A Sensory-Friendly Space at Pensacola Children’s Museum
At times, the world can feel a little loud and overwhelming. For children who are still learning to self-regulate, and for individuals with neuro-divergence or developmental disabilities, navigating crowded, noisy environments that feel seemingly out of their control can be especially challenging.
What’s emerging to help restore calm are sensory specific spaces that offer controlled atmospheres with therapeutic, calming and engaging experiences for those with autism, ADHD or developmental disabilities.
These spaces help reduce stress and anxiety by providing a planned break from intense stimuli such as bright lights, loud noises and crowded environments. They also support physical needs by offering opportunities for movement or calming pressure, all working together to promote emotional self-regulation.
Pensacola has become increasingly sensory friendly, with locations like Pensacola Little Theatre integrating sensory-safe performances like June B. Jones The Musical and Captains for Kids providing a free day on the water for children with special needs. More prominently, a sensory safe space is found at Pensacola Children’s Museum, which offers a dedicated sensory area and exhibit aptly named The Calming Seas . Supported by a portion of a $100,670 Impact100 Pensacola Bay Area Community grant, this exhibit serves as a quiet space for guests to center themselves while amongst the bustle of the Children’s Museum, and includes a tactile octopus mural, mesmerizing bubble tube and sensory toys to create a peaceful space for children to regulate.
“I really thought it was important to meet the needs of all our visitors,” Visitor Experience Manager of UWF Historic Trust Wendi Davis said. “The museum is only two floors and it can become loud, overwhelming and overstimulating, so we knew we needed a space to help bring the calm back.”
Although Davis was a major proponent of getting a grant to incorporate a sensory space in the Pensacola Children’s Museum, she notes it would not have been possible without the support of Dr. Kimberlee Spencer. Dr. Spencer not only wrote a letter of support for Davis to include with her proposal for the IMPACT100 grant, but she also provided guidance and a willingness to assist to make the space as sensory-inclusive as possible. Everything included in the exhibit supports a child and parent’s ability to calm, focus and re-engage rather than just being decoration.
“What I hope people understand is that sensory-friendly spaces aren’t just accommodations, they’re invitations,” Dr. Spencer said. “They say to families who have often felt excluded or judged: you belong here too. When a child with sensory differences has access to a well-designed environment and experiences success and joy there, that shapes their trajectory. Pensacola needed this. I’m glad the museum had the vision to make it happen.”
Dr. Spencer has worked for 20 years at the intersection of child development, early childhood education and family services, working with families of children under three who have developmental differences, including autism and sensory processing challenges. Before transitioning to independent practice, she served as the Program Director for Early Intervention in the four Emerald Coast counties and then as Deputy Director of Early Intervention for the state of Georgia – she has worked at the direct service level, the regional program level and the state systems level.
Dr. Spencer utilizes Pensacola Children’s Museum for some of her therapy sessions, because it provides opportunities to work on social engagement with other children present and allows for practicing regulation and community participation in a real setting. According to Spencer, a children’s museum offering something to explore and engage with is inherently motivating for young children, and early intervention is most effective when it happens in natural, meaningful environments that most families actually go to.
“When I can coach a parent in a real environment while their child is genuinely interested and activated, the learning can stick in a way that’s different than in a therapy clinic,” Dr. Spencer said. “ The Calming Seas gives us a space where we can work on regulation and engagement without the child being overwhelmed before we even start.”
Officially opened on December 20 of last year, The Calming Seas marks the first sensory-specific exhibit offered in a museum in Pensacola. Located on the museum’s second floor, it is the only gallery in the museum that has a door to help keep loud activity out and the quiet in.
The space includes a bubble wall to provide a calming, gentle stream of bubbles and light meant to reduce overstimulation. The custom tactile mural offers rough and smooth, soft and firm, plus angular, curved, embossed and recessed features to help users develop sensory awareness. It is interactive without being overwhelming to help develop fine motor skills. Moreover, there are weighted lap pads from KultureCity, books and fidget toys, along with gel floor tiles to support sensory integration with tactile and visual stimulation. There’s also a beach discovery bag that has a section of weighted sand and toys with the idea of exploring and manipulating the sand to discover the hidden toys beneath.
As far as lighting goes, there are no dimmers in the space but the lights typically remain off. This is because the room has a window covered by a serene image of waves, which offers a muted natural light that brightens the room without being as overwhelming as fluorescent overhead lights –which in addition to being harsh on the eyes can also be heard by children with increased sound sensitivity.
While there is not a maximum capacity for the sensory space, families have been able to use the space without being overwhelmed with usually only one family utilizing the space at a time. Families can remain in the space as long as they wish, as long as they are not interrupting another child’s opportunity to use the space as intended. The only rules for the space are to make sure the door remains shut and to respect other visitors sharing the same space.
It is also a requirement that all staff get sensory-inclusive training funded as part of the Impact100 grant. Staff training is completed through an online course by KultureCity, who also provided sensory bags for guests to use throughout their stay at the museum.
“When I can coach a parent in a real environment while their child is genuinely interested and activated, the learning can stick in a way that’s different than in a therapy clinic,” Dr. Spencer said. “ The Calming Seas gives us a space where we can work on regulation and engagement without the child being overwhelmed before we even start.”
Officially opened on December 20 of last year, The Calming Seas marks the first sensory-specific exhibit offered in a museum in Pensacola. Located on the museum’s second floor, it is the only gallery in the museum that has a door to help keep loud activity out and the quiet in.
The space includes a bubble wall to provide a calming, gentle stream of bubbles and light meant to reduce overstimulation. The custom tactile mural offers rough and smooth, soft and firm, plus angular, curved, embossed and recessed features to help users develop sensory awareness. It is interactive without being overwhelming to help develop fine motor skills. Moreover, there are weighted lap pads from KultureCity, books and fidget toys, along with gel floor tiles to support sensory integration with tactile and visual stimulation. There’s also a beach discovery bag that has a section of weighted sand and toys with the idea of exploring and manipulating the sand to discover the hidden toys beneath.
As far as lighting goes, there are no dimmers in the space but the lights typically remain off. This is because the room has a window covered by a serene image of waves, which offers a muted natural light that brightens the room without being as overwhelming as fluorescent overhead lights –which in addition to being harsh on the eyes can also be heard by children with increased sound sensitivity.
While there is not a maximum capacity for the sensory space, families have been able to use the space without being overwhelmed with usually only one family utilizing the space at a time. Families can remain in the space as long as they wish, as long as they are not interrupting another child’s opportunity to use the space as intended. The only rules for the space are to make sure the door remains shut and to respect other visitors sharing the same space.
It is also a requirement that all staff get sensory-inclusive training funded as part of the Impact100 grant. Staff training is completed through an online course by KultureCity, who also provided sensory bags for guests to use throughout their stay at the museum.
As the Pensacola Children’s Museum updates their website, they will add to their story so visitors know more about what to expect when they enter the museum. It will provide images of the visitor’s service desk and staff as well as directions to where the quiet sensory space is – eliminating potential uncertainties of how a visit will go or what it will look like, especially for individuals who prefer a plan.
Davis anticipates that the The Calming Seas sensory space will evolve over time to better fit the needs of sensorysensitive guests. She looks forward to the possibility of including new features such as a projector and fish tank.
“This space is a start and I’m just so excited that we were able to make these changes in the museum,” Davis said. “It won’t be static: We will be adding things, rotating things. We want to continue to develop the space for the needs of our neuro-divergent guests and help everyone feel supported.”
More Sensory-Friendly Activities in Pensacola:
Sensory-Friendly Performances at Pensacola Little Theatre
For special sensory-friendly performances, audience members can freely leave their seats as needed, house lights will remain on, sound levels will be lowered, the use of flashing lights will be reduced and each group has their own space. Find out more at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
Free Day On The Water With Captains for Kids
Captains for Kids provides a free day on the water for kids with special needs and illnesses with professional captains, crews and businesses that provide: sailing excursions, dolphin cruises and pirate cruises. Learn more on how to sign up at captainsforkids.com.
Sensory-Friendly Film Program at AMC Bayou 15
In partnership with Autism Society, AMC offers unique movie showings every second and fourth Saturday, when the theater turns on lights, lowers the volume and allows guests the opportunity to get up to walk, dance and be as vocal as they want.
Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese
Every Sunday, Chuck E. Cheese hosts a sensory-inclusive experience for guests with dimmed lighting, reduced noise levels and a calm atmosphere, making it easier for everyone to enjoy games, food and activities in a setting that feels just right.
Sensory Garden & Playground at Pensacola Kiwanis Park
An inclusive play space designed for children with diverse needs, including autism, featuring sensory-friendly materials.