Children discover the world through all their senses
By feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling and moving, children process the world around them.
Sensory play plays an important role in children’s development. It supports not only sensory development, but also language, fine motor skills, concentration and the ability to find calm. That is why sensory play has become an essential part of childcare and education. But how can you create the right setting in your group or classroom?
Provide a calm place where children can explore together and experience what sensory play does for them.
Why is sensory play important?
When children engage with sensory materials, several areas of the brain are active at the same time. This offers valuable benefits at every age.
Sensory processing and calm: touching different materials and textures can have a relaxing effect and helps children process stimuli after a busy day.
Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination: scooping, pouring, squeezing, building and sorting naturally strengthen the muscles in children’s hands and fingers. This also supports the skills they need when learning to write.
Thinking and language development: children talk while they play, helping words such as light and heavy, hard and soft gain meaning. Children of different ages also learn from one another.
Spatial awareness and creativity: sensory play encourages both. It is often open-ended, allowing children to create wonderful things and decide for themselves what they have made and how to use the materials provided.
Which materials can we use?
A tray or container forms a useful base for the materials. Sand and water tables and play trays are ideal.
Fill the table or tray with more than water and sand. Try play rice with small scoops, seasonal materials such as leaves, pine cones, chestnuts and acorns, or even ice cubes. Sensory foam with small animal figures is another engaging option.
If you have a sensory light table, cake-shaped discovery trays are a valuable addition. Children can sort different materials in a playful way. Add various types of tweezers to further develop fine motor skills.
For babies and young toddlers, sensory play begins close to the floor. Our premium soft play mats and tactile elements provide a safe and comfortable surface on which babies can feel and explore different fabrics, patterns and textures.
Explore our extensive range of sensory play materials for even more possibilities.
