Soft Surfaces, Bright Colors, Brilliant Sensory Experience

The sensory bus at JFK Elementary is such a hit that certain classes have had to re-route their path around the school to avoid the excitement of just seeing the bus.

The bus, a decommissioned school bus, is a special learning environment meant to provide multisensory experiences for students. It was unveiled a month ago and is in full swing. During the course of a week, small classes use the space and occupational therapists and physical therapists hold group and individual sessions for students. The idea is to give students free time to explore, develop skills, and encourage problem-solving and creativity.

As students enter the bus, they already know the routine. They sit on a bright blue bench and take off their shoes, which are then placed in a cubby. Then they get to play. On the windows are signs reminding them about taking turns, sharing and cleaning up. 

Inside is all soft surfaces, bright colors and brilliant sensory experiences: a vertical Lego board, vibrating pens, magna tiles, magnetic mazes, a fuzzy ball bullseye, whiteboards, squishy balls, jelly balloon balls, and mini rabbits.

The most popular activity is the spinny chair–which is low to the ground and a very smooth ride. The first student to take off his shoes, Anderson, makes a beeline for the red chair. He spins for a while, grinning the entire time. A line of students magically appeared. 

“Anderson, Isaac has been waiting so patiently for his turn, how about five more spins?” asked teacher Sarina Pregiatos.

Anderson counted down with Sarina and got off the chair. Isaac hopped on. And then it was Oliver’s turn.

Other students played with squishy balls, crawled through a tunnel obstacle course and wrote their names using the vibrating pen.

At the back of the bus there is a clothing line with little clothes: Bluey pajama pants, a Sonic shirt, Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, and pants. Students are encouraged to hang the laundry using clothing pins.

“Our goal is to provide students with meaningful and functional experiences that not only help them build the underlying skills they need for success but also allow them to engage in a way that's enjoyable and motivating,” said Occupational Therapist Elizabeth Zych, “the laundry game has so many benefits. When children squeeze clothespins to hang clothing, they're building important hand and finger strength, the task also strengthens bilateral coordination, hanging laundry also supports motor planning and problem-solving–kids need to figure out how to hold the clothing, where to place it on the line so it doesn’t fall off, and how many clothespins are needed and, there’s the value of good old-fashioned chores. When children are given age-appropriate responsibilities like helping with laundry, they feel capable and included. Hanging clothes builds independence and teaches real-life skills while reinforcing that their efforts matter.”

By the end of the 40-minute period, all of the laundry in the basket had been hung by Anderson and Isaac.

“We did it. We can help at home,” said Anderson.

At the sound of a bell, students cleaned up, put their shoes back on and lined up to go back to class. Happy campers. The bus, which was also designed as a calming space and place to recharge, does just that for students.