Virginia Beach is getting a Sensory Gym!

Hampton Roads is finally getting a Sensory Gym!  Mompreneur, Tashia Smith, plans on opening the SensoryAbled Kids in Virginia Beach on Holland Road, August 12th, if all goes according to plan. 

Her rates are totally reasonable and... AND... she's offering a discount for any additional siblings who tag along! (keep reading for more details).

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(Can you tell I'm excited?!  I have nothing to disclose, I am not affliated with the gym or any of the websites or manufacturers mentioned here.  Neither Tashia nor SensoryAbled Kids is compensating me for this post in any way.)

"What is a Sensory Gym?" you ask

I had never heard of a Sensory Gym until I saw this Facebook photo post by Diary of a Mom.  Diary of a Mom is written by the mother of two daughters, one with autism and one who is more neurotypical.  Brooke's favorite place to go is the SenseAbility Gym near there home in Massachusetts.

A Sensory Gym is a play area geared toward promoting engaging all of a child's (or adults) senses.  These include not only our senses of sight, smell, sound and touch, but also our sense of balance (vestibular or equilibrioception), our sense of where our body parts are in relation to each other (proprioception), as well as our ability to sense pressure, among others.

On the right is a photo of a mesmerizing visual sensory experience called a bubble tube, similar to this one.  The one featured at the SensoryAbled Kids gym will not only light up as the bubbles float and swirl, but will also vibrate a padded seat surrounding it. (Yes, please.)

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Sensory experiences are important to any child's growth and development, but some individuals, especially those with sensory processing difficulties, need more sensory "input" to help their nervous system learn to organize itself.  If you're curious here is a post with more information on Sensory Processing Disorder.

Why Does Virginia BEach need a Sensory Gym?

Photo Courtesy of FunandFunction.com

As far as Tashia and I can tell, there is not another dedicated sensory gym in the state of Virginia!  (Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in the comments.  I'd love to hear of another!)

The need for a dedicated parent-led sensory gym is immense.  While there are great activities for those with special needs in Hampton Roads, this is one thing we are missing.

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What's in a Sensory Gym?

Or more specifically, what's going to be in the SensoryAbled Kids gym? (links included to similar products)

• a large piece of action equipment for swinging, climbing, monkey ropes, with a rock climbing and net climbing walls (similar to the one in the photo above, each piece is custom built by Fun and Function.)
• Sensory Swings
• Crash Pads and Bean Bags
• vibrating, LED lit, calming Bubble Tube
• Weighted Lap Pads
• Touchable Fiber Optic Lights
• Break Boxes
• Ball Pit
• Open-Ended Building Kits, like Interlox and Lego® Bricks
• Giant Chalkboard Wall, because who doesn't like coloring on the walls (and not getting in trouble)?!
• Calming room for those who need it (that's where the Bubble Tube is going to be set up)

Tashia plans on offering parties, special rates to groups, and less crowded play slots for those who need the sensory engagement without a lot of people around.

I about fell over when Tashia said she is only charging $12 for a Day Pass!  Here's a breakdown of the fees, which are obviously subject to change:

So, What's This Going to Cost?

	First Child	Each Additional Sibling
1 hour	$8	$4
1.5 hours	$10	$5
Day Pass	$12	$6
Monthly Pass	$35	+1  $55 +2  $65

 

But What about Adults with Special Needs?

Wait, you mean children with special needs grow up??  Indeed.  And with that in mind, Tashia is expecting to accommodate adults with special needs who could benefit from the multisensory activities in the gym.

Make sure you check out Tashia's Facebook page for SensoryAbled Kids and their website for updates on the Grand Opening, rates, and events!

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Nikki Schwartz is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Oaktree Counseling and focuses on using neurofeedback, play, and talk therapies to provide practical, effective counseling to families and clients.

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