I wonder what an inclusive children’s corner looks like?

By Matilda McClintock

Here at Brunswick Uniting Church, we’ve recently revitalised our children’s corner.

The aim was to make it a sensory-friendly, appealing space with a range of activities for a range of kids … a handmade tablecloth cubby now provides kids with a space to hide away in. Low sensory spaces like tents are great places for kids who are sensorily overwhelmed to relax and self-regulate.

Themed colouring-in sheets help children and adults alike connect to worship in a tactile but mindful way. A corkboard displays recent artwork, the bookshelf has been tidied up, and we have blocks and other toys for quiet floor play. There’s a couch, cushions, blankets and soft toys available for comfort, and a range of child-sized tables and chairs. There are often multi-sensory activities to accompany the theme of the week, and we hope to have a collection of fidget toys soon as well.

There’s always a friendly adult face around to help engage kids, and welcoming packs with stickers, pencils, a notebook, and a story to offer new children worshipping with us. We try our best to celebrate that children’s silence is louder than adult’s silence, and that having young people in the worship space with us brings unexpected noise – as well as unexpected joy – to our Sunday mornings. We’ve had a number of new young families join us for worship since making these changes, and it is such a blessing to see our intergenerational community gathering together each week.

Matilda McClintock is Children, Youth and Young Adult Program Coordinator at Brunswick Uniting Church