Sensory Play & Learning

Sensory play is a crucial part of early childhood development, as it engages a child’s senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell, taste, movement, and body awareness—in meaningful ways. During the early years, children’s brains are rapidly growing, and sensory experiences help build neural connections that support cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills development.

Why Sensory Play is Important in the Early Years:

• Sensory play supports brain development by forming new neural pathways and strengthening existing ones. These experiences lay the foundation for complex thinking and problem-solving skills.
• As children engage in sensory play, they explore and describe their experiences, which helps develop vocabulary and communication skills. Words like “smooth,” “rough,” “squishy,” or “cold” are learned through hands-on play.
• Through sensory activities, children practice both fine motor skills (small movements, like grasping objects or pinching) and gross motor skills (large movements, like jumping or balancing).
• Sensory play helps children express their emotions, practice patience, and develop social skills by playing alongside others or engaging in cooperative activities.
• Sensory play can help children regulate their emotions and behaviours, as sensory input can be calming, focusing, or stimulating, depending on their individual sensory needs.
• Open-ended sensory play encourages exploration and experimentation, helping children develop creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Types of Sensory Play for Early Years:

• Tactile (Touch) Play:
  • Playdough, kinetic sand, water play, finger painting, or sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or pasta. (Develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and touch awareness).
• Visual Play:
  • Sorting colourful objects, light tables, watching bubbles, or using sensory bottles with glitter and water. (Stimulates visual tracking, focus, and attention to detail).
• Auditory Play:
  • Exploring musical instruments, listening to nature sounds, or playing with noisy toys like rain sticks and bells. (Enhances listening skills, attention, and auditory processing).
• Olfactory (Smell) and Gustatory (Taste) Play:
  • Smelling scented playdough, exploring different spices or flowers, and tasting various safe foods (like lemon or sweet fruits). (Builds awareness of different smells and tastes, and can encourage sensory-sensitive children to try new foods).
• Proprioceptive Play (Body Awareness):
  • Climbing, pushing/pulling heavy objects, balancing, or rolling in soft play spaces. (Improves body awareness, coordination, and balance).
• Vestibular Play (Movement and Balance):
  • Swinging, spinning, rocking, crawling, or jumping. (Helps develop balance, spatial awareness, and motor coordination).

How to Incorporate Sensory Play into Early Childhood Settings

• Create Sensory Zones: Set up specific areas in the environment (like water tables, tactile bins, or quiet spaces with soft textures) that encourage children to engage with different senses.
• Provide Open-Ended Materials: Offer natural, versatile materials such as sand, clay, or water that allow children to explore in their own ways, without specific rules or outcomes.
• Follow the Child’s Lead: Let children guide the play based on their interests and needs. If a child is feeling overstimulated, create opportunities for them to engage in calming sensory activities.
• Adjust for Sensory Preferences: Some children may seek more sensory input, while others may be more sensitive. Create a balanced environment where both sensory seekers and sensory-sensitive children feel comfortable

Outdoor Sensory Play