Finding Calm in the Chaos

I’ve always considered myself a lifelong learner. The 3.5 years of chiropractic school I attended were beyond challenging, but I truly enjoyed (most) days. This past weekend I attended a yearly chiropractic seminar in the Wisconsin Dells. I was hoping to share an exciting topic with you all but to be honest most of the lectures were technique based this year and I won’t bore you with that. Luckily the boys had a blast going down the water slides, swimming, and checking out the arcade. We did spend some quiet time outside since the weather was so beautiful. While walking the quiet halls at the end of the day we actually came across the coolest new addition to the Kalahari. It was their Sensory Calming Room. 


Life is very much a go go go pace. I think that one of my personal challenges is to just be still and calm and reflect. Spending a few hours in the Dells with a one year old and three year old quickly reminds oneself that being overstimulated is not a good plan. Being in that constant state of fight or flight means that the body’s stress response is going 24/7. The Sensory Calming Room we happened upon was absolutely wonderful and just what the boys needed at the end of the day. 


So what exactly was the sensory room? It had comfy chairs and soft carpet and it was QUIET. There were books. There were these floor to ceiling water bubblers with calming lights in them - we all (kids and adults) sat mesmerized by the calming effect of listening to running water and watching the slow dim light change colors. There were the coolest stacking toys, squishy toys, toys you could quietly rattle or shake to let out some energy. And literally everything in the room was kid friendly and safe so you don’t have to stress about your kids getting hurt or breaking something. It’s just what a family needs at the end of a very overstimulating day. I wondered why it took the Kalahari so many years to start incorporating a space like this into an environment that is so busy, so loud, and has so much going on. 


Two nights we ended the evening in the sensory calming room and both boys took 5 minutes to fall asleep. Our last night, we skipped going and it took both of them 30 plus minutes to unwind and lay down and actually fall asleep. Lesson learned- the wind down period is important for kiddos (and adults). Choosing to be present in the switching moment from fight or flight and being completely aware of your breathing and heart rate truly helps regulate the mind and nervous system. I made sure to leave some positive feedback about the Sensory Calming Room in the hopes that as time goes on there will be more options for quiet screen free and technology free spaces like this for our very busy younger generation (not only in the Dells) but throughout their life experience. ​