In a corner of one of the rooms at Lighthouse an innovative teacher has developed her own sensory facility for use by the special needs children she teaches. While it is far from a complete or complex facility, the teachers involved are seeing positive reactions to it from the children and their parents/guardians.
Snoezelen consists of pleasurably sensory experiences generated in an atmosphere of trust and relaxation. In a specifically developed sensory room or area, experiences can be arranged to stimulate the primary senses without the need for intellectual activity.
Snoezelen was developed in the Netherlands with the intention of providing people, who have sensory and learning disabilities, with appropriate relaxation and leisure facilities. It originates from the belief that we all need stimulation. Thus, Lighthouse strongly believes that the special needs children that it serves can benefit greatly from Snoezelen.
Benefits are important. Communication and understanding between participants can be improved as the pressure to achieve is removed and trust develops. Children, who have perceptual difficulties, appear to gain pleasure from the visual, auditory and tactile experiences. The gentle stimulation has a soothing effect that helps relieve agitation.
It will contain special lighting such as projectors, spotlights, star panels, UV lights, mirror balls, and bubble tubes which will help to create warm and cool sensations. Light Spray, Sound & Light Wall, Effect Wheels, Vibrating Bean Bay, Aroma Diffuser.
Selected rhythmical music with a variety of tone, pitch, rhythm and spacing will be used to soothe the children. Other sound effects such as bird and animal noises, or wind and rain effects will also be utilized.
Smell is a powerful, yet often under used sense. Aromatic massage oils, aroma diffusers, or specially designed smell boxes will provide the stimulation in the facility.
Taste can be included by the use of a wide variety of things that can be spread on bread. Flavored drinks can provide additional stimulation and experimentation will help to widen experience.
If you need further information regarding Snoezelen and its benefits you may contact Teri Woods or Paige Degryse at the Lighthouse Learning Center.
Go to Lighthouse Snoezelen Room Page