Sensory Kits

Sonoma County Library offers Sensory Kits at all 14 library locations, as well as through Adult Literacy and the BiblioBus, to enhance accessibility, inclusion, and patron comfort. Sensory Kit items can help patrons regulate sensory input, support reading and concentration, and reduce stress and anxiety while using the library.

All library patrons have access to the kits, and there are no charges for lost or damaged items.

Available items may vary by location.

• Bubble Timer
  Bubble timers work by providing a calming visual stimulus and a tangible representation of time passing, which can aid in self-regulation and transition periods.
• Color Therapy Glasses
  Color therapy glasses (chromotherapy) use specific-colored tints to filter light, aiming to influence mood, improve mental clarity, and promote physical relaxation.
• Flow Ring
  This kinetic toy transforms into fun shapes and can be used as a fidget tool, a way to improve coordination, or a stress-relief activity.
• Glitter Wand
  Glitter wands are sensory mindfulness tools that shift focus away from overwhelming emotions. Watching the glitter slowly settle mirrors the process of emotional regulation, helping to reduce anxiety, slow breathing, and lower heart rate.
• Guided Reading Highlight Strips
  Guided reading highlight strips are colored, transparent tools that isolate a single line of text, helping prevent skipped words or lines, reduce cognitive overwhelm for struggling readers, and increase focus and reading speed.
• Pin Art
  Pin art provides strong tactile sensory input, fosters calming repetitive motions, and grounds the brain in the present moment.
• Mini Sensory Mats
  Mini sensory texture mats provide tactile stimulation, calm anxiety, and build fine and gross motor skills through interaction with varied surfaces.

• Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Kids' & Adult Sizes)
  Noise-cancelling headphones block noise and aid in calming down after a stressful experience. By reducing sensory load, they provide stress relief and contribute to emotional regulation. Headphones can also improve focus, especially for individuals with auditory processing disorders.
• Stress Ball
  Stress balls manage stress by providing a physical outlet for tension, helping to release pent-up energy through the rhythmic squeezing and releasing of hand muscles. They act as a tactile sensory distraction that shifts focus away from anxious thoughts, often triggering the release of endorphins.
• Visual Timer
  Visual timers provide a clear visual representation of time passing, making it easier for individuals to understand and manage their time. They aid in managing expectations, promoting task completion, and reducing anxiety associated with transitions and time-related activities.
• Weighted Lap Pad
  Weighted lap pads are helpful sensory tools that provide deep touch pressure while promoting relaxation, focus, and self-regulation.
• Wobble Cushion
  Wobble cushions engage core muscles, improve posture, and promote better focus and attention. They can also help with balance, coordination, and sensory input.
• Assorted Handheld Sensory Tools and Fidget Toys
  Handheld fidget tools provide tactile stimulation that increases focus, reduces anxiety, and assists with self-regulation. Items may vary from branch to branch, but typically include sensory stones, spiky ball stim toys, textured sensory sliders, and/or silicone fidget sticks.