Sensory play is any activity that stimulates our senses, including touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. It helps children interact with and make sense of the world around them, and plays an important role in their learning and development. Sensory play can be as simple or complex as you’d like, and can often be set up with items you already have at home. Here are some benefits of sensory play for children:

• Brain development: Sensory play fosters brain development by supporting learning through exploration, curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity. Sensory play activities like finger painting and playing musical instruments stimulate the mind and build nerve connections in the brain.

• Fine motor skills: Sensory play helps with fine motor skills, such as learning how to maneuver challenges and how to get rice from one container to another.

• Emotional regulation: Sensory play can have a calming effect on children’s angry or anxious feelings.

• Social skills: By engaging in sensory play with siblings or peers, children begin developing social skills. They learn how to communicate, troubleshoot problems, and adapt to how others play.

Sensory play can be adapted for different ages, needs, and abilities. It should be part of everyday experiences and learning opportunities for children, and can be offered throughout the day during unstructured playtime and in various learning centers.