Imagine a group of preschoolers engrossed in a sandbox, with their hands sinking deep into the cool sand, before building sandcastles and digging through the grains to find treasures buried beneath. Now, imagine a child doing the same activity on a screen, dragging and dropping digital sand, but not feeling the texture, temperature, or weight of the material. Can you tell the difference between these two scenarios? It is the difference between Sensory Play and Passive Play, and the science behind this difference shows why Sensory Play is essential for kids’ development.
As parents, we all want our children to be healthy, happy, and successful. Sensory play is an important component of early childhood development that can help us achieve these goals.
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Imagine a group of preschoolers engrossed in a sandbox, with their hands sinking deep into the cool sand, before building sandcastles and digging through the grains to find treasures buried beneath. Now, imagine a child doing the same activity on a screen, dragging and dropping digital sand, but not feeling the texture, temperature, or weight of the material. Can you tell the difference between these two scenarios? It is the difference between Sensory Play and Passive Play, and the science behind this difference shows why Sensory Play is essential for kids' development.
As parents, we all want our children to be healthy, happy, and successful. Sensory play is an important component of early childhood development that can help us achieve these goals. Sensory game refers to any activity that engages a child's senses – touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing – allowing them to explore and discover the world around them.
Sensory play is crucial for children because it helps them develop their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
For example, sensory play can help children build their fine motor skills by allowing them to manipulate objects of different shapes, sizes, and textures. By playing with playdough, for example, children can strengthen the muscles in their hands that will help them hold a pencil and write later on. Sensory game can also help children develop their cognitive skills, such as memory, problem-solving, and creativity, by challenging them to think critically and come up with new ideas.
Sensory play has also been shown to have a positive impact on children's social and emotional well-being. By participating in sensory game, children can learn to express their feelings, develop empathy for others, and build strong relationships with their peers. For example, playing in a sandbox with other children can teach children to take turns, share, and work together to build structures.
In addition, sensory play can have a calming and relaxing effect on children. For children who may be struggling with anxiety, stress, or sensory processing issues, engaging in sensory game can provide a safe and comforting outlet for their emotions. For example, playing with water beads can be a soothing and calming experience for children with sensory processing difficulties.
Sensory play is an essential component of early childhood development that plays a crucial role in children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. As parents, we can encourage our children to engage in sensory play by offering them a variety of materials and activities that appeal to their senses. By creating a safe and supportive environment for sensory game, we can help our children build the skills they need to thrive and succeed both now and in the future.
The key point is that children learn best when they use all their senses, not just one or two.
Sensory Play uses touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing to create an immersive and multi-sensory experience. It can involve anything from playing with sand, water, play dough, or even mud, to experimenting with sounds, smells, and textures. The experience allows children to explore and discover for themselves, without the pressure of getting it right or wrong.
The science behind this is twofold.
Firstly, children need to learn by doing things themselves. They do not learn well by just watching or listening to information.
Sensory Play promotes Active Learning, where children participate in the process and learn by trial and error. This helps them develop their problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills from an early stage, as they experiment and make choices by themselves.
Secondly, Sensory Play fosters the development of different parts of the brain, including the sensory cortex, at an early age.
The brain creates neural connections every time a child interacts with the environment, and these connections become stronger with repeated exposure. Sensory game makes use of multiple senses, enticing various areas of the brain to activate and form connections. This leads to improved memory, attention, and overall cognitive performance.
In addition to this, Sensory games also promotes emotional stability and social skills in children. Children learn how to handle different emotions, as they explore different sensory inputs. Being in a group setting for Sensory Play also supports social interaction and communication, which encourages cooperation and empathy.
In conclusion, Sensory Play is a vital part of children's development, and it is essential to provide opportunities for children to engage in such activities. Active learning, cognitive development, and emotional stability are just a few of the many benefits of Sensory Play. Parents, caregivers, and educators should strive to create safe and stimulating environments where children can explore, learn and have fun using all their senses. So, why not provide your child with an immersive Sensory Play experience today?
