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The Importance of Sensory Play for Children

By Sharla Kostelyk

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

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Understanding the importance of sensory play can help you open doors for your child’s development, cognition, and behaviour. There are some impressive benefits for something that seems simple. Let me explain.The Importance of Sensory Play for Children #sensoryplay #sensoryprocessingdisorder #spdSensory play may be a popular phrase at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that it is just a passing phase. I believe that as more and more research continues to come out pointing out the benefits of sensory play, it will only increase in prevalence among early childhood educators and parents.

Sensory play is any activity that involves engaging the senses. Generally speaking, the more senses you can include, the better.

The Importance of Sensory Play:

Encourages problem solving.

As children manipulate objects and explore through their senses, they are developing key strategies to problem solving. Guessing, experimenting, testing assumptions, and drawing conclusions are all foundations for the scientific method.

Increases brain development.

Kids learn about the world around them and their own senses and body responses through the senses. When the senses are engaged, neural pathways in the brain are being created. These neural pathways are what will help your child in learning throughout their life.

Provides sensory input.

Getting adequate sensory input each day is important for every child. It is even more crucial for kids who have Sensory Processing Disorder.

Better retention.

When children use more of their senses while learning, they are better able to retain what they’ve learned.

Language development.

During sensory play, a child can describe what they are touching, tasting, hearing, seeing, smelling, or experiencing through their body sensations.

Learning descriptive words in relation to their senses such as “smooth”, “rough”, “soft”, “cold”, “fragrant”, “sweet”, “spicy” and so many more expand a child’s vocabulary.

Regulating emotions and behaviour.

Certain types of sensory play can be calming and assist a child in self-regulation. Heavy work, sensory input that engages the proprioception sensory system can be particularly effective in regulating behaviour.

Focusing on a sensory activity can help calm a child’s anxiety, particularly if it is an activity dedicated to calming such as one that uses lavender scent.

Improves fine motor skills.

The type of movement involved in sensory play such as squeezing, pinching, sorting, placing, and scooping are designed to improve fine motor skills and increase coordination.

Sparks an interest in learning.

Adding sensory elements into teaching restores a child’s focus and can spark an interest in learning. Children who learn through play get more enjoyment out of it and thus, want to do more of it. There are many ways to incorporate sensory play into teaching.

Sensory science, themed sensory bins, unit studies that incorporate sensory play, and sensory stations are just some methods to bring learning and sensory together.

Fun.

There’s another benefit to sensory play that is just as important as all the others mentioned here. It’s fun! 

Sensory Play Ideas:

175 Super Simple Sensory Activities for Kids175 Sensory Activity Ideas for Kids
Trampoline Games and Activities5 Trampoline Games
Alphabet Sensory Bin for Preschool Letter Recognition
American Girls Doll Sensory Bag
American Girls sensory bottle squareAmerican Girls Sensory Bottle
apple tree made out of playdough on a blue backgroundApple Tree Colour and Counting Playdough Game
Arctic Sensory Bag
Bring a bit of the North home with this Arctic Sensory BottleArctic Sensory Bottle
Astronaut Sensory Bottle
At the Beach Nature Sensory Bottle
At the Beach Sensory Bottle
Autumn Sensory Bin with birdseed and cinnamonAutumn Sensory Bin with Birdseed and Cinnamon
Baseball Mini Sensory Bottle
balls of playdough in 6 colours stacked on top of each otherBasic Homemade Playdough Recipe
Bath Time Sensory Bin with Ice and Gelatin
a child's hands hold a blue calm down bottle. The child's hands are all that is visible as the child is snuggled underneath a green blanket.Bedtime Calming Sensory Bottle
Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin
hands holding dripping black slimeBlack Glitter Slime Easy Recipe
Bright Butterfly Sensory Bin
Bubble Paint Body SlamBubble Wrap Body Slam Painting
Bubble Painting!
Bug Action Cards for Kids
Bug Action Cube Gross Motor Fun
Bug Slime without Borax
soap dispenser with clear soap and blue and green plastic bugs in itSimple Bugs Fun Hand Soap for Kids
Bugs Sensory Bottle
Butterfly Sensory Bag
Button Stacking Fine Motor and Sensory Activities
Scented Bubbles: Calming Lavender Bubble Recipe
Calming Lavender Scented Playdough
16 Calming Sensory Activities With Lavender
Calming Lavender Sensory BinCalming Lavender Sensory Bin
red and white swirls in a dish with candy canes and cookie cuttersCandy Cane Oobleck
Candy Sensory Bin - The Chaos and The ClutterCandy Sensory Bin
Chocolate Milk SlimeMilky Slime Recipe
a child's hands pull a brown sensory material over a bowlChocolate Oobleck or Fake Mud for Sensory Play
Christ-Centered Easter Sensory Bin
Christmas Counting I-Spy Discovery (Sensory) BottleChristmas Counting I-Spy Discovery Bottle
Christmas Gifts Sensory Bin
Christmas Nativity Slime
Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bag
Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bottle
Christmas Sticky Tree - easy set up and can be used again and againChristmas Sticky Tree
Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle
Citrus Sensory BinCitrus Sensory Bin
coffee sensory binCoffee Sensory Bin
Colour Mixing Sensory Science
Colour Mixing Sensory Bottle
ice cube tray with paint while a hand paints a rainbow with a yellow brushCondensed Milk Edible Paint
Construction Sensory Bins
Cool Camo Fluffy Slime
The Coolest Slime Recipes
Cotton Ball Painting
rice sensory bin challengeCreate Your Own Sensory Bin
Creating a Colour Themed Sensory Bin
Spider Slime Recipe: Just Like A Spider Web
Deconstructed Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle
Desert Sensory BinDesert Sensory Bin
Despicable Me Minions Sensory Bag
Minions Despicable Me Sensory BottleDespicable Me Minions Sensory Bottle
Dino-riffic Dinosaur Slime
Dinosaur Fossils in Playdough
Dinosaur Sensory Bottle
Hop Easter Sensory BinEaster Egg and Bunny Sensory Bin
yellow and purple with toy sparkly eggs and the letters to spell Easter Egg HuntEaster Egg Hunt Sensory Bin
Easter Fluffy Slime
drips of pastel colours of goo coming down into a sensory bin of oobleckEasy Easter Oobleck Recipe
blue plush mini chick and pastel sequins in a bottle with clear liquid and glitterEaster Sensory Bottle
slime that has coloured mini beads and small bunny toys in itEasy Easter Slime Recipe
Easy Fall Sensory Bag
Edible Freezie Painting
Edible Shark Fluffy Slime
Eggs and Carrots Easter Sensory Bin
Eyeball sensory bin with purple water beadsEyeball Sensory Bin
Fall Leaves Sensory Jar
Fall Leaves Slime
Fill an Ornament Christmas Sensory Bag
Homemade Fingerpaints made with Flower PetalsFlower Petal Fingerpaint
blue slime with a yellow toy fish and a green and red toy fish in itFluffy Fish Slime
Football Mini Sensory Bottle
Frog Sensory BinFrog Sensory Bin with Play Puffs
Frozen Inspired Elsa Microwave Playdough
Frozen Inspired Elsa Slime
Frozen inspired sensory binFrozen Sensory Bin
Frozen Treasure Find
thumb pulling blue slime filled with confettiFun Birthday Slime Recipe
Garden Sensory Bin
ghost hands: the most fun that can be had around a campfire!Ghost Hands Campfire Fun
Gingerbread Playdough Station
Glitter Sensory Bottle
Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle
Glow in the Dark Slime with Glitter
Gluten Free Candy Cane PlaydoughGluten Free Candy Cane Playdough
Googly Eye Monster Slime
Gross Motor Dinosaur Action Cube
close up of a sensory bottle with orange pumpkins and purple huesHalloween Sensory Bottle
Hallowe’en Sensory Game
History Sensory BinHistory Sensory Bin
Holiday Jingle Bell Slime
Holiday Scented Christmas Tree Slime
How To Make Squishies
How to Colour Moon Dough
four trays. One with red macaroni, another with yellow, another with green, and the other with blue.How to Dye Noodles for Sensory Play
seven metal trays each with a different colour of rice on itHow to Dye Rice for Sensory Play
clump of orange slimeHow to Make Pumpkin Slime
Create Your Own Sensory Balls (for pennies each)How to Make Sensory Balls
Human Body Sensory Bin
clear bottle on its side filled with dry rice and colourful bird buttonsI Spy Birds Sensory Bottle
clear bottle filled with dry rice and forest animal buttonsI Spy Forest Animal Babies Sensory Bottle
I Spy Sensory Bin
Ice Painting
Insect Sensory Bin with Pasta
Joy Sensory BinJoy Sensory Bin
a collage of photos demonstrating different activities using kinetic sand including stamping, stacking, shaping, and building. The words "kinetic sand activities" are on the image.Kinetic Sand Activities
Kinetic Sand Sensory Bins
a white bin filled with kinetic sand also contains 3 small construction vehicle toys that are yellow and black in colour.How To Make Kinetic Sand At Home
hand scoops up blue goo as it drips from the fingersKitchen Play with Oobleck
Lego Sensory Bottle
Lemonade Oobleck Summer Sensory Play for Kids
Lemonade Sensory Soup
Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin
A closeup picture of a sensory bottle filled with bright colours of alphabet beads and bright coloured tinsel.Lightweight ABC I Spy Sensory Bottle
Canada Day maple scented playdoughMaple Scented Canada Day Playdough
Mardi Gras Slime
This melted snowman sensory bottle is adorable!Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle
Melting Ice Cream Playdough
Mermaid Calm Down Bottle
Mermaid Stress Balls
Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Sensory Bottle
Minnie Mouse Slime
Money Sensory Bag
Money Sensory Bottle for Math Unit
Monster Sensory Bottle
Monsters Sensory Bin
Nativity Playdough Invitation to Play
Nativity Sensory Bag
Nativity Sensory Bottle Snow Globe
plush bunny sits by a sensory bin filled with moss, grass, and toy butterfliesNature Inspired Easter Sensory Bin
Nature Inspired Spring Sensory Soup
New Year’s Eve Noisemakers
New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle
This New Year's sensory bottle is especially for the kids but can also add to the decor of any New Year's celebrations.New Year’s Sensory Bottle for Kids
O Holy Night Nativity Sensory Bin
Ocean Sensory Bag
Ocean Discovery Bottle that keeps items suspended including the glow in the dark jellyfish and starfishOcean Sensory Bottle
On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub
Our Best Sensory BinsOur Best Sensory Bins
Outdoor Sensory Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Huge List of Outdoor Winter Sensory Activities
Peppermint Essential Oil Christmas Playdough
Peppermint Scented Slime Recipe
Peter Rabbit Playdough Invitation to Play
Peter Rabbit Sensory Bin
Printable Pirate Themed Emotions Playdough Mats
Playdough Made with Hair Gel
Free Printable Playdough MatsPrintable Playdough Mats
fluffy yarn in pastel coloursPretend Cotton Candy for Sensory Play
Pretend Play Sensory Activity
Pretty Princess Sensory Bottle
Printable Playdough Mats for Sensory Play
pink circle cookie cutter next to yellow playdough covered in candy sprinklesPudding Playdough
in a red plastic bin, light almost white cloud dough is sprinkled with fall coloured plastic leaves and small metallic leaf shaped confetti. There is also a metal scoop in the corner.Pumpkin Pie Scented Moon Dough
Pumpkin Puffy Paint
Rainbow Confetti Party Slime
Rainbow Playdough Colour and Counting Game
Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity
Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle - This discovery bottle is easily made with straws and beads.Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle
a black child's hand is reaching up from a bin of soap foam holding blue and pink soap foam. The bin contains areas of pink, blue, purple, and yellow soap foam.Rainbow Soap Foam
Scented Valentine’s Sensory Bin
Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory Bin
Seashell Fossils in Playdough
Seaside Sensory Bin
Seek and Find Sensory Bin
Sensory Activities with Baby Oil
Sensory Lego Letters Preschool Activity
Sensory Play with Bubbles
Sensory Smell Bottles
Sensory Sound Eggs
Shark Week Sensory Bottle
Shaving Cream Painting
Shaving Cream Polka-Dot Sidewalk Painting
Spring Flowers Sensory BinSilk Flowers Sensory Bins
Simple Christmas Sensory Bag
Simple Fall Sensory Bottle
Simple Hallowe’en Slime
Simple Summer Sensory ActivitySimple Summer Sensory Activity
Valentine's Sensory BinSimple Valentines Sensory Bin
Squishy Sky Sensory Bag
A Sky sensory bottle to encourage exploration and imagination.Sky Sensory Bottle
Snow Playdough and invitation to playSnow Playdough
Snowballs and Jingle Bells Sensory Bag
Snowflake Sensory Bag
Snowflake Sensory Bottle and simple science lessonSnowflake Sensory Bottle and Science Lesson
This Space themed discovery bottle is naturally weighted which provides more sensory input.Space Sensory Bottle
Spring Sensory Bottle with butterflies, flowers and bugsSpring Sensory Bottle
Sprinkles Sensory Bag
I Spy Christmas Sensory Bag
Squishy Mermaid Sensory Bag
Squishy Shark Sensory Bag
finger presses into an air bubble in shamrock slime to get at a gold coinSt. Patrick’s Clear Slime
St. Patrick’s Day Fluffy Slime
St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bag
St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin
St. Patrick's Day Sensory BottleSt. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bottle
Stretchy Butterfly Slime
an almost opaque white slime with red round confetti and bright green tree shaped confetti is seen held in a hand with only the thumb visibleHow To Make Stretchy Slime
hand presses into blue slime with coloured confetti in itStretchy Superhero Slime
Stuck in the MudStuck in the Mud with Playdough
Summer Sensory Bin
Superheroes Sensory Bag for Superkids
Superheroes Sensory Bottle
Tactile Sensory CardsTactile Sensory Cards
Tactile Sensory Play with Texture Balloons
This Sky sensory bin is perfect for flight units or for kids who want to explore and use their imaginations.Take Flight with a Sky Sensory Bin
Textured Butter Slime
Thanksgiving Sensory Bottle
The Grinch Sensory Bottle
The Mega List of Sensory Bottles
Timon Inspired Lion King Slime
an empty toilet paper roll covered in birdseed on a table sprinkled with bird seed. A white plate is visible in the background.Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Transportation Alphabet Playdough Mats
Trolls Sensory Bag
Understanding Emotions Birthday Party Printable Playdough Mats
Unicorn Sensory Bag
Unicorn Fluffy Slime
Unicorns and Fairies Sensory Bottle
Unique Slime Recipes
Valentine’s Calm Down Bottle
Valentine’s Day Fluffy Slime
Valentine’s Day Playdough Station
Valentine’s Day Slime
Valentine’s Pluffle Sensory Bin
The contents of this Valentines sensory bottle can later be used to create the base of a Valentine's Day sensory bin.Valentines Sensory Bottle
Valentine’s Chocolate and Strawberry Playdough
Van Gogh Inspired Starry Night Sensory Bottle
Water Beads Sensory Tray
a collage of different winter themed sensory bins and the words "Winter Sensory Bins"Winter Sensory Bins
Winter Sensory Tray on a mirrorWinter Sensory Tray
Winter Wonderland Sensory BinWinter Wonderland Sensory Bin
One Year of Awesome Sensory Bottles
Zoo Mini Sensory Bottle
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