New sensory space added for kids
Over the last 12 months, the Libraries Horowhenua Engagement Team have been working towards a vision of creating a sensory space within our children’s library to stimulate and support children’s cognitive and sensory development through interactive and multisensory experiences.
Our goal was to provide an inclusive and engaging environment that caters to the diverse needs of the tamariki in our community.
After all those months of planning and having received a generous grant from Tu¯ Manawa Active Aotearoa along with funding from the Friends of Horowhenua Libraries Inc, our vision has become a reality.
Libraries Horowhenua have been able to set up an active play learning space where all families can come to play, read and learn together. Our acoustic learning tree and wooden sensory wall panels offer a permanent space where children can play. This area offers a reduction in harsh noises reverberating in our otherwise large open spaces and encourages a greater sense of wellness and calm amidst an overstimulated environment.
The wall panels encourage interaction and discovery, improve
motor skills and movement and develop eye-hand co-ordination, making them a perfect addition for children with special needs. We can now offer a Sensory Support Kit providing a range of tools and materials tailored to diverse sensory needs. Tamariki can experiment with noise cancelling earmuffs, fidget tools, liquid floor tiles and more in our special sensory space underneath the acoustic learning tree.
This space has only just been completed but we are already seeing it well enjoyed by our visitors, storytime children, babies and school groups.
The full Sensory Support Kit will be out in the library to enjoy every day during our Shake up your Senses April school holiday programme, Monday-Friday 10am-12pm. If you’d like to explore the kit at another time, please keep an eye on our website as the online booking form will be up soon or simply pop in and chat to a librarian so we can make it available for you.
Libraries Horowhenua would like to extend a huge thank you to the Friends of the Horowhenua Libraries and Tu¯ Manawa Active Aotearoa for
their trust and generosity regarding this initiative. We are committed to the continuation of this project and are confident that it will have a lasting impact in our community.