07 Sep Understanding Why Sensory Play is Vital for 0-3 Year Olds
Right from the moment they’re born, little ones are on a wild ride of exploring their senses and soaking in new elements each day. As they grow, they start putting together the pieces of the world puzzle by exploring textures, things to touch, and a variety of resources. Sensory play swoops in as a fantastic way to get little ones into activities that ramp up their senses and make their learning impactful. Sensory play might sound messy (and it can be!), which might divert you away, however at Little Cubs Academy, our teachers at both our Greenwich setting and Forest Hill setting stand-by igniting children’s sense of play through sensory activities and understand the benefits that it provides in how young children develop and grow.
What is Sensory Play?
Sensory play involves activities that stimulate one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Through exploration of textures, colours, sounds, and scents, children engage in meaningful experiences that lay the foundation for their understanding of the world around them.
Early Cognitive Development:
Sensory play is closely linked to cognitive development in the early years. Infants and toddlers naturally use their senses to gather information, forming neural connections that shape their cognitive abilities. Sensory play enhances their ability to observe and categorise various stimuli, fostering skills that are essential for problem-solving and critical thinking later in life.
Language Development:
Engaging in this type of play introduces young children to new words and concepts. As they interact with different materials, caregivers and educators can describe textures, colours, and sensations. This verbal interaction nurtures language development, expanding their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills:
Sensory play offers opportunities for refining both fine and gross motor skills. Activities like squishing playdough, pouring water, or stacking blocks require precise movements that develop hand-eye coordination and strength. Engaging in these activities contributes to the development of essential motor skills that lay the groundwork for future physical activities and academic tasks.
Emotional Regulation:
Sensory play has a positive impact on emotional regulation in young children. Exploring different textures and sensations provides a safe outlet for emotions, helping children learn to manage their feelings. This can be particularly beneficial for children in nurseries and pre-schools, as they encounter new environments and experiences.
Both our nurseries and pre-schools in Greenwich and Forest Hill recognise the importance of sensory play in early childhood development. At both our settings we incorporate sensory-rich activities within our curriculum, offering children a diverse range of experiences and equipment that stimulate their senses. Such activities not only support cognitive and physical development but also promote social interaction and creativity.
We encourage our parents in Greenwich and Forest Hill to further support their little ones’ sensory development at home. Simple activities like finger painting, exploring different textures, or creating sensory bins using everyday materials can provide valuable sensory experiences. These activities strengthen the parent-child bond and offer opportunities for shared learning. Other fun activities great for sensory learning are:
Organising Pebbles
Teaching little ones how to group and organise things is a valuable skill they should develop early on. You can make it fun by simply heading outside and gathering up pebbles – it’s a fantastic way to engage their senses.
Let your child sort those pebbles however they like, whether it’s by colour, size, texture, or shape. Don’t step in unless they ask for assistance; instead, offer gentle guidance if needed.
Create a Sensory Bin
Your home is full of items perfect for sensory play. Why not gather them up and create a sensory bin? Begin in the kitchen, where you’ll find treasures like rice, dried beans, and lentils.
Encourage kids to dive into the sensory bin, exploring with open eyes to admire colors and shapes, and closed eyes to truly feel textures. Plus, let your child keep enhancing the sensory bin with new discoveries whenever they want.
Home-made Musical Instruments
Crafting homemade musical instruments is another fun-filled activity great for preschool-age children. With a bit of guidance, they can create a mini-orchestra’s worth of instruments using common household items. Creating maracas by filling a paper cup with dried beans and sealing it with wax paper, or building a guitar from an empty tissue box and a handful of rubber bands are just a few ways that you can turn unused items into the best musical instruments.
Sensory play activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and, often, they only require a few items that you probably already have around the house. If you have any questions about how to implement sensory play into your households or the best sensory toys and equipment to use, our teachers at both our Greenwich nursery and Forest Hill nursery are on hand to help.
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