The Benefits of Sensory Play for Children

What is sensory play?

Sensory play is any activity that activates and stimulates our senses (touch, sight, smell, hearing, taste). Sensory play closely correlates with the Australian EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework) outcomes, and can be practiced both in education and at home. 

Why is sensory play important? 

Not just a buzz term, but a way of encouraging play through different activities; at its core, sensory play gives children the opportunity to explore, learn, and understand through their senses while interacting with natural and processed materials.

However, sensory play goes beyond setting up a messy activity and letting children play organically. Sensory play gives children a chance to learn and understand cause and effect in a way that is both natural and unstructured. We’ll get into the benefits below, but the crux of it is that sensory play encourages and promotes a wealth of development skills in children. 

What are the benefits of sensory play in early childhood? 

Problem-solving skills

Using building blocks to build a tower that does not fall, or sorting items by colour or shape are two examples of sensory play activities that can develop the ability to solve minor problems. Solving these innocuous problems through play can build confidence in solving larger problems. 

Memory & focus

Senses play a role in establishing connections between memories and experiences. As children, it’s no different. Exploring different textures, sounds, smells, and tastes will develop processing and memory in children, ie., exploring different smells or foods can encourage children to create connections between these experiences and memories.

Supports curiosity

The basis of sensory play is to allow children to engage in the activities at their own pace and ability. By leaving children to play (with supervision) and use their senses, sensory play relies on children leaning into curiosity and interest.

Language skills

Sensory activities include encouraging children to use words to describe an object - as well as its properties and features. Singing songs or nursery rhymes teaches new words, phrases, and expressions. Within child care, sensory play is also a fantastic way for children to interact with each other while playing and learning new words, phrases, and sounds from one and another. 

Promotes independence

Yes - play is going to be (naturally) social in a childcare setting; however, activities can also be very individual. Independent tasks like painting, building blocks, or sand play can build confidence and self-regulation. At home, sensory play can help children to feel more capable and comfortable playing alone (under parental supervision of course).

Development of fine motor skills

Sensory play naturally encourages children to use their hands and fingers to explore. Depending on the activity, examples of sensory play can include squeezing, pinching, and rolling malleable materials, or pouring and scooping sand - both of which will encourage the development of fine motor skills, vital muscle memories required for things like tying shoelaces, writing, drawing, and doing up a zipper.

Imagination & creativity

Sensory play is the ultimate creative outlet - allowing children to create their own experiences, sensory play can stimulate imagination and envision new possibilities.

How it’s integrated into early childhood learning

Sensory play is not only encouraged, but a practice that works directly in conjunction with the EYLF and Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authorities (ACECQA). Sensory play in early childhood learning can be both independent and collaborative, through tools like ‘sensory bins’, or activities that involve painting stations, sand-pit play, nursery rhymes, musical instruments, and more.

At Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland, we integrate daily activities into our centres that are built around sensory play, focusing specifically on the children’s ages, stages, abilities, and curiosities. Sensory play is a huge part of a child’s development - as educators, it’s our role to create a space where children can engage in their senses and learn about the world in a safe, effective, and positive way. 

How you can engage in sensory play at home 

Sensory play should not be isolated to childcare or early learning centres. For parents, sensory play can be a great way to keep your children stimulated, happy, and curious in the home (particularly on a rainy day!). There are so many different ways that you can practice sensory play at home, including:

• Sand and water play
• Playing with food and edible textures
• Painting or drawing
• Playdough
• Building blocks
• Creating a sensory table or bin with different materials
• Slime play