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A Handful of Fun: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers

March 24, 2010 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience 104 Comments

***Curious about what to expect from child development in the preschool years — from sensory skills to cognitive development and beyond?  Head over here to get the Not Just Cute Developmental Guide when you sign up for the Not Just Cute Newsletter!

Think of your average preschooler.  How long has this child been proficient with language?  Depending on the age, the child may not really be too proficient yet!  Others seem to have been talking non-stop since 2 1/2, but that means they’ve been talking now for all of…..about a year!  Now think of how long these children have been seeing, smelling, hearing, feeling, and tasting.  Their whole lives!  Children are wired to receive and utilize sensory input from day one.  This is why children will dive in hands first, exploring a new substance.  The senses are their most familiar, most basic way to explore, process, and come to understand new information.

This is why we must allow young children to learn through experience, not just lecture.  These children need to use their senses and be engaged in meaningful experiences.  As we talk with them about what they are observing and sensing, we give them new language tools to connect with these more familiar sensory tools, building language as well as supporting cognitive concepts specific to the experience.

Now, the flip side to this equation is important to remember as well.  Just as children learn through their senses, they also are developing the ability to use those senses and are building the neurological pathways associated with each one.  With added sensory experiences, combined with the scaffolding of adults and peers, children become more perceptive.  Their sensory intake and processing becomes more acute.  As they are better able to use their senses, they are then better able to learn through their senses.

Sensory play is really part of the scientific process.  Whether out loud or within the internal dialogue of the mind, children have developed a question, leading them to investigate– by grabbing, smelling, listening, rubbing, staring, licking , what have you!  They are using their senses to collect data and from that, attempt to answer their own questions.  Whether or not young children are always able to verbally communicate this process, it is still a valid exercise in scientific inquiry.

The sensory table is the usually the first place people think of for sensory play.  That’s logical, as the term “sensory” is shared by both.  The sensory table certainly stands as an open invitation for hands-on exploration, but it is not the only place where the senses come into play.  Throughout the preschool room and throughout the preschooler’s day, there are appeals being made to the five senses.  The sound of toppling towers in the block area, the feel of finger-paint sliding under their fingertips, the glow of the Light Brite at the small manip table, the smell of cinnamon playdough.  As teachers, the more we can attend to the sensory involvement of our planned activities, the more our children will be engaged and the more they will learn.

For example, when discussing the need for warm clothes in the winter time, we can simply tell children about it, or we can have them hold ice cubes, one in a bare hand, and one in a gloved hand, let them really feel the difference and then meaningfully attach a verbal discussion to the sensory experience.

Back at the sensory table, we can find many more benefits to sensory play.  That bin of sand, or foam, or colorful rice is more than just another way to keep kids busy, it is a bustling factory of developmental growth.  In addition to honing sensory and science skills, sensory play builds language, social, and dramatic play skills as the children negotiate with one another to share tools, create stories, and build dialogues.  Both small and large motor skills get a boost as well, as the children manipulate the medium and tools of the day.  Creative, divergent thinking is displayed as the children are essentially invited to explore and come up with new ways to use the materials.  Cognitive skills are fostered as well as the children learn about specific concepts pertinent to the bin’s contents.  Things like gravity, parts of plants, states of matter, and color mixing are easily explored and understood through sensory play.  As you teach appropriate boundaries with sensory play, children develop more self-control and body awareness.

As one of the truest open-ended activities, sensory play provides an opportunity for every child to succeed.  No matter whether you are gifted or delayed, learning a new language or mastering your first, you can’t really fail with a bin full of beans or a ball of playdough.  Children who struggle to succeed or who are apprehensive about failure often find solace in sensory play.  The simple act of pouring water or running fingers through rice is often cathartic and calming to many children who may be struggling emotionally.  It can soothe the nervous child, distract the homesick child, and serve as an outlet for the angry child.  For children with special needs and sensory integration disorders, sensory play may be particularly therapeutic.  (Please note that we must also avoid over-stimulation in many sensitive children.  Special attention must also be paid to children with sensory integration disorder and properly recognizing their thresholds.)

We often think of the sensory table as being a tactile activity, which it largely is, but the other senses come into play as well!  The tapping sounds of popcorn kernels hitting the bin, the pungent smell of baking soda and vinegar at work, the sight of separating colors as tinted water, oil, and syrup are mixed together are all sensory experiences that can be tapped at the sensory table.  Taste sometimes finds less desirable ways to sneak in at the table as well, though taste-tests can also be properly planned as fantastic sensory experiences!

Find ways to optimize sensory play for your children.  Whether that’s providing a bin of sand to explore, giving your child a dish wand and plastic dishes to “wash” at the sink, or finding ways to integrate the senses into your other activities, provide space and time for sensory play!  It’s a natural and satisfying way to explore and learn!

Links you might love:

Creating a Sensory Table on a Budget

Setting Boundaries with Sensory Play

How to Find Sensory Materials on the Cheap

Messy Play: Bubbles, Sand, Dough, and Water  (Great Sensory Play Ideas from lekotek)

Find more ideas for sensory activities by clicking on the sensory tags and categories at the right, or by entering “sensory” into the blog search engine!

 

Top photo by osmar01.

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Comments

  1. Colleen Bowers says

    March 24, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Excellent! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  2. jenny says

    March 24, 2010 at 3:04 am

    I enjoyed reading your post – a really comprehensive look at sensory play. Its so important to get the message out that children are doing so much more than just messing about when they are playing and you have done just that 🙂

    Reply
  3. Scott says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:06 am

    Great post. It’s important to realize that sensory play (and other types of play) are important ways for children to learn…and not just “time fillers.” Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    March 25, 2010 at 12:27 am

    This is good stuff!!! I just found your blog and I’m so glad for it. I have a 15 month old I am always looking for new activities and your blog is a well spring of them. Thank you so much for this.

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      March 25, 2010 at 8:46 am

      So glad you find it useful!

      Reply
  5. Amy says

    March 26, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Really loved this post. Thanks Mandy!

    Reply
  6. Sarah Baldwin says

    March 29, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    This is a wonderful post! As a Waldorf early childhood educator, I have been working for years educating parents about the importance of a young sensory experiences. I now own Bella Luna Toys, an online shop selling toys and playthings of natural materials designed to nurture and nourish children’s senses and to inspire imagination. With your permission, I would love to share this article on Bella Luna’s blog, with credit and linking back to your blog, of course! http://www.bellalunatoys.com

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      March 29, 2010 at 11:26 pm

      Thank you so much, Sarah! I am flattered to have you use my post! Thank you for linking back to me! By the way, your toys are amazing! I love the natural materials!

      Reply
  7. Lynne M. says

    November 4, 2010 at 11:36 am

    What a wonderful article! I am an educator who has worked with Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. My passion is Sensory Play! I have put together a PowerPoint presentation for teachers to give them non-traditional ideas for sensory play (Infants through Toddlers). I have been online looking for a good article to support “Why Sensory Play is Important”. There is NOTHING out there. I stumbled upon your log through a search engine. What a great article! You encourage readers to share this information with others as long as you are cited! I would like to do this…put your article in my packet that I give when I present. Once again…WELL WRITTEN!

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      November 4, 2010 at 1:54 pm

      Thank you! Absolutely you may share what I’ve written. My purpose is to educate and support parents and teachers of young children. As long as what I write is not being distributed for profit, and includes citations with my name and blog address (Amanda Morgan, MS http://www.notjustcute.com), I would love nothing more than to have it used in teacher trainings! I would love to see your power point!

      Reply
  8. Acacia @ Fingerpaint & Superheroes says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    Fabulous article! I am sharing a blog entry tomorrow about messy play so I linked back to yours. Eager to check out the rest of your blog and follow!

    Reply
  9. Jen says

    June 21, 2011 at 4:46 am

    What a wonderful article! Well written and full of useful information for parents and teachers. I’m going to share on my blog today and link back to you. Thank you!

    Jennifer
    Creative and Curious Kids!

    Reply
  10. Joy says

    July 27, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Thanks for such a great article! I love reading your blog and it is so useful for educating parents and teachers of the importance of play in early childhood. I just wrote a short blog entry on sensory play and toddlers, and I have added a link back to you.

    Reply
  11. Rupal says

    January 22, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Great blog! Shared this on our school facebook page 🙂

    We’re based in Tanzania, E.Africa!

    https://www.facebook.com/myworldpreschool

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 23, 2012 at 10:50 pm

      Wow! Thanks for letting me know. I should start a map with little pushpins to show where I’ve “been” via cyberspace!

      Reply
  12. tabflower says

    March 13, 2012 at 5:59 am

    i’m an education ranger just writing a ‘workpack’ on sensory activities for schools visiting the woodland i work in, i’ll be including a link to your excellent article as i can’t think of better ways to discribe the importance of sensory activities than you have!

    Reply
  13. Reina says

    March 14, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Although we do a lot of sensory play, I discovered sensory bins a few months ago when my twins were already 4. I though that they were too big for them but gave it a try last saturday when it was raining. Gosh, they really, absolutely love it. Last saturday they spent the whole morning playing with corn. I never have seen them before engaged in an activity for such a long time. But when I think about it, it was not only one activity….it was many. They piled the corn, hide something under the corn, play with they cars, the dinos also took a look, then little pirate boats appear and the corn transformed into gold…I just sat next to them and look at them the whole morning having so much fun together. we are surely going to follow this road 🙂 Thanks for your article and blog.

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      March 14, 2012 at 10:41 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

      Reply
  14. Kylee says

    July 22, 2012 at 1:17 am

    GREAT article! I shared part of it on my blog (and cited you as the source!) and also shared the link for this article. Hope that’s okay with you 🙂 if not please let me know!

    http://hairbowsandmudpies.wordpress.com/sensory-play/

    Reply
  15. Heike Larson says

    November 8, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Well said! In the Montessori preschool classroom, we have a whole area dedicated to sensorial exploration. It’s so important, beyond the toddler years. Here’s a video on how the Montessori Sensorial Exercises contribute to fostering the scientist in each child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlnHVxJKEiM

    Reply
  16. Ciara says

    July 4, 2014 at 8:46 am

    Thank You for writing this about sensory play!!! I am writing my dissertation on the multi-sensory approach and so far I am finding it really difficult to find anything about main stream and not just SEN as i believe all pre-school aged children benefit from sensory experiences. If anybody has more information i could use could you please share or e-mail me at ciara.toner@btinternet.com that would be AMAZING i am already looking into the montessory school approach i don’t know how i didn’t think of it earlier!! many thanks x

    Reply
  17. Kim Thomason says

    January 29, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Do you have a ppt that I could share this info with my toddler and preschool staff?

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      February 6, 2015 at 7:15 am

      Hi Kim! Please feel free to use this post in a training with your staff. As for presentations, I do offer those as part of my work, but don’t have any available for free at this time. Please let me know if you’re interested in booking a training!

      Reply
  18. Deanna says

    April 27, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    Just wanted to leave a quick comment as an Early Childhood Education student…I am currently involved in a research project on sensory experiences in the preschool classroom. The university I attend is constructivist based and we are always taught to utilize open-ended materials as much as possible. This article was a GREAT way for me to read what’s in my own head- it’s been somewhat difficult to find research that parallels the constructivist approach when it comes to sensory experiences/materials, so I just wanted to say how helpful this was for me as a student and in my future classroom! I will be definitely be sharing this with peers and teachers alike! Oh and if you have any other resources for me to use for my project please feel free to share!! (:

    Reply
  19. Amy Thiessen says

    September 20, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    Awesome post! I got chills thinking about what a difference it can make showing someone vs telling them. Showing feels nurturing to me, telling feels authoritative. Excited to explore your ideas for sensory table ideas!

    Reply

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    January 25, 2014 at 5:11 pm

    […] learn more about sensory activities, check out – Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers and Complete Guide Sensory […]

    Reply
  54. Valentine's Day Sensory Play - MOMMY ON DEMAND says:
    February 4, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    […] language and so much more.   If you want to read more about the benefits of Sensory bins check out Not Just cute, she has been a great […]

    Reply
  55. Secrets of the Fearless Mess-Makers | Not Just Cute says:
    March 25, 2014 at 1:52 am

    […] Sensory play has so many benefits rolled into one activity.  There’s the obvious development of sensory perception, as well as the therapeutic nature of sensory play, but all of that usually comes with some fantastic language experiences as children describe and narrate along with their play.  There’s also a strong foundation for science skills and a wide open door for creative play as well, as kids are encouraged to think divergently, wonder, and explore. (Read more about the benefits of sensory play in this post!) […]

    Reply
  56. Sensory Play Ideas For Young Learners ~ My Sensory Box Subscription Review says:
    March 28, 2014 at 10:08 am

    […] These days, it’s wonderful to have all the resources available specifically for young learners’ sensory play.  Search on the internet, and you will find wonderful Pinterest boards and blogs with great ideas.  I never have put a box or tub together full of sensory toys, but I do let M explore my drawers and shoe boxes full of craft supplies!  If you are looking for a great article on sensory play, you may find this article by Amanda Morgan of notjustcute.com helpful: A Handful of Fun: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers. […]

    Reply
  57. The Writing in the Salt | Not Just Cute says:
    May 12, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    […] into the salt. Besides being a little less physically taxing, the salt provides an element of sensory stimulation and the cookie sheet gives room for larger strokes.  I usually let him experiment a little, and […]

    Reply
  58. 15 SCENT-sational Sensory Activities for Kids - Fun-A-Day! says:
    June 3, 2014 at 10:13 am

    […] A Handful of Fun: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers from Not Just Cute […]

    Reply
  59. Noodle Sensory Play -- Colorful fun for the letter N - The Measured Mom says:
    June 12, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    […] not convinced? You’ll want to check out this post from Not Just Cute: Sensory Fun: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers and Twodaloo’s Sensory Play: Is This Really […]

    Reply
  60. Sensory Play: What Is It, and Why Is It Important? | The Play Museum says:
    July 4, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    […] Children are wired to receive and utilize sensory input from day one.   -Amanda Morgan […]

    Reply
  61. Toddler Book Club: September Books | happy blurry beautiful says:
    August 31, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    […] build language skills, and develop your child’s understanding of the world.  Check out this winning argument for the use of sensory bins/tables by Amanda Morgan of Not Just […]

    Reply
  62. A – E in the ABCs of Sensory Play | Creative Playhouse says:
    September 2, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    […] Whats All the Fuss About Sensory Play? This is a fantastic article from Not Just Cute on Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers.  And another great resource is Everyday Sensory Play in Preschool from Teach Preschool.  […]

    Reply
  63. Sensory Play: what’s all the fuss about? | Creative Playhouse says:
    September 2, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    […] dont like. Sensory development is entirely essential for well rounded growth and development. This article provides great insight into the importance of sensory play!Here are all our Sensory Play […]

    Reply
  64. 10 tips for managing sensory play - The Measured Mom says:
    November 12, 2014 at 11:37 am

    […] buying shaving cream or glitter (okay, I still don’t buy glitter).  But the fact is that sensory play is good for kids on so many levels.  For me, the biggest reason of all is that it keeps them away from the screen.  I’ts […]

    Reply
  65. Why use a Sensory Table? | Sunflower Stories says:
    January 17, 2015 at 8:25 am

    […] A Handful of Fun […]

    Reply
  66. Easy Sensory Play - Shaving Cream and Bubble Wrap - picklebums.com says:
    March 9, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    […] play is so good for our kids, but sometimes it seems like such a huge, messy, time consuming production, that we just […]

    Reply
  67. 12 Tips For Keeping Toddlers Busy While Homeschooling - Kelly the Kitchen Kop says:
    April 15, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    […] human body, and this one in which kids excavate treasure from a frozen block of ice. I also thought this article about the benefits of sensory play was very […]

    Reply
  68. Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers says:
    July 24, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    […] CLICK HERE: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers […]

    Reply
  69. How to Host a Mud Party Play Date - Intentional By Grace says:
    September 1, 2015 at 3:01 am

    […] Sensory experiences like these are the foundation of childhood learning. If you want to read more about the importance of sensory learning check out these posts here and here. […]

    Reply
  70. Spooky Halloween Sensory Box for Toddlers - The Good Mama says:
    September 28, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    […] Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers from Not Just Cute […]

    Reply
  71. Sensory Experiences Are Discovered and Developed Through Play - Jackrabbit Care says:
    October 20, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    […] Amanda Morgan (educator and mother) describes the importance of play and sensory experiences in her article on the topic. She notes that children learn from seeing, touching, smelling, hearing and tasting […]

    Reply
  72. Guest Post Series: Guerrilla Moms | Storytime Underground says:
    May 17, 2016 at 7:01 am

    […] activities are developmentally beneficial in a number of ways. This post from Not Just Cute sums it up pretty well. I usually present sensory activities to my daughter in a plastic storage […]

    Reply
  73. Eksperimen deria – hidung – mummyunik says:
    July 18, 2016 at 7:30 am

    […] Kenapa permainan deria penting untuk kanak-kanak sekolah […]

    Reply
  74. Exploring The Letter D : Dogs, Ducks, and Dinosaurs – Creative Outlet for Little Hands says:
    August 26, 2016 at 4:40 am

    […] Dino Dig – Another sensory bin project! We are big fans of sensory bins and if you have a little one, you should be too! Sensory play is so very important to a child’s development. Here is a fabulous post about sensory play from Amanda Morgan at Not Just Cute. […]

    Reply
  75. 3 Amazing Benefits of Sensory Play for Preschoolers says:
    June 29, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    […] my fellow blogging friend, Amanda at Not Just Cute […]

    Reply
  76. Wait Blog says:
    July 1, 2017 at 7:16 am

    Why Not Have A Little Fun

    […] e cubes, one in a bare hand, and one in a gloved hand, let them really feel th […]

    Reply
  77. E-News October 30-November 3 says:
    October 27, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    […] https://notjustcute.com/2010/03/24/a-handful-of-fun-why-sensory-play-is-important-for-preschoolers/ […]

    Reply
  78. A Handful of Fun! says:
    March 29, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    […] As you can see, the merits run deep, far beyond just “getting messy.”  Click the link to read the full article. A Handful of Fun: Why Sensory Play is Important for Preschoolers […]

    Reply
  79. Sensory Science: Connecting Children's’ Science Learning to Their Sensory Play - The Edvocate says:
    May 12, 2020 at 9:33 am

    […] to be this way. You can easily help your child develop sensory skills by providing him with a few sensory materials that will likely entertain him for hours on end. The great part about sensory play for parents is […]

    Reply

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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