Every day as adults, we engage in a vast array of sensory experiences that each of us experience and process in our own unique way. Certain smells remind us of certain memories or people, songs take us back to a specific moment in time, or certain textures might elicit a strong response in our nervous system, requiring a change of clothes or different choice of food. For young children experiencing rapid brain development, especially in their first three years, engaging in sensory play forms foundational connections in their nervous system that help them process different experiences and build the skills needed to make sense of the world around them.
What is Sensory Play?
Sensory play is any form of play that stimulates or engages one or more of the senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling or tasting. It can also include the vestibular sense, which is the sense of balance and coordination that comes from the inner ear, and the proprioceptive sense, which is the sense of spatial awareness and movement. While sensory play can often look very simple or even silly, it is actually a vitally important way to help children develop critical skills, including:
- Fine motor skills: Tactile sensory materials with different textures—from soft blankets to malleable clay to rough sandpaper—help children explore their sense of touch and strengthen the small muscles in their hands that will eventually help them do things like write and use tools effectively.
- Cognitive skills: Receiving input through multiple senses allows the brain to make meaningful and integrated connections. When a child has a visual stimulus at the same time as a tactile stimulus, for example, it contributes to deeper learning and memory retention.
- Language skills: Sensory experiences and materials expand a child’s learning environment and offer opportunities for rich language and vocabulary development. Parents narrating sensory experiences for infants or asking questions as older children engage in sensory experiences are powerful tools for organic language development.
- Creative arts skills: Children are naturally inquisitive, making them inherent learners, drawing inspiration from the sensory-rich world around them. Whether exploring through touch, sound or sight, multisensory experiences ignite creativity and foster deeper, more expansive ways of thinking. Parents can encourage children to make observations about the environment around them and record them in painting, drawing or even dance!
- Gross motor skills: Movements like running, dancing, climbing and jumping allow children to develop their vestibular and proprioceptive systems, improving coordination, spatial awareness, balance and strength. What might feel like, and even actually be, a chance to blow off steam at the local park or playground, shouldn’t be discounted for its importance in also developing critical gross motor skills.
- Emotional regulation: The world can be overwhelming for young children.
Sensory play can help them manage stress, reduce anxiety, process big emotions and improve self-control by providing a focus and helping them sooth, calm down and feel grounded.
Stimulating Activities to Support Sensory Learning
Sensory play doesn’t have to be complicated. There are ample activities that families can easily implement at home to support a child’s growth and learning. Fun examples include:
- Water Play: Not only is water soothing, but it makes for a great sensory experience. Don’t underestimate the value of a long, play-filled bathtime. Make it a multisensory experience by including classical music or bath crayons. Dim the lights and introduce glow sticks or blow bubbles. Once it’s time to get clean, vary the pressure when scrubbing to provide proprioceptive input. You can also do this while drying off and applying lotion.
- Cooking: Cooking is a great way to engage all the senses and children often love to help out in the kitchen. Think of a simple meal that you can prepare with your child, like spaghetti or grilled cheese sandwiches, and talk with your child about what they see, hear or smell as you cook together. It is also a great opportunity to make predictions and test out theories together.
- Molding clay: Creating or simply playing with molding clay can be a very calming and almost meditative experience for children. Children can flex their creative muscles while engaged in this type of play and are also developing their fine motor skills as they knead, roll and poke the clay.
- Sensory bins: Create unique sensory experiences in a contained space. Fill large plastic bins with materials such as uncooked oats, rice or cereal and add measuring cups so little ones can practice scooping and pouring. You can also try this with water, though it may require having towels nearby for the inevitable spills.
- Spend time outside: Enjoy the outdoors with your child. Let them practice walking on uneven surfaces. Point out the sound of the trees swaying in the breeze or the warmth of the sun on their skin and discuss these shared experiences together. Time spent outdoors is a great way to lower stress levels and form deep connections with nature and your child.
Through sensory play, young children develop critical skills and connect with the world around them. However, it’s important to note that some children struggle with sensory play. If your child is autistic or has sensory processing challenges, they may be particularly sensitive to loud noises, messes or certain fabrics. Conversely, they might seek out bright lights, crave constant movement or feel the need to touch everything around them. If you notice your child reacting intensely—or barely at all—to sensory input, speak with your pediatrician. They may recommend occupational therapy to identify and understand your child’s unique sensory needs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rorie Wells Ellerson is the Learning Environments Manager at The Goddard School
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Cover photo by Kaboompics
