Sensory exploration is a child’s way of examining, discovering, categorizing and making sense of the world around them. It is beneficial to provide children with opportunities for sensory play.
Why is sensory integration important?
A new born is able to see, hear and sense their body but they are unable to judge distances or feel the shape of one object versus another. As the child is exposed to various sensory inputs, they gradually learn to organise them within their brain and their movement changes from being jerky and clumsy, to more refined. They are able to manage multiple amounts of sensory input at one time. By organising sensory integration; the child can modulate their response and as a result they seem to be more connected with the world and in control of their emotions.
Benefits of sensory play:
- Sensory play helps children to learn important sensory attributes like hot, cold, sticky, dry, etc.
- It helps in developing and enhancing memory functions.
- Builds nerve connections within the developing brain’s neural pathways. This in turn, triggers a child’s inclination and ability in completing more complex learning tasks.
- Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem-solving skills, and social interaction.
- Sensory play is great for calming an anxious or hyperactive child.
- It helps a child to be more creative and imaginative.
Below are the activities suggested by ProEves Edge Centres Kindercare, Maple Bear, Neldrac, Nectar’s Cove, Perfections, Youngin, The Courtyard, First Step, Crystal, Chalk & Duster and Sswings Preschool & Daycare to improve sensory processing skills in your toddler:
Messy Sensory Play Ideas : Silky Smooth Goop can be made easily by combining cornstarch with liquid starch. You can make it colourful by adding liquid or gel food colours. Silky smooth Goop can be stretched and pulled apart into smaller pieces (not dry or crumbly) and it rolls back up into a smooth soft ball. Use descriptive language to describe the experience, how does the Silky Smooth Goop feel? It feels soft, smooth and stretchy. A similar activity can be done with Play Dough using rolling pins, play scissors and cookie cutters.
Non- Messy Sensory Play Ideas : The game is to search for the hidden numbers in the spaghetti worms. Start searching at the beginning with number 1 and hide the other numbers. Ask your child to find each number and arrange them in order from 1 – 10 on the tray. Point at each number and count out loud.
Dry Sensory Play Ideas : Talk about the number shapes and how each number looks, such as number 5 looks like it has a big tummy. Funny little things like this help children learn their numbers as they associate it with something familiar to them. Scoop, sift and pour the bean, pea and lentil mix, search for different colours and place them into different containers. Layer the different coloured beans, peas and lentils in the jars. This will help children develop hand eye coordination skills.