Why is sensory play important?

Early Childhood Educators every where have been talking about the importance of sensory play and the fact that screens have begun taking it away. But why exactly is sensory play so important? Well sensory play….

 

1. Builds Never Connections

Research has shown that as children actively use their senses in conjunction with one another, it helps build the pathways between the nerves in the brain.  This will lead to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks.

 

2. Supports Cognitive Development

Children first learn new things via their senses. Every time they encounter something cold, hard, wet, or bumpy, for example, it reinforces their understanding of what types of things have these characteristics.

 

3. Improves Social Skills

Partaking in sensory play with their friends and classmates children will communicate with each other both verbally and non-verbally.  Together they will uncover new ways to manipulate a substance or object.

 

4. Strengthens Fine Motor Skills

Sensory play usually involves touching, pouring, pinching, sorting and moving actions.  Children mainly use their hands to explore and in doing so, build upon their fine motor skills.

 

5. Enhances Language Skills

By engaging in sensory play children will discover new ways to describe the objects in the world around them.

 

6. Has a calming effect

Sensory play is a great tool for anxious or frustrated children.  It gives them something different to focus on besides what is upsetting them.