Sensory Gyms: New Havens to Help Sensitive Kids Regulate

Author

Jill Gilbert
June 05, 2025

Raising Highly Sensitive Kids. No Filter.

Hey there, Mama!

You’ve probably heard of playgrounds and therapy centers… but have you heard of sensory gyms? They’re a newer trend popping up all around the world—and honestly, it’s about time.

For our sensitive kids, sensory regulation isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. So often, the behaviors we’re trying to manage—meltdowns, shutdowns, hyperactivity—aren’t about defiance at all. They’re about a little body and brain that’s completely out of sync. That’s where sensory gyms come in.

This week, we’re diving into what they are, why they’re becoming more common, how to find one near you, and how they might just be the missing link you didn’t know you were looking for.

✨ In this issue:

  • 🎪 What is a sensory gym—and could it help your child?

  • 🧸 The swing that brings the sensory gym home

  • 📺 The free YouTube channel full of sensory activities we use on repeat

  • 🎥 The upcoming movie Elio that our sensitive kids (and us moms) will relate to

Jill

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🔮 WHAT YOU NEED MOST RIGHT NOW

Wait—What’s a Sensory Gym? (And Why Your Child Might Love It)

There’s a new kind of space showing up in more and more cities—and if you’re raising a highly sensitive child, it’s one you’ll want to know about.

Sensory gyms are therapeutic play environments designed specifically for kids who experience the world more intensely. Think: swings, climbing walls, crash pads, tunnels—all intentionally created to support sensory regulation, motor development, and emotional resilience.

These aren’t just play spaces. They’re confidence-building, meltdown-preventing, nervous system-soothing havens where your child can safely explore the kinds of input they crave (or avoid) in everyday life.

➡️ If your child has big reactions, a hard time winding down, or struggles with transitions, a sensory gym might be a total game-changer.

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🧸 SENSITIVE-APPROVED

No Sensory Gym Nearby? Start with This at Home

Looking to bring some of those amazing benefits from sensory gyms home? Well, I’ve spent my fair share of time in sensory gyms—and let me tell you, the swings? Always the crowd favorite. Kids love them. They’re calming, they’re fun, and they offer that perfect combo of movement and deep pressure that helps sensitive nervous systems feel safe.

If we had the space at home, I know my son would practically live in one. And if you do have the room, this one from Harkla is a total winner.

Can’t swing it right now? (Pun intended.) No worries—Harkla’s YouTube channel is packed with amazing sensory activities and regulation tips that don’t cost a thing. We use their ideas all the time.

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🎥 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING (Soon!)

A Sensitive Kid, a Relatable Mom, and a Movie We Can’t Wait to See

Okay, so technically Elio isn’t out yet—but based on the trailer alone, I’m already loving it. Elio is a quirky, sensitive boy who doesn’t feel like he belongs on Earth… so he dreams of being abducted by aliens. “I just want to belong somewhere,” he says in the trailer, and if that doesn’t punch you in the mama heart, I don’t know what will.

But what really hooked me? His mom. In one scene, she’s flipping through a parenting book, asking him to point to his feelings on an emotions chart—right after he gets in trouble (again). I’ve been that mom.

Mark your calendars for June 20. This one looks like the kind of movie that will speak to our sensitive kids and the big-hearted, overwhelmed mamas raising them.

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Until next week, sip slowly & savor the calm ☕️