Sensory play refers to activities that are designed to stimulate and develop a child’s sensory processing abilities through hands-on experience. Sensory play engages a child’s senses such as touch, sight and smell. Sensory play sparks motivation, develops motor skills, promotes self regulation and cultivates vital skills.
Dr. Carla Hannaford, a neurophysiologist and educator, In her book “Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head,” explains that sensory stimulation triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which helps in strengthening the neuronal connections.These connections, known as synapses, are the building blocks of learning and memory.
Other research related to this:-
Cognitive development and sensory play
Classic studies by Hubel and Wiesel demonstrate that sensory signals during sensitive periods regulate the organisation of the developing brain. Sensory play invites children into a world of unbounded exploration.
Here’s why sensory play is important for the functioning of brain and development of motor skills at an early age :
- Addresses proprioception: Proprioception is the sense that allows us to perceive the position and movement of the body.
Sensory play involves activities that require the use of hands and fingers to manipulate different textures such as squeezing, pinching, and rolling with play dough. These activities require precision and control that can help the child be more aware of their body.
It stimulates the proprioceptive system and helps children refine their body awareness, coordination, and motor skills.
- Encourages expansion of vocabulary: Sensory play exposes children to a wide range of sensory experiences, such as different textures, smells, tastes, and sounds. As they engage with various materials, they encounter new words to describe these sensations, thereby expanding their vocabulary.
Sensory experiences help children develop a deeper understanding of abstract concepts by providing concrete, hands-on experiences. For example, they can learn about concepts like hot/cold, rough/smooth, and wet/dry through sensory exploration, which lays the foundation for understanding and using these concepts in language.
- Produces a calming effect: Sensory play can help children with emotional regulation. With the help of sensory exploration, children can understand feelings and sensations, which lays the foundation for effective communication and expressing emotions.
Playing with textures and colours can actually help build motor skills as the brain learns to analyse and feel various feelings.
- Promotes inclusivity and social interaction: Sensory play provides a supportive environment for children to explore and experiment with materials without fear of failure or judgement.
As they engage in successful interactions and collaborative efforts during sensory play, children build confidence in their social skills and develop a positive sense of self-esteem.
- Boosts creativity: Many sensory activities involve imaginative or pretend play scenarios, such as pretending to cook in a sensory kitchen or creating a pretend construction site with sand and trucks. Engaging in role-playing activities encourages children to take on different roles, cooperate with others, and engage in storytelling, which promotes social interaction and creativity.
- Encourages empathy: It also helps children feel empathy for others as they interact and solve problems together. For example, they may offer comfort to a peer who is upset or adjust their behaviour to accommodate a friend’s preferences.
Through these interactions, children develop empathy and a deeper understanding of others’ perspectives and feelings.
Sensory play allows children to explore together and foster shared experiences. This shared exploration forms bonds between children as they collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve together.
- Promotes neuroplasticity: As children explore different textures, sounds, colours, and scents during sensory play, their brains adapt to accommodate and process this sensory information effectively.
In a study published in the journal Neural Plasticity, researchers explained that sensory experiences stimulate the release of neurotrophic factors which are associated with survival of neurons.
Neuroplasticity refers to a brain’s ability to rewire itself in response to experiences. Sensory play provides diverse experiences that help with long term potentiation, strengthening of connection between neurons and enhancing the child’s ability to learn and adapt. This process also promotes sensorimotor integration.
Here are 5 examples of activities commonly included in sensory play:
- Messy play: activities involving water, sand. Mud etc.
- Sensory bins: Filling bins or containers with materials such as rice, dried beans, lentils, shredded paper, or cornmeal
- Water play: playing with water in cups, bottles, water wheels etc.
- Texture exploration: Providing various textured materials such as fabrics, feathers, sponge, bubble wrap, or textured balls
- Taste exploration: Offering a variety of safe and age-appropriate foods with different flavours.
Sensory play at Cyboard School
At Cyboard School, we teach our students to make use of everyday household items like beans, rice, water, and natural materials to engage students in sensory play. Through hands-on activities and crafts, we encourage exploration and learning, fostering creativity and cognitive development in a fun and interactive way.
If you are interested in providing your child with an enriching experience of online learning involving sensory play, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Book a meeting today to see firsthand how we can assist your child with sensory play.
Explore More on Cybaord School