Aurora's sensory hallway helps kids build motor skills, creativity

'It's fun to do stuff in here,' six-year-old Maelle Hamilton says

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 17, 2020
Lisa Queen

Six-year-old Maelle Hamilton was never thrilled about being dragged to the ice rink to watch her older brother Jacob’s hockey games and practices.

It was OK if the younger siblings of Jacob’s teammates were at the arena because they could sit and talk together, colour and constantly ask their parents for snacks to alleviate the boredom.

Then, Maelle discovered the new sensory hallway at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex, located between the toddler and preschool rooms.

Geared for children of all ages and developmental stages, the town’s first sensory hallway is designed with bright colours, letters, numbers, dots and simple directions to encourage youngsters to develop their motor skills.

The sensory hallway helps kids to build connections through sight, sound and touch and provides a way to alleviate anxiety by giving children a break from busy environments like community centres, according to Jodi Alexander, the town’s community programs co-ordinator.

Maelle, who plays hockey and takes karate lessons, now loves coming to the arena for her brother’s games and practices.

“It’s fun to do stuff in here,” said the Grade 1 Highview Public School student, whose favourite subjects are gym, drama and art.

“I like jumping on the squares, I like the circles. It’s fun and they have stuff to do.”

Maelle’s mom, Erin Hamilton, is pleased her daughter is making good use of the hallway.

“Usually, she comes in and it’s free play for her. She’ll make up stuff as she goes through. It’s the first thing she asks when she gets here, ‘Can I go to the hallway?’” she said, adding Maelle’s eyes lit up the first time she saw the pathway.

“I don’t even direct her, she’ll just make things up and it’s different every time she’s in here. It’s just sort of free play. A chance for her to do whatever she thinks she needs to do or wants to do.”

Maelle and her friends use the hallway in a variety of ways, including taking turns playing Follow the Leader.

“It works on her coordination, the physical literacy component of it, which is really great,” Hamilton said.

“Here, you’re using this hallway that would normally be just a hallway, you don’t think of a hallway as anything and by doing this, it completely changes the space and what it can be used for.”

The hallway has many benefits for children, Hamilton, the town’s sport and community development specialist, said.

“I think the critical thing is the active part but also the creative part. It’s a new opportunity for kids to do something,” she said.

“There’s so many different learning elements. There’s the physical literacy component. They can be creative, they can follow the instructions. Then there’s numbers associated with it, there’s different colours associated with it. There’s so many elements to it that can add and be beneficial. Parents, caregivers, leaders can use it in so many different ways, which is fantastic.”

Sensory pathways are a growing trend across Canada and the U.S., Stephanie Ellis, the York Region District School Board’s chief of physical and occupational therapy services, said.

“We’re really excited about any tool or any spaces that are designed to support children’s and young people’s sense of motor processing and their self-regulation systems,” she said.

When kids have a better sense of how their bodies move through space and are given repeated opportunities to practise their skills, they expand connections between their brains and bodies, develop better coordination and build strength and balance, Ellis said.

Sensory pathways are also important for youngsters with special developmental and physical needs, such as those on the autism spectrum and those in wheelchairs, because the spaces can be adapted to address their particular requirements, she added.

If kids learn physical literacy, including learning the basics of running, jumping, throwing and other activities, and become more comfortable and confident in moving their bodies, they are more likely to continue participating in physical activity as they grow into adulthood, Hamilton said.

She’s hoping more people learn about the hallway and introduce it to their kids.

“This is a little hidden gem here that not everybody is aware of,” Hamilton said.