Discovering Our World through Sensory play
When you talk about the senses, most toddlers can recite them off without problem: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. But what they, and their parents may not know is that sensory play, plays an important role in early-childhood-development.
Have you ever observed the sheer delight of toddlers that just discovered the important pleasure of stomping in the latest remnants of rainfall? “It’s truly irresistible,” says Sulochnee Nair, Principal of Crawford Pre-Primary Pretoria. “It does not matter that this pool of water is muddy, murky, or full of unknown objects. It is an opportunity to explore, experiment, observe, and manipulate. It is an opportunity for the child to discover the world around them through sensor play”.
When you talk about the senses, most toddlers can recite them off without problem: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. But what they, and their parents may not know is that sensory play, plays an important role in early-childhood-development.
When engaged in sensory play children use all of their senses. It promotes sensory integration which is the ability of the body to integrate and process all of the information it receives via the sensory modalities of touch, taste, smell, hearing and vision. As children pour, build, scoop, and explore, they are learning about three-dimensional concepts i.e. full vs empty.
Giving your child the chance to play with different types of textures, tastes and objects helps them to build new ways of talking about the world. They learn mathematical concepts along with language and vocabulary. Messy play can also be calming to children. It is not just about making a mess and getting dirty, it is an essential component to encourage exploration and discovery, and it’s beneficial to provide them with opportunities for sensory play.
Look, Listen, Listen, Smell, Taste and Feel.
