For all of you moms, dads, and grandparents raising children with autism or other special needs, we know you face challenges with everyday activities that many of us take for granted, and events like movies, sports, and play spaces filled with children and loud noises are often too overwhelming. The good news is that there are organizations in our community creating special opportunities for your family to enjoy these activities in a sensory friendly and/or autism friendly environment, including Sensational Sundays at Family Fun Center!

Sensational Sunday is a time designed for special needs children and their families to come and play in the Family Fun Center’s Funtasia Soft Play area before opening. Upon arrival, the main lights will be turned off, games will be off and it will be a sensory friendly environment with trained staff members. Parents can relax knowing they are among friends, and siblings can interact with other siblings who may have a special brother or sister of their own.

While in Funtasia, your children will explore a 4 story maze of tunnels, tubes, slides and obstacles {photo above}. It’s a healthy and fun attraction that will keep them engaged and entertained. Funtasia is designed for ages 12 and under and less than 60” tall, socks are required for play.

Sensory Friendly Play Details

When: Select Sundays from 10:30am-12:00pm. 2018 Dates:

Jan 28th
Feb 25th
Mar 25th
Apr 29th
May 27th
No event in June or July
Aug 26th
Sept 23rd
Oct 28th (Costume Contest!)
Dec 2nd

Where: Family Fun Center is located at 4825 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33813

Cost: $4.99 for children ages 1-4, $6.99 for children ages 5-12, Under 1 FREE with any other paid admission. Prices valid for all day play. Socks are required to play.

At 12:00pm, The Family Fun Center will be open to the general public and at that time you can stay and play in Funtasia, head on out, play games or grab some lunch at Cappy’s Pizza Café. Although Sensational Sunday concludes at 12, all day play is included in your admission if you wish you stay or even come back later in the day.

More Info: Call (863) 644-1728 or visit http://thefamilyfuncenter.com/. You can also find Family Fun Center on Facebook.

About the Author: April Mucci

April is the owner of LakelandMom.com. She has lived in Lakeland since age 2 and is passionate about our community and connecting people with local resources. She is a mom to 2 boys and a mini goldendoodle, wife to Matt. You can often find April at the baseball field where she cheers on her baseball loving 9 year old, or home building Legos with her 7 year old. She loves reading, saltwater fishing, and working on Lakeland Mom!