{"id":48261,"date":"2025-02-20T03:56:28","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T03:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/?p=48261"},"modified":"2025-02-21T01:00:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T01:00:11","slug":"sensory-play-and-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/sensory-play-and-support","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Sensory Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Have you ever watched <\/span>children at<\/span> play and noticed how differently they engage with the world around them? Some might be lost in imaginative storytelling, others focused on creating <\/span>colourful<\/span> artwork, while some are bursting with energy, <\/span>running<\/span> and laughing with <\/span>peer<\/span>s. Play <\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span> just about having<\/span> fun, <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> how children learn, explore, and develop essential skills.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every child learns in their own way, some absorb information visually, others through sound, and many by doing. <\/span>Recognising<\/span> these differences helps create enriching learning experiences tailored to their needs. One of the most effective ways to support this development is through sensory play, which engages touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement to build cognitive, language, and motor skills.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For most children, sensory processing happens naturally, enabling them to navigate their environment with ease. <\/span>While <\/span>some face <\/span>sensory <\/span>challenges that can make <\/span>everyday<\/span> experiences overwhelming. <\/span><\/span>According to research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), approximately 1 in 20 children experience sensory processing difficulties, which can be associated with conditions such as <\/span>Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/span> (ASD), <\/span>Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder<\/span> (ADHD), and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). These challenges can affect how a child reacts to touch, sound, movement, and visual stimuli.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Sensory play has a crucial role in supporting children with sensory difficulties by engaging their senses like touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, body awareness, and balance. Research from the Raising Children Network highlights that sensory-rich experiences promote brain development from infancy, helping children explore and interact with their environment as their sensory system matures.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Benefits of Sensory Play<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Sensory learning has a host of benefits that affect the ongoing development and wellbeing of children. Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) indicates that early childhood experiences significantly influence neural connections, shaping a child\u2019s ability to learn, focus, and regulate emotions.<\/span><\/p>

Here are some of the key benefits of sensory play<\/a> and how it positively impacts a child\u2019s growth.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

1. Fosters Brain Development<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Early brain development lays the foundation for a child\u2019s ability to learn, adapt, and interact with the world. Sensory play stimulates the five primary senses -touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, helping to strengthen neural pathways that support cognitive growth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC<\/a>), early childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping brain architecture, with over one million new neural connections forming every second in the first few years of life.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These connections, known as synapses, are essential for learning, memory, and problem-solving. For example, when a child touches an object, their brain processes the sensation in identifying whether it is rough, smooth, hot, or cold, before sending signals through the nervous system to help them react accordingly. Repetitive sensory experiences reinforce these pathways, improving a child\u2019s ability to process information and develop critical thinking skills.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

2. Supports Cognitive Development<\/span><\/b><\/h3>

Cognitive development is the process through which children learn to think critically and make sense of the world. Sensory play supports this growth by engaging curiosity, fostering problem-solving, creativity, and independent thinking.<\/p>

Activities like finger painting help children explore textures and colours, teaching cause and effect and basic scientific principles. Playing musical instruments strengthens pattern recognition, auditory processing, and hand-eye coordination, supporting language and math skills.<\/p>

Incorporating sensory activities into daily routines helps children develop vital cognitive skills for lifelong learning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

3. Enhances Language Development<\/span><\/b><\/h3>

Sensory play is a powerful tool for language development, engaging multiple senses and expanding vocabulary. Through hands-on activities, children encounter new words linked to their experiences.<\/p>

Parents, educators, and carers can enhance this learning by intentionally introducing new vocabulary words in real time. For example, while children engage with a sensory bin<\/a> filled with various objects such as sand, rice, shells, or small toys, adults can name each item, describe its characteristics (e.g., smooth, rough, soft, hard), and encourage repetition. This interactive approach helps reinforce word recognition, strengthens language comprehension, and builds a richer vocabulary.<\/p>

Sensory play also encourages conversation, as children ask questions and describe their experiences. Open-ended questions like “How does this feel?” promote meaningful dialogue and language growth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

4. Encourages Motor Skills Development<\/span><\/b><\/h3>

Sensory play helps children in developing essential motor skills, which are critical for their overall physical growth, coordination, and daily activities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Motor skills are divided into two categories: fine motor skills and gross motor skills, both of which can be effectively strengthened through engaging sensory experiences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>