How To Set Up A Cozy Corner
By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L
In more and more public & community spaces, there has been a welcoming of cozy corners. I have seen them in schools, museums, libraries, and more! Cozy corners, sensory spaces, zen zones or any other way you want to refer to them are places that provide individuals a safe area to regulate, take a break, and/or release any emotions that may be weighing on them.
When assisting with facilitating these areas in the school setting, one of the most important things I stress is that it shouldn’t be an area where any demand is placed on the student, but should be an area to assist with the facilitation of co-regulation. I always believe this is important to stress because for some students a demand is what brought them to the space to begin with.
When setting up a cozy corner, first most, it does not need to be a corner! It may look different in different environments! However, what I think the most important concept of the space is that it should offer various sensory tools and strategies to assist with regulating our nervous systems (aka brain and bodies).
The following strategies are a few I have compiled, but feel free to comment below with any other tools you have found helpful.
This area or space should offer decreased extraneous visual or auditory input. Sometimes simply decreasing additional external visual or auditory stimuli helps our nervous system with regulation. Therefore, these spaces are usually in quiet places of a classroom or public area.
Most spaces have boundaries, aka a corner/nook, a pop up tent, a large cardboard box, a hammock as these physical boundaries again may help to remove extraneous environmental input, specifically additional visual input which may be considered overwhelming to our sensory system. The physical boundaries of the space can also provide our bodies with feedback aka proprioceptive input which is usually calming to our nervous system.
The space should be inviting and comfortable. Again, think of it as being an opportunity to reset your body when you may be feeling any big emotions. I like to encourage use of pillows, possible weighted blankets, weighted stuffed animals, a textured blanket or scarf, body socks, and/or Lycra fabric.
Various sensory supports should be available to be used. I have seen the use of visual supports to assist with regulation which may be emotion charts/icons/books/pictures, or tangible items including fidgets/stress balls/poopers or the combination of both including sensory water bottles filled with sparkles or gems. Lastly, auditory supports may be included in the space including headphones, music, or ear plugs.
Gear the space to your audience. For example, if the space is geared for little bodies, remember students that age might not be independent with reading visual supports or books, therefore tailor the space to the population you are supporting.
Lastly, less is more in this space! Think of it being a safe space to step away to reset our bodies, therefore there doesn’t need to be an abundance of sensory strategies, as they can become overwhelming as well!
