For a child, visiting a healthcare setting can be an unfamiliar and sometimes overwhelming experience. For children with sensory processing differences or additional needs, the environment itself can create an additional challenge.
The Central Lancashire Children’s Community Learning Disability Team had limited resources available for children to play with or engage with during appointments. Their clinic rooms were also very echoey and lacked the child-friendly features that can help children feel comfortable and regulated.
New sensory and play resources are now helping to change that.
One of the most popular additions has been a set of colourful liquid floor tiles. Staff have been using them as stepping stones to help children make their way into reception, while they have also become a favourite distraction for children waiting for their appointments.
Inside the clinic rooms, cushions, toys and sensory equipment are providing children with opportunities to play and engage during appointments and assessments. Staff have found that the resources help them interact with children more easily, particularly when children ask for support or help.
The impact goes beyond keeping children occupied.
The resources provide sensory experiences that can help children remain regulated during what can otherwise be a challenging environment. Staff say the new equipment has already made the clinic rooms feel more welcoming and child-friendly, creating a more positive experience for the children who use the service.
One member of the team shared that they had already received feedback about a child enjoying playing with the cushions shortly after the resources arrived.
Many of the children accessing the service are unable to verbally describe how the resources have affected their experience. However, parents have shared that their children feel comfortable when accessing the service and are happy to return because they associate it with the fun and regulating activities available.
Resources have also been set aside specifically for occupational therapy and family therapy sessions. The team is looking forward to using these toys and figures to support therapeutic interventions and further improve the clinical experience for children and families.
What might seem like simple toys and play equipment can make a meaningful difference in a healthcare environment — helping children feel safer, more comfortable and more ready to engage.
Thank you to Shepherd Street Trust for funding this project. We’re delighted to have supported the team in creating a more welcoming space for the children and families they work with.
