ALBURTIS, Pa. — The East Penn Chamber of Commerce will welcome The Sensory Village with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Sept. 6, at 49 West Penn Avenue. The event begins at 9:45 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 10 a.m.
The Sensory Village, founded by Tessa Hullfish and Melissa Bache, is designed to provide a safe space for children of all abilities to explore their environment through play using a variety of sensory modalities.
“We aim to create a safe space for children of all abilities to explore their environment through play using a variety of sensory modalities,” the owners said in the event announcement. Both founders bring years of experience in early childhood and special education to the project.
Research shows sensory play has measurable benefits for young learners. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that children in sensory-rich environments increased vocabulary acquisition by up to 30 percent compared with traditional play settings. A case study from Children’s Factory, a national early childhood education resource, also reported gains in problem-solving, cooperative play and emotional regulation among preschool-aged children exposed to structured sensory activities.
Guests at Saturday’s opening will be among the first to experience the center’s interactive spaces. Admission day passes will be available on site for $18 per child and $5 per adult.
The ribbon-cutting is free and open to the public.
