Given all the considerations that need to be made, it can often be very challenging for parents of children with sensory challenges to find fun, safe, and healthy activities for their child to comfortably take part in.
We understand that struggle—and want to use our expertise to help. So, we’ve researched some of the top attractions in the area and compiled a detailed list of the places we consider most sensory-friendly.
We hope that parents living in and around New Jersey can put this list to good use and find some time for their child to enjoy these activities.
If you live elsewhere, please feel free to still read the explanations, tips, and criteria below that we used to develop this list—so that you can find similarly appropriate places in your own neighborhood.
What does “sensory friendly” mean?
“Sensory processing” describes how the information picked up by our senses is received and interpreted by our brains, as well as the subsequent behavioral response. Challenges related to sensory processing can cause a number of significant effects.
“Sensory friendly” activities accommodate sensory processing challenges by taking into account the effect of an environment on the senses and modifying that environment to decrease problematic factors—or at least offering alternative forms of participation.
Although no environment can be completely controlled and there is always the possibility of some unwanted stimulants, sensory-friendly activities can provide excellent opportunities for your child to socialize and have fun in a comfortable way.
What does this look like?
Sensory-friendly places generally accommodate children in two main ways:
- Adapting the environment to reduce opportunity for potentially challenging experiences
- Being flexible in terms of how a child is expected to participate
Many places even offer specific times of the day or week specifically for those with sensory challenges. These are often offered during off-peak hours, when smaller crowds are expected and when children might be able to expect less sensory stimulation.
Some places have special pricing for sensory-friendly times—and some even allow free admission for a therapist or care person to accompany participating children.
Many other attractions have sensory-friendly events a few times a year or even monthly—especially in April, which is Autism Awareness Month.
Below, we list a wide variety of places and summarize what kind of accommodations they offer. As policies or details can change over time, we recommend double checking the information for any places on this list that interest you.
What if an activity or place I’m interested in is not on this list?
For places not on this list, we suggest you call ahead to ask about the following:
- When the busiest and quietest times are
- If staff members are trained to help people with special needs
- If they have quiet spaces where your child could get a sensory break
- If they provide sensory bags (with fidgets, earmuffs, noise-reducing headphones, earplugs, sunglasses or weighted items)
- If they allow you to bring in items to help with sensory needs
- If same-day re-entry is allowed, in case your child needs to leave for a break
- If they allow rain checks—if they allow you to return another day if it becomes apparent shortly into the visit that it’s not going to work out that day
Our List (Divided by Outing Type)
Jump to: Movie Theatres | Live Performances | Trampoline Parks | Sensory Gyms and Special Needs Play Places | Professional Sports Arenas | Discovery | Other
MOVIE THEATRES
AMC Theatres: Sensory Friendly Film program
- House lights turned up; sound turned down
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- 2nd and 4th Saturday (family friendly) and Wednesday evenings (mature audiences) each month
- Participating locations:
- NJ: Clifton, Elizabeth (Jersey Gardens), Mountainside, New Brunswick, Rockaway, Toms River, Wayne and West Orange
- 2 in CT, 9 in NY, 6 in PA and many more in other states
Regal Theatres: My Way Matinee
- House lights turned up; sound turned down
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Two dates per month, for one movie, on the first show of the day on certain Saturdays and Tuesdays each month.
- Participating locations:
- New Jersey: Manahawkin
- 1 in CT, 12 in NY, 3 in PA and many more in other states
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Roxey Ballet: Sensory Friendly Performances
- House lights turned up; sound turned down; potentially startling special effects or lighting removed from program
- Relaxed house rules regarding: moving around
- Quiet break areas
- Sensory items provided: fidget objects, earplugs
- Allowed to bring items to enhance experience (ex: edible reinforcers, fidget toys, headphones and iPads or other electronics for therapeutic use)
- Trained staff to assist and direct audience members
- Materials provided: Pre-Visit Social Stories and Performance Picture Schedules for each performance
- Other support upon request (call or email): pre-visit & meet your seat; story boards provided
- Participating locations: Ewing, NJ and New Hope, PA
The Growing Stage Children’s Theatre: Sensory-Friendly Performances
- House lights turned up; sound turned down; sound levels consistent throughout
- Relaxed house rules regarding: moving around
- Quiet break areas
- Allowed to bring items to enhance experience (ex: snacks, drinks and devices for communication)
- Materials provided: Pre-Visit Social Stories and Activity Guides
- Crowd size limited, with open seating for space between groups/families
- Reserved seating
- Participating location: Netcong, NJ
Paper Mill Playhouse: Autism-Friendly Performances
- House lights turned up; sound turned down; sound levels consistent throughout
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Quiet break area; guests can watch the performance on a video monitor in the break area
- Allowed to bring items to enhance experience (ex: snacks, drinks, reinforcers/motivational systems, headphones and earplugs)
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: social stories, videos, character guides and puzzle activities
- Other supports:
- Pre-visits & meet your seat
- Glow stick is waved before a change that might surprise children, so parents can give their child headphones or distract them
- Participating location: Millburn, NJ
State Theatre New Jersey: Sensory-Friendly Performances
- Lighting and sound modulated
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Quiet break area with soft seating, fidget toys and activities
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: social story
- Participating location: New Brunswick, NJ
Union County Performing Arts Center: Sensory Friendly Theatre
- House lights turned up; sound turned down; sound levels consistent throughout
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Quiet break area
- Sensory items provided: fidget toys
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: social story
- Shortened performance with no intermission
- Limited crowd size
- Participating location: Rahway, NJ
McCarter Theatre Center: Sensory-Friendly Performances
- Lights adjusted; sound levels adjusted
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Quiet break area
- Allowed to bring items to enhance experience (ex: snacks, fidget toys and communication devices)
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: social s tory
- Participating location: Princeton, NJ
Two River Theatre: Relaxed Performances
- Lights adjusted; sound levels adjusted
- Relaxed house rules regarding: noise, moving around
- Quiet break area
- Participating location: Red Bank, NJ
Shea Center for the Performing Arts: Sensory-Friendly Performances
-
- Lights adjusted; sound levels adjusted; no flashing lights, strobes or sudden light changes; sound effects such as sirens are kept low or avoided
- Quiet break area; monitors with low sound to watch show
- Materials provided: study guides (sometimes—depends on the artist)
- 2–3 per season
- Participating location: Wayne, NJ
TRAMPOLINE PARKS
Urban Air: Sensory-Friendly Jump
- Music lowered or turned off; no flashing lights
- Times differ by location; generally on select Thursdays from 2:00–5:30pm or 3:00–6:30pm
- Participating locations: Avenel, Milltown, South Hackensack and possibly others
Altitude Trampoline Park: Sensory Sunday
- Music turned off; no strobe lights
- Limited crowd
- First Sunday of each month from 10:00am–12:00pm
- Participating location: Woodbridge, NJ
Get Air: A Special Time for You
- Music played at lower volume
- Calmer atmosphere
- Free admission for one parent or guardian to support jumpers
- First Saturday of every month, from 8:00–10:00am
- Participating location: Freehold, NJ
ClubAir: Sensory-Friendly Jump Time
- Music lowered or turned off; no flashing lights
- Reduced admission for adult to support jumpers
- Mondays from 3:30–5:00pm
- Participating location: Warren, NJ
SENSORY GYMS AND SPECIAL NEEDS PLAY PLACES
These gyms and play places were created and designed with sensory challenges and other special needs in mind!
- Open play times every day from 9:00am–2:00pm
- Outside food and drinks allowed; nut free facility
- Owned by a special needs teacher
- Location: Waldwick, NJ
We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym
- Open play times most days
- Many locations run by parents of a child special needs or by special needs professionals
- Locations:
- NJ: Audubon, Mount Laurel and Waretown
- 1 in NY, 1 in PA and many more in other states
- Trained support staff
- Designated sensory room
- Started by a parent of a child with Sensory Processing Disorder
- Location: Lake Hopatcong, NJ
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ARENAS
Metlife Stadium: Sensory Inclusion
- Sensory items provided: sensory bag containing weighted lap pads, noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys and more
- Trained support staff
- Location: East Rutherford, NJ
Red Bull Arena: Sensory-Friendly Area
- Quiet break room with dimmed lighting, visual aids, fidget toys and activities
- Location: Harrison, NJ
Prudential Center: Sensory Needs Assistance
- Sensory items provided: weighted lap pads; sensory bags containing badge to identify individuals with sensory needs, noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys and basic communication and feeling cards
- Materials provided: social story
- Sensory Processing Needs section in A–Z Guide
- Location: Newark, NJ
DISCOVERY
Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Planetarium: Sensory-Friendly Shows
- House lights turned up; sound turned down; sound levels consistent throughout
- Relaxed house rules regarding: moving around
- First Saturday of the month at 5:00 pm
- Location: Branchburg, NJ
Adventure Aquarium: Accessible Amenities
- Sensory items provided: noise-reducing headphones and weighted blankets
- Free admission for one personal care attendant to support guests—call 844-474-FISH (3474) to request a complimentary companion ticket
- Other supports: behind-the-scenes tour of the shark exhibit
- Location: Camden, NJ
Franklin Institute: Sensory-Friendly Everyday & Sensory-Friendly Sundays
Everyday:
- Sensory items provided: sensory backpack with noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, weighted toys, fidgets and more
- Quieter exhibits: Amazing Machine and Space
- Materials provided: Sensory Alert Maps that indicate which exhibits contain high levels of stimulation and give tips for exploring
- Other supports: return visit voucher—voucher to return on another day if a guest finds the museum too overwhelming within 30 minutes of purchasing tickets
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Adapted exhibits
- Exclusive visit time for people with sensory challenges from 8:00–9:30 am
- Trained support staff
Please Touch Museum: Everyday Sensory Accommodations & Play Without Boundaries
Everyday Sensory Accommodations:
- Quiet break areas—called Quiet Zone Tents
- Sensory items provided: quiet kits that include noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys and more
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: Sensory Guide that indicates sensory stimulation level of each exhibit
- Free admission for one therapist or care provider to support guests
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Play Without Boundaries:
- Lights and sounds reduced
- Quiet break areas
- Materials provided: social stories
- Other supports: theater performances and programming with sensory-awareness trained educators
- Monthly event; closed to the general public for two hours
- Email for more information about Play Without Boundaries and about how to register
Northlandz Miniature Wonderland: Sensory Supports
- Dimmed lighting inside museum
- Quiet break area—called Calming Corner, includes trained therapist, sensory items and mood chart
- Sensory items provided: noise-canceling headphones
- Allowed to bring items to enhance experience (ex: food from home)
- Sensory-friendly play zone, including professional therapist supervision and weighted blankets
- Other supports: communication board at the snack bar
- Location: Flemington, NJ
OTHER
Dr. Suss Stables: Sensory Hour
- Private or group sensory-inclusive hour
- Sensory hour needs to be scheduled
- Guests can groom, feed, and spend time with the farm animals
- Location: Jackson, NJ
Chuck E. Cheese: Sensory Sensitive Sundays
- Music lowered or turned off; lights dimmed
- Trained support staff
- Open 2 hours early on the first Sunday of every month
- No admission fees
- Limited appearances by Chuck E.
- Participating locations:
- NJ: Bricktown, Bridgewater, Cherry Hill, Deptford, Edison, Middletown, Paramus, Wayne and West Windsor
- 3 in CT, 13 in NY, 5 in PA and many more in other states
YMCA: Autism-Friendly Swim Hour
- Music turned off
- Limited attendance
- One Sunday a month, from 3:30–5:00pm
- Location: Toms River, NJ
LifeTown: Sensory Play Area & Snoezelen Center
Fully inclusive and accessible center for recreation, education and therapeutic play
- Therapeutic activity wing that includes sensory play area and Snoezelen Center
- Location: Livingston, NJ
Watchung Reservation Sensory Trail
- Trail designed to provide sensory stimulation and interaction, including:
- Sounds from nature
- Sensory play area for children
- Musical components, such as drums and xylophone
- Items to touch and smell, including raised garden beds
- Location: Mountainside, NJ
Sesame Place: Certified Autism Center
- Quiet break areas; some areas of the park have decreased noise and stimulation
- Sensory items provided: noise-canceling headphones
- Trained support staff
- Materials provided: Sensory Guide that details amenities and sensory stimulation levels of rides and shows
- Location: Langhorne, PA
We hope this guide will help your whole family enjoy your outings! For more information on ABA or sensory processing challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Empirian Therapy team. We’re always happy to help!
