Sensory Play

Sensory play is a vital aspect of childhood development, offering children valuable opportunities to explore their environment, engage their senses, and make sense of the world around them. Research indicates that sensory play has numerous benefits for children's cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development.

Children go through countless developmental milestones as they grow. These include development of all five senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Using play to explore these senses encourages your child to connect with them and helps them develop motor skills in creative ways. Embrace the magic of sensory play and unlock endless possibilities for your child's development and exploration!

In the brief video below, Tyne discusses the sensory systems and play.

Messy play fosters curiosity, imagination, and exploration.

Through messy play experiences, young children enrich their development and early learning journey. Whether squishing, squelching, or splashing, messy play nurtures essential skills such as gross and fine motor coordination, concentration, and cooperation - while sparking the young child's imagination!

With easily accessible materials like sand, water, chalk, paint, or play dough, children’s imaginations can run wild! They can spend hours exploring, making their own discoveries, stimulating their curiosity, and developing their knowledge.

Messy play also encourages children to utilize their senses to navigate and discover the world around them...and best of all, have tons of FUN!

Sensory play ideas:

• Sensory play ideas by age/grade
• 50 sensory play activities

Examples of materials from our Home Therapy Play and Tool Kits (or ordinary household items you can use): Play dough, finger paints, scented markers, essential oil rollers, lotion, ice, water, sand, dry beans, rice, soft dolls or stuffed animals, felt, toy musical instruments, etc.