Sensory play is a crucial aspect of early childhood development. It helps children engage their senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. This helps the child to explore and understand the world around them. Here are some key reasons why sensory play is important:
1. Sensory Bins
Create a sensory bin filled with various materials such as rice, pasta, sand, or beans. Add small toys, scoops, and containers for kids to explore textures, pour, and scoop. You can theme it around different colours, animals, or seasons.
2. Playdough Creations
Make or buy playdough and add objects like rolling pins, cookie cutters, beads, or even dried pasta for kids to manipulate. The squishy texture is great for hand strength, and kids love using their imagination to create shapes or pretend food.
3. Water Play
Fill a shallow tub with water and provide various items like cups, funnels, or small boats. You can add soap or bath toys for extra fun. For an added sensory experience, colour the water with food dye or add bubbles.
4. Shaving Cream Sensory Tray
Spread shaving cream on a tray or table and let kids draw shapes, letters, or numbers with their fingers. It provides a soft, smooth texture, and you can add food colouring or glitter for extra excitement.
5. Sensory Walk
Set up a walking path made of different textures like sand, grass, pebbles, and fabric. Let kids walk barefoot along the path and describe how each material feels, which enhances their tactile awareness.
6. Ice Exploration
Freeze small toys or objects in ice cubes or larger blocks of ice. Kids can use warm water, salt, or tools like spoons to "rescue" the toys, experiencing the sensation of cold and learning about melting and temperature changes.
7. Nature Exploration Table
Collect items from nature like leaves, pine cones, shells, or rocks. Let kids explore them by touch, smell, and sight. You can also add magnifying glasses or tweezers for a more detailed investigation.
8. Rainbow Rice or Pasta
Dye rice or pasta with food colouring and lay it out on a tray for kids to sort, scoop, or run their hands through. The vibrant colours and texture will stimulate their visual and tactile senses, and they can practice sorting by colour.
9. Sound Bottles
Fill clear plastic bottles with different materials like beads, bells, rice, or sand. Seal them tightly, and let kids shake them to hear the different sounds. This helps develop auditory skills and understanding of cause and effect.
10. Edible Sensory Play
For younger kids, edible sensory play is a safe option. Use cooked spaghetti or cooked oats for tactile play where they can squish, stretch, and feel the textures, knowing it's safe if they put it in their mouths.
To make it easy to incorporate sensory play into your child’s routine, we’ve created a printable schedule. Use this to plan out your sensory activities for the week, ensuring a balanced and engaging experience for your little one. Simply fill in the scheduled day for each activity, gather your materials, and let the fun begin!
These activities can easily be adjusted based on age, preferences, or learning goals, so feel free to customize them to suit your child’s unique needs.
Play is a powerful tool in raising confident, creative, and resilient kids. From everyday activities to the right toys, children learn essential skills like problem-solving, communication, and social interaction. Discover how play fosters independence and growth, and explore ways to support your child’s development with hands-on activities and educational toys designed to...
Why is sensory play so important? Sensory play is a crucial aspect of early childhood development. It helps children engage their senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. This helps the child to explore and understand the world around them. Here...
