Sensory Activities in the Home
See, smell, touch, hear, taste and move. 80% of your brain is used in the processing, translation and use of sensory information while your entire childhood is a process of learning, development and play! From early ages we learn what we should touch and what would burn us; we learn what sounds make us fall asleep and what sounds make us cry; we
also learn what foods we crave and which ones we say “yuck!” toward. All these sensational experiences help to shape our brains and help us engage in everyday activities, including play!
Without realizing it, the play scenarios you create with your child provide learning opportunities through every sensation. Though it may look like a child at play is only playing, he is in fact learning HOW to learn by engaging his sensory receptors to provide his body feedback. Of course, sensory play and sensory learning can be incorporated into your every day.
Here are sensory play activities you can engage in with the materials you have at home:
SENSATION | INPUT TO YOUR BODY | ACTIVITIES TO TRY AT HOME |
Vestibular (movement balance) | The three-dimensional sensation that places your body “here”, allowing you to understand where your body is in relation to the ground | Crab walks
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Proprioceptive (body position) | This is your body awareness system, knowing where your body parts are in relation to one another. |
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Tactile (touch) | Through touch you get sensations about pain, temperature, texture, size, pressure and shape. |
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Visual (seeing) | Your sight provides you with information about color, size, shape, movement and distance. |
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Gustatory (taste) | A “chemical” sense that gives you information about the objects (edible or not) that you place into your mouth. |
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Olfactory (smell) | Another “chemical” sense that registers and categorizes smells in the environment. |
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Auditory (hearing) | Allows you to locate, capture and discriminate sounds in your environment. |
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NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Highland Park, Lincolnwood, Glenview and Des Plaines. If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates today!