What does sensory exploration do?

Sensory exploration helps to build nerve connections in the brain. Sensory activities allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information, helping their brain to improve at processing and responding to sensory information. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine- and gross motor skills and problem-solving skills if we let the child explore alone, or with peers, in an environment where adults are there to fill in with words, concepts and a helping hand if needed. By observing how children make sense of an object your job as an adult is first to be patient and let the child explore on their own. They recommend you start with observation and attention-questions, as these are linked to verbs of sensing. You may ask about smell, taste, how something feels, or about details that can be seen through sharp visual perception. They also recommend making the child be active by physically doing things with the object, which also activates the senses in different ways. It is important to take time to stay in the sensory exploration, especially with the toddlers, but also with older children.

Sensory exploration builds cognitive skills and learns about their world. Through it, your child builds cognitive skills and learns about their world. Each new experience they have with a different sense builds nerve connections that grow the architecture of their brain. Sensory play encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving and creativity. It helps to build nerve connections in the brain and encourages the development of language and motor skills. Sensory play also helps babies to learn more about the world around them and supports language development as they learn to respond to different stimuli. From tactile play, children can learn about pressure, temperature, vibrations, and so much more. Getting a child’s head into as many different positions as possible helps strengthen the vestibular system by activating various receptors in the ear. Through proprioception, children learn where they are physically in space and how their limbs relate to the rest of their body. Auditory play helps your child differentiate sounds and develop their hearing. Visual play helps to develop your child’s vision and sight.