Play Sense™: Private Preschool & Early-Learning Center (ages 2–5)

The Challenge

Young learners were experiencing emotional overwhelm and frequent dysregulation during transitions, impacting learning time and increasing teacher stress. The new design needed to; Support children with emerging sensory needs (diagnosed or not); Reduce behavioral escalation; Improve classroom readiness; Protect teacher well-being and instructional flow; All while feeling like a warm, universal space — not a therapy room.

Scope

Design and implementation of a regulation-first sensory environment to improve emotional regulation, sensory processing, and classroom participation.

Scale

~250 sq ft dedicated studio within a program serving ~400 children.

Budget / Size

Budget comparable to typical early-learning finish upgrades

Research

Click the icons below to uncover the research underpinning each design decision.

A minimalist room with hanging yellow pod chairs, green bean bag chairs, a potted plant, a beige door, and a decorative wall with green circular accents and blue wavy patterns, all on a yellow wooden floor.
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White medical cross inside a circle on a black background.
A black circle with a white plus sign inside, surrounded by a white border.
A black background with a white circular target symbol and a plus sign inside the circle.
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The Impact

Children

  • Calmer transitions, smoother classroom re-entry

  • Increased independent calming skills

  • Higher participation in group learning and peer play

  • Stronger bilateral motor engagement and confidence

Teachers

  • Less time managing dysregulation

  • More instructional minutes maintained

  • Reduced emotional fatigue

  • Increased confidence supporting diverse learners

School

  • More regulated classrooms

  • Stronger family trust in whole-child care model

  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusion + mental health

Invest in environments that strengthen regulation, learning outcomes, and teacher sustainability.

Building a Play Sense™ studio can help your students thrive — and protect the educators who support them every day. Let’s work together to build an environment that earns presence and elevates cognitive performance.

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