Configuring a Little Room

Download the contents of this page in a printable file.


The Little Room can be configured in a variety of sizes.  Individuals unable to sit up independently should always use a shorter Little Room (seen below in the middle.)  Individuals able to sit independently should be placed in a taller, sitting up design (child size on the left, adult size on the right.) 

Little Room sizes.
Little Room sizes.

 

Use with a Resonance Board

Little Rooms should be placed on a Resonance Board if at all possible. Children who have only been positioned in supine on soft surfaces may take a little time to adjust to the surface of the Resonance Board. The Resonance Board helps to amplify the sounds created by the objects when the child engages with them. If the child cannot be placed flat in supine, a wedge can be placed under the Resonance Board to provide a slight tilt.

Riser

On occasion a riser is used to add an additional 6 inches of height to the Little Room.  This is especially useful when a child is between sizes, and the taller design is too high, causing too much swing in the objects attached.  Risers can be hand-made out of wood, and the Little Room should sit securely on top. 

Riser for a Little Room
Riser for a Little Room

Configuring for the Correct Height

The configuration of the correct height of a Little Room is individual to the child in terms of his/her size and ability to sit up independently. The objects need to be at a height that the child’s independent movements with head, mouth, arms, hands, legs and feet can cause something to happen. The top needs to be close enough to the child’ head (if lying down) that any vocalizing or even breathing that the child does will be amplified. This is somewhat less of a concern if the child is able to sit up and manipulate items in the Little Room.

Below are examples of Little Rooms configured correctly and incorrectly:

Just Right

Madison, seen below, is in child-size, sitting-up Little Room. This is a good height for her. 

A toddler plays in a Little Room while sitting.
A toddler plays in a Little Room while sitting.

Just Right

Rylan in lying-down Little Room. This is a good size for him.

Ryland in a lying down position in a Little Room; his therapist is adjusting the items in the best position for him.
Rylan in a lying down position in a Little Room; his therapist is adjusting the items in the best position for him.

Too Short

Michael is sitting in up in a Little Room with a riser, but his head is touching the lid or top. Time to move up to the next size.

Michael in a Little Rood that is too short for him.
Michael in a Little Rood that is too short for him.

Just Right

Now we can see that Michael has the appropriate head space in the adult-size, sitting-up room configuration. This size will fit him through adulthood.

A young man sits in a Little Room that has been placed on a riser to achieve the appropriate height.
Michael in a Little Room that has been placed on a riser to achieve the appropriate height.

Too Short

Paxton, is in child-size, sitting-up Little Room. His head is at lid or top of the Little Room; time to add riser or move to the adult-size, sitting-up Little Room.

A young boy sits in a Little Room that is not the correct height.
A young boy sits in a Little Room that is not the correct height.

Just Right

Paxton is shown in child-size Little Room on riser. This is a good size for him.

A child sits up in a Little Room that has been placed on a riser to achieve the correct height.
A child sits up in a Little Room that has been placed on a riser to achieve the correct height.

Too Short

The Little Room can be configured at a height that allows the child to stand erect inside. In this picture we see that this Little Room needs to be raised to be tall enough for Paxton.

A young boy stands next to a Little Room that is too short for him to stand inside.

Just Right

RJ in lying-down Little Room.  This configuration has been adapted because he is feeding using a g-tube.  The Little Room is placed on wedge with a Resonance Board on top, with non-slide material on the board while the tube feeding is running. 

RJ in a Little Room that has been adapted by adding a foam wedge and his feeding tube pump.
RJ in a Little Room that has been adapted by adding a foam wedge and his feeding tube pump.