EXPLORING SOCIAL AND SENSORY PLAY FOR YOUR KIDS

Our sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste all play an important role in helping our brains develop, From the time we’re born, we use our senses to learn about the world around us. It actually strengthens the neural pathways in kids’ minds, laying strong foundations for learning in the future. Sensory play is any activity that stimulates the senses. There are five main senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, and two other less-known senses, vestibular (sense of balance) and proprioceptive (sense of where each body part is in relation to the rest of the body). The more kids use their senses, the more they develop them and the ability to learn using them. Sensory play is essential for all kids to learn how their bodies work, and how to process and interpret the world around them. Sometimes the reality of a special need, like Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder, provides a few barriers, but the need and importance of sensory play remain the same for all children.

Cognitive development (learning)-Kids learn about the world around them through exploring, and having plenty of sensory experiences gives kids the chance to discover and share what they’ve seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. For example, each time a child plays with a texture, they start to identify things that are similar or different. Sand for example is dry and gritty, and in time, they will notice other materials, such as sugar, feel similar to sand. Physical skills- Sensory play involves lots of action, from lifting and throwing, to splashing and shaping. While these actions may seem small, they all support the development of different muscle groups and help kids to build their fine motor skills – this strength and coordination comes in handy in day-to-day life such as using a spoon to eat.

Emotional development- For kids, sensory play can often be very calming and can help them to work through troubling emotions such as anxiety and frustration. Working with materials that require pressure and manipulation, such as play dough, can help kids release physical energy or tension – and other materials can trigger positive feelings like joy and excitement. Communication- Kids have no shortage of opportunities to communicate during sensory play, both verbally and non-verbally – whether they describe what they are feeling, squeal in delight at a new sensation, or share a moment of surprise. After all, who doesn’t like having exciting new stuff to talk about?!Social skills-Sensory play is most fun when it’s done with friends – and it’s also a great chance to learn! When kids play together, they see how other kids handle the materials, share their own ideas and discoveries, learn to make friends, and make friends! Sense of self -We all like and dislike different things – and a great way of finding out your own personal preferences is through firsthand experience! Through sensory play, kids can explore and communicate how they feel, and learn that their feelings are valid – whether they love the smell of lemons or hate the feeling of slime. This leads to a greater sense of self. Develops motor skills – Whether kids are making waves in a water table or drawing circles in shaving cream, they are strengthening the muscles in their body that are needed for daily living activities like zipping a jacket or brushing their teeth.

Some kids are highly sensitive to sensory stimulation while others have low sensitivity. For kids who crave more stimulation, add scented extracts or small beads into homemade playdough. Or finger paint instead of using a brush so their fingers feel the coolness and movement directly. For kids who are overly sensitive, finger painting may still be an option – but have the kids wear rubber gloves or put different colored paints in a sealable plastic bag so they can experience how the colors mix and move without ever having to get paint on their hands, other examples of sensory activities includes Jump—on a mini-trampoline, Do wheelbarrow walking or races, Perform donkey kicks. Do ABC push-ups: Push-up to plank position, touch your chest with your hand and say a letter of the alphabet; repeat all the way to the letter Z and alternate the hand that touches the chest, toddlers can push their own strollers, the laundry, or grocery cart. Have your toddler or child carry a backpack full of his or her toys and books,Bear walk, Crab walk, Play leapfrog, Slither like a snake, Start a tickle fight, Bang on some drums, Clang pots and pans, Have a parade and march, Wipe the counters, Sweep etc

When you contemplate a sensory play activity for a child in your life with special needs, take into consideration not only what they’ll learn, but also how they’ll experience it —and then promote the areas that make the most sense for each child. Kids with visual impairment- may not gain a tremendous amount of value from fourteen different shades of green crayon on simple, white copy paper. They may benefit more from enjoying a coloring activity on different textured paper – like bumpy, corrugated, and scratchy (e.g. sand paper). Kids who are deaf or hard of hearing- may miss the verses in a song, however, they can feel the beat of the drum and the vibration of whistles and kazoos. Music can be part of sensory play for kids who are deaf or hard of hearing if you can help them feel the music. Kids with physical limitations -may not have the control to easily follow intricate paint by number patterns, but may find success with stamps and washable stamp pads, where elaborate masterpieces are created with simple movements.

Kids with sensory processing issues- are a little trickier, Some are highly sensitive to sensory stimulation while others have low sensitivity. For kids who crave more stimulation, add scented extracts or small beads into homemade playdough. Or finger paint instead of using a brush so their fingers feel the coolness and movement directly. For kids who are overly sensitive, finger painting may still be an option – but have the kids wear rubber gloves or put different colored paints in a sealable plastic bag so they can experience how the colors mix and move without ever having to get paint on their hands.
With sensory play, as with all play, safety is important. Keep these tips in mind when you are preparing your sensory play activitie, Supervise ; Whether it’s directly or within earshot, children should always know there is an adult nearby to help, if needed. Be aware of overstimulation. For some children, flashing lights are a sensory delight to watch; for others, those same lights may instigate seizures. Be aware of your child’s needs and limitations.

Make sure they are developmentally appropriate. Keep age, abilities, and skill in mind when choosing an activity. If children are still exploring with their mouths, make sure the activities you introduce have pieces large enough to not present a choking hazard and are non-toxic.
By providing opportunities to explore in different ways, you are helping children identify what they like and dislike. How they learn best. What calms them and what excites them. Use the senses to guide you in understanding your kids and helping them learn.

Having limited space may pose as barriers to sensory play – If your space is only small, make sure it’s well planned and invest in storage that means you don’t have all your equipment out at once. You can organise activities that play to the strengths of your environment – grass and woodland areas are great for minibeast hunts and paved areas are great for mark making. At times unpredictable weather may not favour the sensory play course, warm clothes can be used in winter and hats and sun cream in summer. If necessary, you can limit the time spent outside – even short bursts of fresh air can really benefit children. When it’s cold plan activities with lots of movement, and in hot weather incorporate water and ice into your outdoor play.
It’s hugely important to keep children in your care safe; however this does not mean eliminating all risks. When managed properly, small risks help children to learn. Good planning and training can ensure safety across a huge range of outdoor activities. Making a mess may be concern but messy play is fantastic for sensory exploration. To minimize the burden of the big clear up, get the children involved and turn it into a fun activity which can also help a child’s learning and development. Invest in protective clothing to reduce the mess while still enabling children to get stuck in to all activities, At times costly resources for both indoor and outdoor areas can make budgets feel stretched. Don’t over complicate the outdoor space – some of the best activities involve only natural materials and a little imagination.FW0663 – adidas samba ireland live score last night – adidas Futurenatural Shoes Vivid Red Mens | 811006 – Jordan XXX Black Cat – nike air max griffey 360 low – 010