Sparking Creativity Through Play
What is sensory play?
Activities that stimulate a child’s senses. Touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. As well as activities involving balance and body awareness.
Why incorporate sensory play?
Incorporating sensory play is a great way to build nerve connections in a child’s brain. Sensory play can encourage language development, cognitive growth as well as fine and gross motor skills. During sensory play children are encouraged to explore and discover through new experiences and textures. This kind of loose parts play often fosters scientific thinking.
Loose parts or small world play allows children the freedom to be creative, problem solve, construct, deconstruct and learn so many other developmental skills, which can help them engage with the world around them. Loose parts are an amazing tool for children's imagination.
Sensory play can also provide a calming outlet for children to self regulate. As well as reduce stress and anxiety.
What age is appropriate for sensory play?
Children of all ages can enjoy sensory play! Sensory activities can be easily adapted to be appropriate to a child’s age. Babies naturally long to explore the world around them through sensory experiences. Start with sensory bottles, high contrast board books and water play.
Toddlers love learning the basics of scooping and pouring. Dry oats, water and greek yogurt finger paint are all great options for this age.
3-7 is a prime age for pretend play or small world play, incorporating sensory pieces like kinetic sand, water beads, or dry food into that play can provide the right sensory input for curious little ones who love exploring new textures as well as provide a positive association to certain textures for children with sensory sensitivities.
Older children can also learn about the scientific method (Make an observation, hypothesize, test hypothesis, draw conclusions) through sensory activities.