Sensory Play
Sensory Play
From birth, children are exploring their senses and processing new information. Children use their senses to explore and understand the world around them, they do this by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing and hearing. Sensory play in early childhood is crucial to help brain and cognitive development as well as social and communication skills.
What do we mean by sensory play?
Sensory play involves any activity that stimulates a child’s senses and can be easily created at home or during outdoor play.
Top 4 sensory play activities:
Bubbles – bubbles are magical to children, they are fascinating to watch, touch and hear when they ‘POP’.
Shaving foam – Shaving foam is an easy and inexpensive sensory activity. Children enjoy touching and creating shapes in the foam. Add paint or food colouring to create rainbow play.
Lavender playdough – Playdough is a favourite amongst most children, make your own and use a touch of lavender oil to stimulate the sense of smell.
Water play – Most children of all ages love water play, add rice, sand or leaves to create a more enriching sensory experience.
Why sensory play is important?
Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which lead to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks.
Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interactions.
This type of play aids in developing and enhancing memory.
Sensory play is great for calming anxiety and frustration.
This helps children learn sensory attributes (hot, cold, sticky, dry).
