and caterpillar bumps which are designed to enhance motor skills. Take a visit out book and toy corners with carefully selected sensory toys and books for little hands to play with, all set on bright coloured cushioned floors.
Twiggys Play - Thirsk
Twiggy’s is a 4000 square foot indoor play centre in Thirsk, based on the wonderful Yorkshire Countryside. Nestling in the shadows of our own White Horse, the centre provides a safe and secure environment in which children under 10 can run off excess energy and have great fun.
From the four lane slide and the swing ropes to the dedicated under 3’s area with their own little slide and car track, all of our play frame can be viewed from the comfort of our seating area - complete with complimentary wifi and magazines! So sit back, enjoy one of our fine Swiss coffees or a cup of Yorkshire tea, accompanied with a hot or cold snack or perhaps one of our home made cakes. Or for those of you ( that are feeling ) more energetic, play along too!
Safety and cleanliness are top priority and access and exit to the play area is via electronic magnetic doors – designed to stop children exiting the unit without parental help.