Young children take great pleasure in exploring the world around them: the sights, the sounds, the smells. And with every new sensation, a child strengthens their neural connections and helps to build up the architecture of their brain. What is sensory play and what is its role in this process?

Life is experienced through the senses, so all play is sensory play in its own way. Even adults still seek sensory stimulation through methods like music, art, aromatherapy and fidget toys. Yet sensory play is especially important for young minds just developing skills like language, coordination and problem solving. One of sensory play’s biggest strengths is that it’s fun for all ages. And as you’re about to find out, there are many ways to play.

Sister Sensory is Australia’s ultimate destination for sensory solutions and toys for neurodivergent children. In this two-part blog, we address questions like “what is sensory play?” and “why is sensory play important for children?” We also describe some of the most common kinds of sensory activities and toys on the market so you can meet the needs of the children in your life.

 What is sensory play?

Sensory play has a vital role in children’s development and in their emotional regulation. It helps children to tune out past negative emotions and future anxieties and focus on the here and now. But what is sensory play?

Sensory play is any activity that provides high-intensity input to one or more of the body’s senses. While sensory play is often associated with hands-on play with messy substances, it doesn’t have to be. There are many clean and tidy ways to engage in sensory play.

 Why is sensory play important?

 Each brain is wired differently, with genetic factors and individual experiences shaping how neurons connect and form pathways. As children grow, their brains get better at putting together information from different sensory pathways to form the big picture.

Why is sensory play important? Sensory play helps children piece together this sensory input, improving fine and gross motor skills, cognitive skills, social-emotional skills and language skills along the way.

Sensory play promotes independent thinking, helps children understand the outcomes of their actions, improves memory and power of perception, aids the development of language and promotes creativity and exploration.

While sensory play is important for all children, kids with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other special needs can benefit greatly from having sensory toys on hand. Sensory and fidget toys help children regulate their emotions, seek out sensory experiences in a safe way, feel calmer, focus more and release their excessive energy.

 The different types of sensory play

 What is sensory play like in practice? There are various forms of sensory play out there to suit the many different kinds of children. The main forms of sensory play include:

Tactile / touch

Although your baby’s sense of touch develops at birth, it takes time for their brain to integrate it with their other senses. Playing with new substances and textures is an essential part of the process. Tactile play can involve playing with objects of different fabrics and feels or comparing different weights and pressures.

Visual / sight

Visual play helps children develop their sense of sight as well as their cognitive abilities. Early in life, high-contrast images and geometric shapes are ideal for this dual purpose. Once a child’s vision has developed, you can introduce them to activities that enable them to recognise a range of colours, such as modelling dough.

Auditory / sound

Babies are born with well-developed hearing but without the ability to “track” sounds or identify where they’re coming from. Introducing soft and soothing sounds in the early months of life can both calm children and help them to locate the origins of sounds.

Olfactory / smell

Smell is one of the first senses to develop. In fact, toddlers can recognise their parents by scent before they can identify them by sight. Olfactory play can help kids distinguish between various smells and strengthen their memories.

Movement

Activities involving physical movement, such as spinning in a chair or swinging on a playground swing, help children develop their balance and coordination. They also assist a child in understanding their proprioceptive system: their position in space and how it relates to other objects.

Find your sensory solutions at Sister Sensory

If you’re looking for sensory solutions and toys, you’re in the right place! Sister Sensory has more than 2000 diverse toys and products for all ages and abilities, with new products added weekly. An NDIS provider and family owned business with over 10 years of experience, we work closely with therapists and specialists around Australia to provide your child with the best sensory experiences available.

Whether you’d like to know more about what sensory play is or you need to help finding the perfect sensory product, Sister Sensory is happy to help. Call us on 0401 689 313, e-mail info@sistersensory.com.au or drop into Factory 4, 4 Brooke Court Melton, Vic, 3337.