Ideas and tips on sensory play

Looking for some advice or ideas for sensory play for your little one? This blog will discuss everything you need to know. Sensory play, which engages a child's senses, is crucial for their development. It enhances cognitive skills, such as problem-solving and creativity, improves physical coordination, and helps with emotional regulation. Socially, it encourages interaction and cooperation. Read on to find our top tips!

Benefits

Sensory activities boosts cognitive development by encouraging curiosity and problem-solving. It enhances good motor skills and coordination through tactile exploration. Emotionally, it provides a soothing outlet for self-expression and stress relief, fostering better emotional regulation. Socially, sensory play promotes interaction and teamwork, supporting skills like sharing and communication. Overall, it's a vital part of childhood that nurtures creativity, confidence, and social skills.

Sensory Play Ideas 

For babies, sensory play can include tummy time with textured mats and sensory bottles filled with colourful objects. Toddlers can enjoy sand and water play, finger painting, and simple sensory trays filled with rice or beans. Preschoolers can engage in activities like moulding playdough, exploring thematic sensory trays, and cooking simple recipes to stimulate their senses and foster creativity.

Tips for setting it up

When choosing materials for sensory setups, go for safe, non-toxic items and create a sensory-friendly environment. Encourage exploration and creativity by offering a variety of textures, colours, and natural elements. Incorporate it into daily routines, such as using different food textures at mealtime, adding bubbles and bath toys during bath time, and exploring nature during outdoor play. Things to create them can be found around the house- rice or pasta is perfect for sensory trays, you can create homemade playdough using flour, salt and water (and you can add a bit of food colouring for fun!). Some other ideas include filling plastic bottles with water, glitter and other small objects to make little sensory bottles. There is also a fun thing you can make called oobleck, which is a mixture of water and cornstarch (this may be a messier option however!).

In conclusion, sensory play is essential for childhood development, enhancing cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills. Using safe, non-toxic, and everyday household items makes sensory play easy and affordable. Embrace these tips to create a fun, sensory-friendly environment that supports your child's growth.