A Foundation for Lifelong Learning
We all have heard the stories from our parents and grandparents: "In my day, we played with sticks," and, a favorite, "We made dirt piles and lived in and out of the water." We also have memories of playing hopscotch, walking a straight line on a path, digging into Play-Doh, and remembering how it made us feel.
Lately, play has gotten complicated with all the gadgets and parts many toys require. However, kids' entertainment with all these ‘things’ shouldn't be complex. The best form of play is where imagination is ripe with discovery and exploration. Sensory Play is the most uncomplicated form of play, and its structure is organic and straightforward. The best part? It doesn't entail a catalog of toy parts; the benefits are tremendous and fun to watch as your child learns.
Understanding Sensory Play
The best part of sensory play is that you learned this exact way. To best understand this form of play is to know that it has five parts, all of which engage and encourage exploration.
Touch: Touch helps kids discover how different textures make them feel. Whether touching something creates a sound or a soft and calming feel, learning through touch is an adventure. Think of fabric that ripples, a smooth piece of satin, or sandpaper that feels rough. The lessons and teachings that touch produces are endless.
Smell: Your little one will discover scents and be able to learn what is what by using their nose to smell flowers, food, poo (!), and even how you smell! Smelling helps your child recognize and remember different smells.
Taste: A fun way to understand what foods taste like and even shape a lifetime of likes and dislikes of flavors. From sweet to salty to sour, your child has a world of possibilities to explore and enjoy during this fun adventure.
Sight: From learning and recognizing shapes, patterns, and colors to learning about texture and depth by looking at picture books, moveable objects, and art.
Hearing: Listening will teach your little one what and how loud they want to hear something and how these sounds make them feel. There is much to learn from listening to rain, birds chirping, and a speaker booming from a car.
How Sensory Play Works
The journey of sensory play starts early. Right from the beginning, your little one is naturally drawn to sensory experiences, from the comforting touch of a blanket to the intriguing scent of a new object. Play becomes a regular part of their day as they grow, and the benefits of sensory play are significant as they help build cognitive skills.
Cognitive skills, as defined by Michigan State University, are the skills we use when we solve problems and create new ideas from existing ones. The process of problem-solving starts with observation, which involves noting the attributes of objects. In simpler terms, these are the skills that your child develops through sensory Play, and they are crucial for their future development.
In layperson's terms, sensory play is a big deal, and these senses play a vital role in your child's growth. It fosters curiosity as your child problem-solves through one or more of the senses. Your child can learn about creativity through sight, sound, touch, etc. Think of it in the simplest terms: eating an avocado, while yummy, also teaches them taste and texture.
Sensory is for Everyone
There is a considerable emphasis on sensory play for kids on the ASD spectrum and those with Sensory Processing Disorders. For Autistic or sensory-sensitive kids, the benefits of this way of playing are significant.
While neurotypical kids can be introduced to all five senses, autistic children or their caregivers will seek the most comfortable sensory play that works for that unique person. Sensory Play is the form of play that ASD and Sensory-Sensitive children learn from in OT, PT, and ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapies.
While some parents may wonder if sensory play is only for Autistic or sensory-sensitive kids, it is not. Like Neurotypical kids, when this play is applied, it can help with challenging tasks, such as self-regulation, self-awareness, language, social skills, and socialization. While kids with disability challenges benefit hugely from sensory play, like neuro kids, the results can create a lifetime of lessons, which is why it is truly for all, including adults. Do you know those stress balls you squeeze while streaming your favorite show? The fidget spinner you 'borrow' from your kid? The benefits of self-regulation can carry you through life and can be learned later as an adult.
Sensory Play is Fun
Your child doesn't have to know what a Picasso painting looks like at 9 months old; sensory play is about exploring. It’s about learning but making it fun! Exploration and hands-on learning through the senses can excite them and you as you see this discovery through their eyes. Exploring through the senses and hands-on learning is where imaginative play and social play start to happen. Learning how sentences are put together and how to calm down, relax, and enjoy what they are learning helps them unwind and enjoy some organic ‘ole fashion play.