The Children’s Sensorium

The Children’s Sensorium is an ongoing, multi-platform, arts-based research project that explores how art and sensory-play activities and approaches can enhance wellbeing for young children (ages 4-11) experiencing distress, loss and grief.  

The project began with a pilot exhibition, The Children’s Sensorium – Art, play and mindfulness for post-pandemic recovery, which was held at RMIT Design Hub Gallery in Melbourne for The Big Anxiety Festival Naarm 2022. The pilot focused, in particular, on post-pandemic recovery. Building on strength-based preventative approaches to support children’s resilience and wellbeing, (shifting focus away from pathology), The Children’s Sensorium enabled children to explore their senses, feelings, thoughts, worries and hopes, to connect to country and nature, and to cultivate emotional intelligence and resilience. The Children’s Sensorium delivered practical resources, through activities and workshops in the space and take-home information for parents, schools, and children.

The project has since expanded to include artistic installations and sensory spaces at local schools in Melbourne, a regional exhibition tour across Victoria, and this digital platform to enable communities wide and far to access art-based sensory play tools and resources.