Sensory Tools For Children
All teachers know that every student is different. They learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some students pick up new concepts quickly, while others need more time and repetition. This is especially true for young students, who are still learning and developing their skills. But one way to help to your class learn is by using sensory tools for children. Sensory tools can help engage different students senses and improve their learning experience.
So what are some sensory tools you can use in your classroom? That's what we're going to discuss in this blog post.
Sensory Tools For Children That Enhance Learning
Fidget spinners and stress balls can help keep hands busy
A great way to help keep kids engaged and focused is by using tools that appeal to their senses. And one sense that is often overlooked in the classroom is the sense of touch. By using tactile tools, you can help students engage their sense of touch and improve their learning experience.
Some tactile tools you can use in your classroom include fidget spinners, stress balls, and squishy balls. Fidget spinners are a great way to keep your kid’s hands busy, while stress balls and squishy balls can help relieve excess energy and tension.
Just make sure that you monitor how these tools are being used, as they can become a distraction if misused.
Colored pencils and highlighters can help with focus and attention to detail
You can make any assignment more interesting by incorporating colors. Studies have shown that colors can help with focus and attention to detail. So consider using colored pencils or highlighters when working on assignments with your students. This will help them pay attention to the task at hand and retain more information.
Play-Doh or clay can help with hand-eye coordination
Another way to engage students' senses is by using materials that require fine motor skills.
Activities such as playing with Play-Doh or clay can help improve hand-eye coordination. And as an added bonus, these activities can be a lot of fun for students! You can set aside some time during class for students to work on these activities, or you can incorporate them into lesson plans. For example, if you're teaching a lesson on shapes, you can have students create clay models of the shapes they're learning about.
You just need to be careful with these materials, as they can be messy. So make sure you have a plan for containing the mess and keeping things clean.
Chewy snacks like gummy bears or fruit snacks can help improve concentration
If you notice that students are having trouble concentrating, you can try giving them a chewy snack. Chewy snacks like gummy bears or fruit snacks can help improve concentration by keeping the mouth busy. This is similar to how chewing gum has been shown to improve focus (British Psychological Society - BPS). Plus, connecting a task to a treat can help increase motivation to complete the task as well.
Aromatherapy such as lavender oil can calm the senses
A neat way to calm and focus the senses is by using aromatherapy. Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to improve mood and well-being and can calm the senses and create a more relaxed environment. This helps students focus and pay attention to the task at hand. The great thing is there's a wide variety of essential oils to choose from, so you can find one that best suits your needs.
To name a few:
- Peppermint - for energy and digestion
- Sandalwood - for calm and focus
- Rose - for better mood and less anxiety
- Chamomile - for better mood and digestion
- Lemon - for mood, headaches, digestion, and more
For the most part, there are no health concerns with aromatherapy aside from possible allergies. Otherwise, they are all generally safe for you to use. Just be sure to do your research and find reputable sources before using any essential oils.
There are many different ways to engage students senses in the classroom. By using tactile tools, colors, fine motor skills activities, chewy snacks, and aromatherapy, you can help improve focus and concentration. And that's something every teacher can benefit from.
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