Pump It Up -- Sensory Nights for Autistic Children
A group of children bouncing around on inflatable equipment might not be the typical picture of therapy, but parents across the country who have children with autism are touting the physical and social benefits of playtime at giant, indoor inflatable playgrounds.
The environment at indoor inflatable playgrounds, featuring giant bounce houses and slides, can become an ideal place for children with autism to receive helpful sensations. This is the reasoning behind Sensory Nights hosted by the Autism Society, and Pump It Up, a national franchise of giant, indoor inflatable playgrounds. The private playtimes are designed exclusively for children with special needs and their families — the music is turned off and the bounce arenas are less crowded, so children aren’t as likely to be overstimulated as in other similar environments that might be noisier. But besides avoiding overstimulation, bouncing in this sort of environment also can provide therapeutic benefits for sensory challenges by creating a calming sensation called proprioceptive input.For added bouncing benefit, children could wear firm-fitting clothing, especially if it has a stretchy quality, like dance clothing. The firm pressure along their skin provides calming information to the brain and keeps the brain organized as they play. It’s the perfect sensation for therapeutic benefit.
In addition to Sensory Nights, Pump It Up locations across the country and the Autism Society are hosting “Bounce for Autism” events, a broader community fundraiser to raise support and awareness for autism during National Autism Awareness Month this April. More information is available at www.bounceforautism.org.
To find a Sensory Night in your area, check with your local Pump It Up. To learn more about autism, visit www.autism-society.org.
Comments (2)
Where is this site's contact us page because i cant seem to find the page, prehaps you might want to make it more easier to find.
Posted on July 15, 2011 4:29 AM
Hi Tracey, Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We definitely need to make it easier for people to contact us. We will work on that. In the meantime, feel free to contact us by e-mailing parentlife@lifeway.com. Thanks!
Posted on July 15, 2011 2:38 PM