Sensory Learning
The sensations of sand play or the manipulations of modelling dough—when your child uses touch, sight, sound, and even taste and smell, they improve their critical thinking, develop their sensory processing, and strengthen motor skills and problem-solving, which ultimately leads to better learning retention, improved imagination, and increased critical thinking1.
Why Sensory Learning is Important
Ages 1 to 3
This is the sensorimotor stage, where kids learn through senses and actions. They explore their environment by touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, and hearing. They integrate sensory inputs, develop preferences for certain experiences, and work on language skills. Sensory play and experimentation are important for learning and development during this period.6
Ages 4 to 7
To develop sensory skills, a range of activities for kids should be explored that involve visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory input.7 From drawing, painting and colouring for visual skills8, to interacting with playdough and sand to enhance tactile skills—play-based learning, exploration, and hands-on activities can benefit children's overall learning and growth.
Ages 8 to 12
At this stage, children are developing and refining their sensory skills. They can better distinguish between colours, sounds, textures, smells, and tastes, recognize patterns, and integrate information from different senses. Engage them in discussions about the ways they’re processing the world around them, and help them to refine and integrate this information.9
Ages 13 and up
At this age, adolescents are improving their multisensory integration, so that they can integrate multiple stimuli to reach a conclusion. They’re more attuned to subtle differences from textures to tones, and recognize spatial relationships and depth perception. Strong sensory skills can help individuals understand and navigate their environment in order to excel.10
FAQ
What is sensory play?
This type of play engages a child's senses, including touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell. Sensory play is beneficial for children as it helps them develop their sensory processing skills, cognitive skills, social skills, and language skills. It involves activities that encourage children to explore and discover the world around them through their senses. Examples of sensory play activities include playing with sand, water, playdough, slime, and other tactile materials. Sensory play can also involve exploring different scents and tastes, listening to different sounds, and looking at different colours and patterns.
Action for Children. (n.d.). What Is Sensory Play and Why Is It Important? Retrieved from https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/what-is-sensory-play-and-why-is-it-important/#:~:text=Sensory%20play%20is%20any%20activity,the%20world%20that%20surrounds%20them.
Why is sensory play important?
When children use their senses to explore and learn about the world around them they develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills in a fun and natural way. By engaging in hands-on exploration and experimentation, children become more curious, creative, and confident. Sensory play also helps children develop their language skills as they learn new words to describe the things they are sensing. Overall, it’s an effective and enjoyable way for children to develop their sensory processing skills and enhance their learning and development.
Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Benefits of Sensory Play + Ideas. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-sensory-play-ideas/
References
1. https://www.goodstart.org.au/parenting/exploring-the-benefits-of-sensory-play https://www.pittsburghparent.com/sensory-learning-using-three-senses-to-make-lessons-stick/#:~:text=Sensory%20learning%20is%20a%20learning,of%20the%20environment%20around%20them.
2. https://www.goodstart.org.au/parenting/exploring-the-benefits-of-sensory-play
3. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/brain-nervous-system.html
4. https://www.easternflorida.edu/community-resources/child-development-centers/parent-resource-library/documents/curiosity-and-wonder.pdf
5. https://www.pittsburghparent.com/sensory-learning-using-three-senses-to-make-lessons-stick/#:~:text=Sensory%20learning%20is%20a%20learning,of%20the%20environment%20around%20them.
6. https://pathways.org/tracking-sensory-development/ https://www.chrichmond.org/services/therapy-services/developmental-milestones/sensorysocial-skills-2-to-12-years
7. https://www.pittsburghparent.com/sensory-learning-using-three-senses-to-make-lessons-stick/#:~:text=Sensory%20learning%20is%20a%20learning,of%20the%20environment%20around%20them
8. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-4586924
9. https://www.chrichmond.org/services/therapy-services/developmental-milestones/sensorysocial-skills-2-to-12-years
10. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-48413-9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4390790/