18/11/2025
🏕️In the UK, it’s estimated that between 5–16% of school-aged children experience sensory processing difficulties, which can significantly impact their learning, behaviour, and daily participation.
Combining individual functional assessment, structured sensory activities, purposeful environmental adjustments, clear routines, and expert OT involvement, person-centred approaches help children with sensory processing difficulties thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Designing a sensory-friendly environment involves crafting a personal space that responds to a child’s natural instincts, helping them to feel secure, calm, and able to concentrate.
Some of the elements that a sensory-friendly environment should include are:
💡Control lighting (dimmable lights, blackout curtains, or soft lamps to reduce visual overload)
🔇Reduce noise (noise-cancelling headphones, soft furnishings, or white noise to absorb sound and loud noises)
🏕️Quiet zones (teepee tent, sensory den, or a corner with soft textures to offer a safe and quiet space)
🎨Use calming colours (muted, soft tones like pale blues, greens, lavender, or off-whites)
🧺Limit visual clutter (use baskets, tidy boxes, and calm wall art instead of overwhelming posters or open shelving)
Read more in our latest article: https://leafcare.co.uk/blog/how-to-support-a-child-with-sensory-processing-disorder/