Where to Find Sensory-Friendly Fun in Hendricks County Indiana
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For many families, playtime is an opportunity to laugh, learn, and bond. However, for children who experience sensory sensitivities, traditional play environments can sometimes feel overwhelming — loud noises, bright lights and large crowds can turn fun into frustration.
Thankfully, Hendricks County, Indiana, boasts a growing number of sensory-friendly play times and inclusive spaces designed to help every child play in a way that feels safe and welcoming.
Here are a few recommendations:
Urban Air Adventure Park
Urban Air in Plainfield offers a variety of special, designated play times for birthdays and school days. On the first Sunday of every month, they offer Sensory-Friendly Play from 9 to 11 a.m.
These hours are specifically designed for children with autism and other special needs. Urban Air is transformed into a calmer park to help with sensory processing.
Slick City Action Park
Slick City in Brownsburg has become the spot for indoor fun since it opened earlier this year.
They offer sensory hours twice a month by providing a calming play space. You can check their Facebook page for their monthly calendar.
Sensory-Friendly Initiatives & Events At Local Parks
Many of our local parks offer Low Sensory Zones or sensory-friendly hours at events. Recently, at the Blues in the Burg event in Brownsburg, the parks department offered a Low Sensory Zone featuring a quiet area and activities provided by Kids Count.
Washington Township Parks & Recreation has been a leader in the cause, offering sensory-friendly events, such as Sensory Swims at Murphy Aquatic Park in the summer and a Sensory Santa event during the holidays, among other initiatives.
The Parks Foundation of Hendricks County has also awarded grants for communication boards for our local parks.
The Hideout
The Hideout opens this October in Brownsburg in the former Well space. This indoor play space offers a great place for kids to explore.
It also provides private rentals for playgroups, which would be a perfect way to create a low-sensory play space for a playdate.
Sensory Fun At Local Libraries
Our local libraries offer a wide range of programs for our communities, and many are designed to be sensory-friendly.
For example, the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library offers a Sensory Playtime, open to all, which features sensory-seeking activities.
Disability Inclusion Day At Hendricks County 4-H Fair
Each year, the Hendricks County 4-H Fair offers a Disability Inclusion Day. This event is open to everyone and offers a variety of activities to make the fair, held in mid-July, enjoyable for all.
Activities include a quiet sensory room and a sensory-friendly version of the Agriculture Educational Experience, held inside the Cartlidge Barn. Guests can also enjoy sensory-friendly shows and free sensory-friendly carnival ride hours for a calmer experience while enjoying the fair.
Did we miss a sensory-friendly event or activity? Let us know by visiting our accessibility page.
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