Sensory Play Supports Cognitive Development and Regulation Skills
Much of development depends on opportunities. With the insertion of screen time into the daily activities of infants through adulthood, children are not exploring textures and natural media as they should. Many children have sensory aversions that make functioning in group settings more stressful. So what can we do about it? Sensory play!
There are many learning modes, and people learn differently. Some of us learn better by listening, some by reading, and some by doing. We learn by using all of our senses. Research shows that using more than one sense to gain information builds stronger understanding and higher cognitive development.
Young children are especially active learners. They learn faster and can generalize better when learning takes place through tactile and kinesthetic modes—touch and movement. Activities that include these two modalities keep their attention longer than auditory or visual learning. While they are moving and manipulating objects in the environment, they are able to draw on all senses to integrate learning. Sensory stimulation is essential for brain development.
