At Coalhurst Elementary School we believe each student deserves and educational experience where they feel welcomed; they belong; they receive a quality education; and where each child matters and contributes to the learning environment. We are committed to creating an atmosphere where all students are given the chance to experience life in a way that is meaningful to them and to have equal opportunity to learn and grow. Our new Snoezelen Room is a valuable tool for those students faced with disabilities and other challenges that may be barriers in helping them to achieve this goal.
A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory area that fosters relaxation, cooperation, and participation by providing a variety of stimulating activities while in a calming space. Here, students can expect to experience a soft, safe, and stimulating environment with comfortable seating, interactive wall panels, large-muscle play activities, soft lighting, and soothing music. Students will use this room for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is to engage them and stimulate their senses and for students experiencing anxiety or stress, this calming environment can help them relax. Research has shown that children using Snoezelen rooms exhibit:
- Increased focus and engagement
- Increased motivation and responsiveness
- Increased coordination
- Enhanced interactive play skills
- Equipment is specially designed to help children:
Communicate their needs - Understand cause and effect
- Regulate emotions
- Control their environment through touch, sound and movement
By stimulating the senses, there is promise for increasing functional awareness and attention, reducing a sense of isolation and anxiety, encouraging movement, and developing positive relationships.
We offer a special “Thank You” to the following businesses for making this project the recipient of their fund-raising efforts: Davis GMC Buick Rumble in the Cage Ward Bros. Construction