Sensory Play 101: Why It’s Crucial for Your Child’s Development

Let’s talk sensory play.

We’re constantly reading about the importance of sensory play. it As an early childhood educator, play expert, and play and parenting coach I can tell you that it is arguably one of the most important ways you can engage in play with your child.

But as a parent, the words sensory play can immediately set off anxiety: it sounds messy, overwhelming, and intimidating.

So what exactly is sensory play and why does it matter?

The term sensory play refers to any type of play that stimulates and engages the senses. It can be messy, but it certainly doesn’t need to be. Young children learn about and make sense of the world around them through hands-on play and exploration.  It is a vital part of supporting a child across every area of development.

Here are a few of the many benefits of engaging in sensory play with your child:

It’s incredibly calming and regulating. A sensory play activity is the perfect type of play to pull out after a busy school day, or to reset the energy when you’re having one of “those” mornings. Rolling and squishing playdough or the sensation of fingers moving through water or kinetic sand can very relaxing and soothing.

It promotes language and math skills. Sensory play provides so many opportunities to build verbal skills as children engage and describe what they see, feel, or smell. As they explore with their hands and fingers, pre-writing skills are honed. As a child scoops and pours, or transfers water from one container to another, he/she is honing early math skills like spatial awareness, measurement, and volume. 

It promotes overall cognitive development. Research shows that sensory play strengthens the nerve connections in the brain helping to support memory and problem-solving skills.

It promotes independent play skills. Sensory play tends to hold children’s attention for longer periods of time, creating great opportunities for child-led, focused independent play.

It strengthens the large and small muscle groups. There is so much movement and coordination happening in the body during sensory play: gripping, pouring, climbing, transferring objects back and forth. Sensory play is great for supporting fine and gross motor skills.

 

The 2MamaBees Londyn Swing Set provides so many opportunities for this including its nest swing, rock wall, slide, full kitchen with wooden play food that can be cut in half and velcro back together and window boxes that can be used to plant real herbs and flowers.

It’s never too early or too late to start integrating more sensory play experiences into your child’s routine. There are opportunities all around you: playing and exploring outdoors, mealtimes, listening to music. If you're looking for ideas on how to encourage sensory exploration through play, I share tons of simple play prompts geared toward children 0-7 years old home in my low-cost monthly membership.

 

By Jill Lerman, Play and Parenting Coach 

Check out Jill's website www.jillybeansnyc.com to learn more about how to work with her 1:1, join her monthly Playful Parenting membership, or listen to her podcast, The Art of Playful Parenting. 

Ready to see more independent play? This free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

Find Jill on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jillybeansnyc

 

Jill Lerman is a play and parenting coach, early childhood educator, play expert, and a mom to a toddler. She empowers overwhelmed  parents & caretakers to connect & engage with their little ones through simple invitations to play and create to help make parenting feel more joyful and manageable. She also serves as a play expert and consultant for brands, where she teaches classes, runs workshops, consults on product development, and provides activity ideas.

 

A mom herself, Jill knows how difficult getting through the day can be, which is why, above all else, her approach makes it easy for parents to facilitate interaction and play that supports development. She loves helping families create an environment and culture that sees children as capable from their earliest days, that values creativity, playfulness, bonding, and connection.