Children instinctively gravitate toward sensory play. Have
you ever seen a child walk around a mud puddle? No. Kids automatically feel the
need to explore that puddle, that sand, that layer of ice on top of the puddle.
And there is a good reason for that desire to engage in sensory play; it’s one
of the best ways kids learn.
Children enjoy using all five senses as they play. They
focus their sight on everything around them. They listen to the sounds, enjoy touching
objects and smelling them and when appropriate, tasting them. In addition to
the five senses, children also learn body awareness and a sense of balance as
they engage in hand-on activities.
As kids do simple sensory play activities, they gain
cognitive skills, learn new language, learn social skills, problem solving
skills and both fine and gross motor skills. Something as simple as playing in
sand can help kids think about what sand is made of and where it came from,
learn words such as smooth and rough, figure out ways to form the sand into
shapes and problem solve that adding a bit of water aids in making that sand
castle. Forming the sand into shapes builds motor skills and waiting for a turn
with a certain tool aids in social awareness.
Sensory play is fun. It has a calming effect on children,
especially those who are nervous or anxious. Simple sensory activities can
engage children for much longer periods of time than an adult-led activity
because they are both fun and satisfying. Be aware that while it looks like
kids are “just playing,” in reality they’re building new neural pathways in the
brain which sets the stage for deeper learning later on.
Here are some simple sensory activities, many of them using
items you already have around the house.
- Play
dough, slime, cloud dough and kinetic sand are all products that invite
lots of squishing, shaping and creating. Cloud dough is made simply with two
parts cornstarch to one part hair conditioner. Or, you can use eight parts
flour to one part baby oil. Kids love to play with these dough products and
will find new ways to play with them each and every time. Lots of kinetic
satisfaction here.
- Musical
activities: Kids love to move to the sounds of music. They like to play
games such as musical chairs or freeze tag. They also love to create sounds to
go along with music. Homemade or purchased rhythm instruments such as shakers,
drums, maracas, and tambourines will keep kids busy for long periods of time.
Simple scarves allow children to respond to music in dramatic ways and making
up dance moves is another way to hear and respond to the rhythms of music.
- Listening Games: Take your kids on a
sound walk or simply stop all activity indoors and listen for a period of time.
Then ask your children to report on what they heard. Another way to play this
game is to have a checklist and “search” for various sounds such as sirens,
birdsong, shuffling of feet, etc. You can also play auditory processing games
in which you give simple verbal directions and have the children follow them in
order. Have children identify various animal sounds or random sounds such as
the noise a zipper makes or tearing a piece of paper.
- Edible Sensory Play: Tasting fun can
sometimes be the goal such as tasting a variety of melons and identifying them.
Or, the fun can be in using items that if tasted are safe for children. Some
edible ideas for sensory fun are playing with rainbow Jell-o, making cereal
necklaces, finger painting with cool-whip, yogurt or instant pudding, or
playing in cooked pasta.
- Painting,
drawing and coloring with various art supplies are always great ways for
children to express themselves and explore new learning. Keep a variety of
pencils, markers, paints and coloring tools on hand. Bring out new ones
periodically to keep the activities fresh and interesting. Invite your child to
share their thoughts about their drawings or paintings or ask them to tell you
a story about them.
- Sensory tubs can be filled with a wide
variety of substances including sand, rice, cornmeal, oatmeal, dry beans,
cooked spaghetti, seeds, water, tapioca or ice cubes. Kids love to sift, scoop,
pour, sort, hunt for and organize objects found in the tubs. You might try
small sea creatures in sand, pieces of sponge in water, or small animal and
people figures in rice. Yes, these activities are sometimes messy, but they
offer tons of sensory play experience.
By now you probably have thought of several sensory
activities you can do with your kids without even leaving home. For more ideas
and information on sensory play go to:
www.creativeconnectionsforkids.com
www.handsonaswegrow.com
www.learning4kids.net