Motivation to be involved in one’s daily activities depends largely on the senses (Kristen Meyer).

Cognitive psychologists suggest that the main ingredient of the intellectual phenomenon is sensory stimulation that allows a human being to apprehend through its senses its environment and respond towards it.

Multi Sensory Environments offer people with cognitive impairments and other challenging conditions the opportunity to enjoy and control a variety of sensory experiences.These populations rarely, if ever, experience the world as the majority of us do. Limitations of movement, vision, hearing, cognitive ability, constrained space, behavioral difficulties, perception issues, pain, and other problems create obstacles to their enjoyment of life. Multi Sensory Environments provide opportunities for bridging these barriers.Multi Sensory Environments generates a relaxing and calming effect.

Time well spent in a Multi Sensory Environment has been shown to increase concentration, focus attention, improve alertness, awaken memories, and to improve mobilization, creativity, social relations and communications, and general awareness of the surrounding world. The varied optical, acoustic, olfactory and tactile stimuli help hyperactive individuals concentrate and focus better.

Multi Sensory Environments have not only provided alternative and powerful forms of sensory stimulation for individuals previously isolated in their perceptual disabilities; they have also managed to break into cultures within health and education, providing new ways of encouraging learning, motor development, cognitive development, language and social interaction skills.

Providing a stimulating environment can:

• Increase concentration and focus attention
• Heighten awareness and improve alertness
• Improve coordination and motor development
• Promote cognitive development by increased brain function
• Lead participants to explore their environment
• Stimulate the sensory building blocks
• Develop of a sense of cause and effect
• Promote social interactions
• Promote mental and physical relaxation  – Stress levels drop dramatically
• Lead to non-responsive patients becoming communicatative

Last but not least, participants are happier and have fun.

Below our some of our Top Selling Multi-Sensory Products used in Classrooms and Learning Environments.

Light Panels

New LED light panels with 3 light settings, easy to operate with lock function to prevent panel from being turned off unintenionally. Low energy LEDs provide a cool, clean, bright illuminated background ideal for the investagation of light, colour and shape. Slimline design with rounded edges, these light panels are tough, portable and easy to clean. Supplied with a low voltage mains power supply, but alternatively they can also be used with the new rechargeable power pack (73040). Typical life spand for the LED Light source is approxiamately 50,000 hours (5.7 Years) In context, if this light panel was used for  5 hours every day, this equates to 10,000 days or 27 years. Unbeatable value for money.

Buy A2 LED Light Panel or Buy A3 LED Light Panel

Perception Semispheres PK8

The Semsphers come in eight different clear colours and are soft and warm to the touch. The very youngest children will enjoy handling them in free sensory play or as part of a Treasure Basket collection. Older children will fubd them fascinating as they hold them up ans look through them seeing the world around them in different colours. When a hemishpere is placed on top of an opbject it magnifies it by 4 or 5 times to give a view that is both a differenct colour and enlargedl Holding two or three perception Semispheres together creates new colours and hues; using the spheres on a light panel will enhance the children's opportunities for colour mixing.

Buy Perception Semispheres PK8

Sensory Mood Shapes

These strong illuminated hollow plastic forms are aesthetically pleasing and can be placed around the room or be used in a sensory den to provide background lighting or a mood inducing light. Use the remote control to choose one of 16 different colours or set to fade smoothly through the entire spectrum of shades from a cool ultra-violet to a warm red. The units are low voltage and rechargeable. A 6 hour charge provides approxiamately 8 hours of light, and the lights can be used inside or out. The cubes make for an excellent seat making them ideal for that sensory corner or for that extra special reception area. Water resistant to IP65.

Buy Sensory Mood Shapes

Giant Sensory Ooze Tube

Turn the tube upright to watch the jelly liquid ooze to the bottom. A great sensory resource to fascinate and captivate.

Buy Sensory Ooze Tube

Sensory Rainbow Cascade

Each tower contains two coloured liquids which cascade in droplets to the bottom creating a fascinating display.

Buy Sensory Rainbow Cascade

Spiral Tube Set

Large cylinders with fat spherical colourful droplets that roll in a line down a spiral staircase.

Buy Spiral Tube Set

Spiral Dual Colour Liquid Set

Large sensory liquid wave shapes with two different coloured streams of liquid which cascade to the bottom.

Buy Spiral Dual Colour Liquid Set

Sillishapes Sensory Circle Set

Textured discs, made from soft flexible silicone.  Each pair of discs has matching colours and identical patterns on their surfaces. The 5 pairs of discs are distinctive and different from each other. Children can feel the textures and discover their differences or place the disks into the feely bag provided to see if they can desribe or predict the pattern they are feeling. The silicone circles are strong, soft to the touch and on the floor willl grip even on a shiny surface.

Buy Sillishapes Sensory Circle Set

Mystery Sensory Balls

Set of 6 stainless steel balls that all look similar but behave differently providing a feast of sensory fun. They are all individual and have individual characteristics. Their properties include different weights, sounds and actions. Some wobble when rolled, turn and won't roll in a straight line, some resist rolling and feel funny when you twist, spin and shake them in your hand. They are mysterious and fascinating with their range of sensory attributes and provide a sense of awe and wonder. All children will find them fascinating but also good to use with SEN children, in creative language, and for the joy, mystery and fun they bring.

Buy Mystery Sensory Balls

Sensory Blocks

16 large hardwood blocks containing beads, transparent acrylic, coloured sand and water/ glitter filled pockets in 4 different shapes (square, rectangle, triangle and semicircle). The Sensory Blocks will promote observation in the wider sense, as all the shapes follow the same convention of colour and shape. The combination of smooth hardwood exterior and the brightly coloured sensory centre makes a fascinating component with a multitude of educational possibilities for use with children of all ages.

Buy Sensory Blocks

If you would like to create a sensory space for your childcare, please get in touch with us today. You can phone us on +44 (0)28 7134 6767 or email sales@creative-activity.com.