Finally a place where you never have to say I am sorry! Inclusive Sensory Gym coming to Nashville this summer.
What can be better than a place where you ‘never have to say I am sorry?’ That is the mission and goal behind an inclusive sensory gym, coming this Summer to the greater Nashville Area. We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym- Nashville/Madison, is an indoor playground for kids of ALL abilities. As a part of the larger We Rock the Spectrum franchise that was started 10 years ago by Dina Kimmel, an Autism mom herself, We Rock The Spectrum’s mission since inception is to provide a warm and nurturing space for ALL kids to play, learn, grow and just be themselves, no matter what that looks like.
It was this mission and vision that attracted Kavita Jain, the owner of We Rock The Spectrum-Nashville/Madison to the brand. “As a mom to a 10-year-old who is on the Autism spectrum and a neurotypical 4 year old, I understand firsthand the importance of a safe and inclusive environment where both my kids can go have fun, learn and build friendships. My husband and I decided to bring We Rock The Spectrum to the Nashville community to fill that need and to help families like us to feel connected and accepted.
While inclusion is at the core of everything that We Rock the Spectrum does, the gym itself has been designed to promote “Play with a Purpose” and features 12 specialized pieces of equipment that have been handpicked by OTs to build fine and gross motor skills and also help with sensory integration and social-emotional learning. “When you come into the gym you’ll see a whole bunch of swings, climbing structures, tunnels, a zipline, trampoline and other play structures that engage all 7 senses and help in developing upper body and core strength and help kids meet their sensory needs. For kids that need some quiet time, there is a calming room that can help them decompress. Besides that, there is also an arts and crafts area and other sensory toys that work on fine motor skills, and a section in the gym that focuses on pretend play which is very important for building social and language skills in all kids.”
Building community is also something that the gym strives to do. It’s a place where not just kids, but parents can also come together to build friendships and also take some time off when needed. On offer are inclusive classes like gymnastics, music, dance, social skills groups, children’s day camp opportunities, birthday parties, themed events, and more. Once open, there will also be opportunities for drop off and respite care and parent’s night out so parents can get work done or just have a nice quiet evening.
The gym also offers space for OTs, PTS, ABA therapists and other providers that work with kids, to come in to work with their clients or to run group sessions. “We want to be able to help families that visit us, in every possible way and in partnering with therapists and other community organizations we are able to provide another avenue to the kids to work on some core skills while having fun.
We Rock the Spectrum-Nashville/Madison is currently under construction and will be having a grand opening this summer at 2054 Gallatin Pike N, Madison, TN. 37115.
To find out more visit their website and for updates follow their social media pages, Facebook and Instagram.
