We try to offer a sensory activity daily when weather permits. When engaged in sensory play children use all of their senses. It promotes sensory integration which is the ability of the body to integrate and process all of the information it receives via the sensory modalities of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and vision. As children pour, dump, build, scoop, and explore they are learning about spatial concepts (full, empty).The materials children work with at the sand and water table have many sensory attributes — they may be warm or cool, wet or dry, rough or smooth, hard or soft, textured or slimy. Sensory play  contributes in crucial ways to brain development. Think of it as “food for the brain.”   Messy play can be calming to children. It is not just about making a mess and getting dirty; it is an essential component to learning that encourages exploration and discovery through play.

Some past items in our sensory table;

Bird seed

Shaving foam

Sand

Rice

Water

Straw

Split pea

Play doh

Flour