SENSORY PLAY
INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Esmeralda Silva
CD 65
Fall 2015
SENSORY…WHAT

IS IT?
Of or relating to sensation or the physical senses;
transmitted or perceived by the sense.
-Google
5 SENSES
Children (and adults) learn best and keep more
information when it involves their senses.
e.g. Favorite Memories
-songs as a child
-smell of chicken soup
*Usually a memory is connected with one or more of
our senses. Whenever one of those songs or smells
take place, our brain triggers our memory back to
that scenario.
SENSES PRESENT FROM BIRTH

Our senses are present from birth.
A newborn first interacts their world with their senses and
continue to learn from their world through their senses.
Sight: It’s limited but they can notice light and their sight
becomes sharper
Hearing: They began to hear sounds from their mother’s
womb and they can distinguish their mother’s voice once
born.
Taste: Distinguish between sour and sweet
Smell: Prefer more pleasant smells
Touch: Soothed by warmth and a soft touch
As a baby continues to grow, they need to be provided
opportunities to experience and explore with their senses.
ROLE



AND
BENEFITS
OF
SENSORY PLAY
Builds connections that guide brain development
Helps a child’s brain be stimulated by sending
signals to help strengthen their brains neural
pathways
Helps develop and enhance a child’s cognitive,
social and emotional, physical, and language
development
COGNITIVE

Problem Solving and Decision Making


Math Skills


-persistence, finding solutions through exploration
-comparing size, counting, matching, classifying, quantity
Science Skills
-cause and effect, gravity, states of matter
 -Amateur Scientists [making predictions, observations,
analysis skills]

LANGUAGE
Sensory play encourages children to
 learn and understand the meaning of words
 use descriptive and expressive language

E.g. Word: Slimy
 Child will understand the meaning of the word until
they feel an object that is slimy. Before having a
hands on experience, it is just a word.
LANGUAGE

Use open ended questions
-avoid questions with yes or no answer
e.g. How does it feel? How does it sound like?
[Who, What, Where, How, Why]


Opportunity to learn descriptive and action words
-cold
-bumpy
-smooth
-pour
-slimy
-hot
-splash
Prewriting Skills
-fine motor skills and eye hand coordination
e.g. pouring, grasping
SOCIAL



AND
EMOTIONAL
Children have complete control of their actions and
experiences.
 Helps boost their confidence in decision making
and encourages them to continue learning and
exploring.
Cooperation and collaboration can be taught
during sensory play.
Children have the opportunity to express
themselves through exploring the material and
being asked open ended questions.
PHYSICAL

Fine Motor: coordination of small movements and
eye hand coordination


Sensory play encourages manipulation of materials.
e.g. mixing, pressing, pouring
Gross Motor: use of large muscles

Sensory play encourages children to move their arms
and legs, depending on the activity, as they use their
senses.
e.g. rolling, water play
WHAT
LEARNING DO YOU SEE TAKING PLACE?
WHAT
LEARNING DO YOU SEE TAKING PLACE?
Sensory Table
Sensory Box
VALUES

OF
SENSORY PLAY
Sensory play provides open ended
opportunities for children to learn and explore
using their own body and their senses.
VALUES

OF
SENSORY PLAY
The process of a child’s exploration and
experience with sensory play is more
important than the product.
VALUES

OF
SENSORY PLAY
A child using his/her senses to explore and
learn is the main key of sensory play and that
ability comes natural since birth.
Fin
(The End)
PRESENTATION RESOURCES
www.pbs.org
 www.first5california.org
