Before the Wax Goes Down: The Best Time to Install a School Sensory Path
Learn the best time and process for installing a school sensory path. Discover why summer—before the final coat of wax—is the ideal time to install hallway decals and movement pathways.
Summer is the perfect opportunity to transform your hallways into purposeful learning spaces.
Every summer, schools are busy checking off maintenance projects before students return.
Hallways are emptied.
Floors are stripped and cleaned.
Fresh coats of wax are applied.
Classrooms are organized.
Teachers begin preparing for another year of learning.
It's also the ideal time to install a sensory pathway.
As a practicing pediatric occupational therapist, one of the most common questions I receive is:
"When should we install our sensory path?"
The answer is simple:
Before the final coat of floor wax is applied.
While Sacred Steps Sensory Paths are commercial-grade and do not require wax to stay in place, many schools choose to install them before waxing because the wax provides an additional protective layer while helping the decals blend beautifully into the floor.
Here's what the installation process typically looks like.
Step 1: Choose the Right Location
Before installation begins, think about how students naturally move throughout your building.
Great locations include:
Main hallways
Primary classroom wings
Counseling areas
Special education hallways
Outside the library
Near intervention spaces
Waiting areas
Church or parish education spaces
The best sensory pathways become part of students' everyday routines.
Step 2: Prepare the Floor
Once the existing wax has been removed and the floor has been thoroughly cleaned, you're ready for installation.
A clean surface allows the commercial-grade adhesive to bond properly with the floor.
Step 3: Install the Path
Each Sacred Steps pathway arrives with installation directions and a suggested layout guide.
Simply:
✔ Position the pieces
✔ Double-check spacing
✔ Peel the backing
✔ Apply each decal
✔ Smooth firmly into place
Most schools complete installation in just a few hours.
Even better?
Many schools make installation a fun summer project for staff members or volunteers.
Step 4: Apply the Final Coat of Wax (Optional)
This is the step many schools ask about.
Waxing over the decals is completely optional.
Our commercial-grade decals are designed to withstand heavy school traffic on their own.
However, if your custodial team is already applying the final coat of wax, installing the pathway beforehand allows the wax to provide one additional layer of protection.
Many schools appreciate the finished appearance this creates.
Step 5: Welcome Students Back
This is my favorite part.
On the first day of school, students don't just walk through your hallway.
They interact with it.
They jump.
They balance.
They read.
They pray.
They regulate.
They smile.
What was once an ordinary transition becomes another opportunity to learn.
Why Summer Is the Best Time
Waiting until students return often means working around:
Classroom schedules
Hallway traffic
Lunch periods
Specials
Recess
Daily transitions
Summer provides a quiet building and the flexibility to complete installation without disrupting instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Sacred Steps decals have to be waxed over?
No.
They are commercial-grade floor decals designed for heavy school use.
Waxing is completely optional.
How long does installation take?
Most schools complete installation in just a few hours, depending on the size of the pathway.
Can schools install them themselves?
Absolutely.
Many schools install their own pathways using the included layout guide.
Others choose professional installation or coordinate installation while other summer maintenance projects are taking place.
Can Sacred Steps install them?
Yes!
Depending on location and travel schedule, professional installation may be available.
Every Hallway Teaches Something
Whether you're adding your first Starter Set or transforming an entire hallway, summer is the perfect time to create a space that supports movement, self-regulation, and learning from the very first day students walk through your doors.
If your floors haven't received their final coat of wax yet, now is the ideal time to start planning.
I'd love to help you create a hallway your students will remember long after the first day of school.
👉 Request a complimentary sample
👉 Browse our Faith-Based Collection
👉 Browse our Universal Collection
👉 Or simply contact me to discuss your space.
Trisha Klausing, MOT, OTR/L is a practicing occupational therapist and the founder of Sacred Steps Sensory Paths. She designs OT-informed movement experiences that help children regulate, learn, and thrive in schools, therapy clinics, churches, childcare centers, and community spaces.
What Is a Sensory Pathway for Schools? Benefits, Examples, and Ideas
Discover how sensory pathways help students regulate, focus, and transition successfully throughout the school day. Learn how Catholic schools are combining purposeful movement with faith formation through sensory paths designed by a school-based occupational therapist.
If you've heard the term "sensory pathway" but aren't exactly sure what it means, you're not alone.
Over the past several years, sensory pathways have become increasingly popular in schools, therapy clinics, libraries, hospitals, and community spaces. But many educators and administrators are still wondering:
What is a sensory pathway, and why are so many schools adding them?
As a school-based occupational therapist, I'd love to help answer that question.
What Is a Sensory Pathway?
A sensory pathway is a series of movement-based activities installed on a floor, wall, or other designated area that encourages children to move their bodies in purposeful ways.
Students might:
Hop
Jump
Balance
Stretch
March
Cross midline
Trace shapes
Practice deep breathing
Complete gross motor challenges
The goal is simple: provide structured movement opportunities that help students regulate their bodies and prepare for learning.
Many sensory pathways are installed in school hallways, allowing students to use them during transitions throughout the day.
Sensory pathway for schools in Catholic elementary school hallway; https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/store/p/bible-stories-sensory-path
Why Do Schools Use Sensory Pathways?
Movement plays a critical role in a child's ability to focus, regulate emotions, and participate successfully in the classroom.
When students are struggling with attention, self-regulation, anxiety, impulsivity, or transitions, a brief movement break can make a significant difference.
Schools often use sensory pathways to support:
Student Regulation
Sensory pathways provide students with opportunities to move their bodies in ways that help them feel more organized, calm, and ready to learn.
Executive Functioning Skills
Many pathways include activities that encourage students to follow directions, sequence movements, maintain attention, and practice self-control.
Positive Transitions
Transitions can be challenging for many students. Sensory pathways create a structured and engaging way for students to move from one activity to another.
Indoor Movement Opportunities
Weather doesn't always cooperate. Sensory pathways give students a way to move throughout the day, even when outdoor activities aren't possible.
Inclusive Support
One of the best things about sensory pathways is that they benefit all students. While they can be particularly helpful for students with ADHD, anxiety, autism, sensory processing differences, or executive functioning challenges, every child can benefit from purposeful movement.
Where Are Sensory Pathways Installed?
One of the reasons sensory pathways have become so popular is their flexibility.
Schools are installing sensory pathways in:
Hallways
Libraries
Counseling offices
Calming corners
Early childhood wings
Resource rooms
Common areas
Church and parish spaces
Many schools also incorporate wall-based sensory activities when floor space is limited. Other schools choose portable sensory paths that can be rolled out when needed and stored away when space is limited.
Limited floor space? A wall sensory path is the perfect solution. https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/store/p/beatitudes-blessings-wall-sensory-path
Examples of Sensory Pathway Activities
Every sensory pathway is unique, but common activities include:
Animal walks
Hopping patterns
Balance challenges
Cross-body movements
Deep breathing exercises
Visual tracking activities
Gross motor sequences
Mindfulness prompts
These activities encourage students to move in ways that support both physical and cognitive development.
What Makes Faith-Based Sensory Pathways Different?
While many sensory pathways focus solely on movement, some schools are looking for ways to combine movement with meaningful learning opportunities.
This is especially true in Catholic and Christian schools.
Faith-based sensory pathways allow students to engage with:
Bible stories
Scripture
Catholic virtues
The Sacraments
Prayer
Religious education concepts
At Sacred Steps, some of our most popular faith-based options include the Bible Stories Sensory Path, the Who God Says I Am Path, and the Sacred Sacraments Path, each designed to combine purposeful movement with meaningful faith formation.
As students move through the activities, they are not only supporting regulation and focus but also reinforcing their faith in a way that feels active, engaging, and memorable.
How Sacred Steps Sensory Paths Are Different
As both a school-based occupational therapist and a Catholic business owner, I wanted to create something that supported the whole child.
That's why Sacred Steps combines purposeful movement with faith formation.
Our sensory pathways help students:
Regulate their bodies
Improve focus and attention
Strengthen executive functioning skills
Support positive behavior
Reinforce Catholic identity
Engage with Scripture and faith-based concepts
To our knowledge, Sacred Steps remains the only faith-based sensory path company specifically designed for Catholic and Christian schools.
Is a Sensory Pathway Right for Your School?
If your school is looking for ways to:
Support student regulation
Improve transitions
Encourage movement throughout the day
Create more purposeful learning spaces
Strengthen Catholic identity
A sensory pathway may be an excellent fit.
The best part? Many schools already have the perfect space.
An empty hallway.
A blank wall.
A transition area that could become something more.
Schools often begin with a full hallway path, a portable path, or even a smaller starter set before expanding over time.
Sometimes the most impactful school improvement projects don't require additional space—just a new way of thinking about the space you already have.
If you're interested in exploring what a sensory pathway could look like in your school, I'd be happy to create a complimentary mockup using photos of your space. You can explore our faith-based sensory paths, portable paths, and starter sets here: https://www.sacredstepssensorypaths.com/