https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news.atomSensory Surroundings Limited - Blog2024-03-22T14:52:27+00:00Sensory Surroundings Limitedhttps://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/benefits-of-sensory-play-for-enhancing-child-development2024-03-22T14:52:27+00:002024-03-27T12:32:46+00:00Benefits of Sensory Play for Enhancing Child DevelopmentRachael Jones
Have you ever wondered how sensory play can shape your child’s development? Engaging in sensory play isn’t just fun – it’s a gateway to building vital cognitive, motor, and social skills.
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Have you ever wondered how sensory play can shape your child’s development? Engaging in sensory play isn’t just fun – it’s a gateway to building vital cognitive, motor, and social skills. From better problem-solving to more articulate communication, the benefits of sensory play are extensive.
Let’s take a look at the many benefits that sensory play has to offer children, helping you understand why playtime is more than mere entertainment.
Unlocking the Advantages of Sensory Play
Sensory play is a non-traditional method of learning that uses all five commonly known senses - sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Many activities also engage the lesser-known senses of vestibular, proprioceptive and interoception. Yes, there are eight senses in total!
This approach allows children to explore and naturally make sense of the world around them, thus creating stronger connections in their brains.
Sensory play activities contribute to overall cognitive development and enhance a child’s perception of their surroundings. Sensory play includes activities such as:
Playing with sand or water
Finger painting
Exploring different textures with hands or feet
Listening to different sounds or music
Tasting different foods or flavours
These activities help children engage by involving multiple senses, providing a rich learning experience for them. Sensory play is also instrumental in developing problem-solving skills as it encourages children to:
observe
hypothesise
experiment
conclude
It also aids language development by teaching children descriptive words as they use different textures and materials. You can use this opportunity to talk to them about what they’re experiencing and describe how things feel.
Boosting Brain Development
Sensory play bolsters the development of the brain’s neural pathways, which is a vital aspect of a child’s ability to engage in complex learning tasks and contributes to a child’s development. These nerve connections play a crucial role in enhancing memory, an essential part of learning and executing intricate tasks and problem-solving.
Children’s memory and observational skills are strengthened through sensory play, fostering both creative and independent thinking. Simultaneously, sensory play aids in the development of memory function, which is integral for the learning and retention of new knowledge.
As previously mentioned, this form of play also fosters language skills, including vocabulary expansion and phrase building. This aids children in comprehending age-relevant concepts. As children describe their experiences and communicate their emotions during sensory play, they are simultaneously enhancing their language abilities.
Developing Motor Skills
Sensory play activities, such as manipulating playdough and writing in kinetic sand, help develop children’s fine motor skills that are necessary for everyday tasks like holding a pen or using scissors. Sensory play also fosters gross motor skills, involving the large muscles used in walking, jumping, and throwing, through activities like running and playing musical instruments.
Incorporating sensory bins such as water pouring stations into play and providing toddlers with appropriate tools in these activities can promote both fine and gross motor skills through practical life skills practice.
Sensory Activities for Different Ages
Sensory play activities can be tailored to suit the developmental stages of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, promoting exploration, and learning. Activities like finger painting offer open-ended sensory exploration, stimulating multiple senses in children.
Sensory play can be crafted using diverse resources or simple materials such as:
ice and water to create distinctive sensory experiences for children
Tactile play encompasses sensory activities that engage an infant’s sense of touch, vital for their early development. Introducing different textures to infants, such as using chiffon or textured toys, fosters tactile exploration and sensory development.
Activities such as mess-free painting, which involves squishing paint inside a sealable bag, provides a tactile experience without the mess, suitable for infants. Participation in tactile sensory play assists with the refinement of fine motor skills, crucial for future tasks like writing.
Engaging Toddlers with Sensory Bins
Introducing sensory bins to toddlers should prioritise the use of materials that are taste-safe and do not pose a choking hazard. Some examples of safe materials include:
Dry rice
Water
Cornmeal
Dyed tapioca pearls (a safer alternative to traditional water beads)
These materials provide a fun and safe tactile experience for mouthing toddlers.
Other ideal fillers for sensory bins include jelly, dry oatmeal, and dyed noodles, which offer a variety of textures while being safe for toddlers to explore with their mouths.
Another idea is to create an edible cereal safari sensory bin that can stimulate sensory exploration for toddlers through different cereal textures and shapes, also aiding picky eaters.
Stimulating Preschoolers through Musical Instruments and Kinetic Sand
Kinetic sand can be used to create a racetrack for toy cars and trucks, stimulating preschoolers’ imagination and aiding the development of storytelling skills. A zen garden made of kinetic sand provides a calming sensory experience for preschoolers, promoting mindfulness and the ability to concentrate.
Homemade shakers as part of a musical sensory play allow preschoolers to explore sounds with different filling materials, facilitating an understanding of audio sensations and cause and effect. Sensory activities centred around themes can be created to immerse children in a rich linguistic context, bolstering their problem-solving skills and creativity.
Fostering Social and Emotional Growth through Sensory Play
Sensory play is vital for fostering social interactions among children, encouraging them to navigate shared experiences and adapt to the different playing styles of peers. This form of play not only enhances cognitive and motor skills but also plays a significant role in developing social skills and emotional well-being, making sensory play important.
Through shared sensory play activities, children learn how to cooperate, share, and resolve conflicts effectively. They also get to practice emotional development and awareness, which are key components of social skills. These social skills for children are made up of:
Play skills - such as taking turns and sharing
Conversation skills - including topic choice and body language
Emotional skills - recognising and managing emotions and understanding how others feel
Problem-solving skills - including conflict resolution and decision making
Promoting Social Skills
Group sensory activities like playing with building blocks or on swings provide a platform for children to learn cooperation, sharing, and ways to resolve conflicts effectively. Sensory play supports critical aspects of communication and language development, which are essential for meaningful social interactions among children.
Experiencing sensory activities in a group setting enables children to practice emotional development and awareness, which are key components of social skills.
Supporting Emotional Well-being
Sensory play provides a calming influence that can mitigate feelings of anger or anxiety in children. The calming effect of sensory play creates a supportive environment for engaging in problem-solving and creative tasks.
Through tactile play and other sensory experiences, children can physically express their emotions, aiding in emotional expression. Sensory play activities are instrumental in helping children learn self-regulation, an essential skill for emotional well-being.
Adapting Sensory Play for Home and Classroom Environments
Sensory play can be adapted for home and educational settings to support children’s sensory sensitivities and learning experiences. This involves using household items and dedicated sensory spaces.
Implementing cost-effective sensory solutions at home can involve:
Introducing auditory aids like noise-cancelling headphones
Classroom strategies to support sensory play include creating sensory diets tailored for individual needs, incorporating heavy work like chair press-ups and other sensory circuit activities. It’s also a good idea to establish calming spaces such as sensory rooms.
Utilising Household Items for Sensory Exploration
Common household materials like water, sand, and various textures can be used for sensory play activities. Here are some other options you can try at home:
Sensory bottles filled with colourful water beads and baby oil can be a mesmerising tactile play item for infants to explore.
Shaving cream can be spread on a plate or baking sheet to allow children to draw and write in the foam, and adding glitter or coarse salt can vary the textural experience.
Dried rice or beans from the pantry can be used in sound shakers, weighted bean bags, or sensory bins for tactile and auditory exploration.
Creating Sensory Spaces in Educational Settings
Sensory play helps children with autism to engage with their environment and develop cognitively, making it an essential component in classroom design. Sensory tables can be incorporated into classroom settings as a dedicated space for children to explore and learn through tactile experiences.
Themed sensory bins can be created to match educational topics or seasons, providing focused sensory experiences and learning opportunities. Additional sensory elements like water play areas, tactile wall panels, and interactive floor tiles can further enrich the sensory spaces in educational settings.
Summary
In conclusion, sensory play is a powerful tool that offers numerous benefits spanning from cognitive growth to social and emotional development. By engaging all the senses, it aids in enhancing brain development, motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity.
Moreover, sensory play allows for age-appropriate activities, fostering exploration and learning at every stage. It also promotes social interactions and emotional well-being. Importantly, sensory play can be adapted for home and educational environments, supporting children’s sensory sensitivities and enriching their learning experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does sensory play help emotional development?
Sensory play helps emotional development by allowing children to explore the world through their senses, promoting creative thinking and providing a therapeutic outlet for emotions when verbal expression is challenging.
Why is sensory play important for disabilities?
Sensory play is important for disabilities because it strengthens neural pathways and lays strong foundations for learning in the future. It helps individuals with disabilities to better understand the world around them and improve their overall development.
What are the learning outcomes of sensory play?
Sensory play supports brain development, enhances memory, and fosters fine motor skills, language development, and social skills in children. This type of play also helps with complex tasks and problem-solving.
What are some simple sensory play activities I can try at home?
You can try sensory play activities at home using common household materials like water, sand, and textures, or by creating sensory bottles. Have fun exploring some of the many simple activities we highlight in our articles.
What are sensory bins and how can they be used?
Sensory bins are containers filled with materials that stimulate the senses, such as dry rice or water for toddlers and themed educational items for preschoolers. They can be used to promote sensory exploration and learning.
We’d love to hear what you think about the benefits of sensory play for children. If you have a good activity or a question, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
References:
Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal. Significance of Sensory Activities among Toddlers for Sensory Skills Development (2021).
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/the-power-of-learning-by-doing-in-early-childhood-education2024-03-07T10:44:15+00:002024-03-27T12:33:00+00:00The Power of Learning by Doing in Early Childhood EducationRachael JonesMore]]>
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The approach of ‘learning by doing’ is deeply rooted in the essence of experiential learning, and transcends traditional lecture-based teaching methods. It invites young learners to explore, interact, and make sense of the world around them through direct experience.
Within diverse educational landscapes, embracing hands-on, sensory-rich activities will align with national educational standards and cater to the innate curiosity and boundless energy of young children.
This article will explore the transformative power of experiential learning in the early years, highlighting its multifaceted benefits for young minds. From bolstering cognitive skills to nurturing social connections, the hands-on approach to learning lays a robust foundation for lifelong curiosity and growth.
Through practical examples and expert insights, we'll explore how ‘learning by doing’ can be effectively implemented in both educational settings and at home, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a stimulating and supportive learning environment.
Understanding 'Learning by Doing'
The concept of ‘learning by doing’ is far from a modern pedagogical trend. It's a time-honoured approach championed by some of the most influential theorists in educational psychology, including Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, who recognised the profound impact of active engagement on cognitive development and learning.
This method, intrinsically linked toexperiential learning, emphasises the role of experiences in the learning process, particularly those that involve active participation and reflection.
At its core, 'learning by doing' is an educational philosophy that posits the best way to understand a concept is to engage with it directly. This approach is not about rote memorisation or passive listening; instead, it encourages learners, especially young children, to explore, experiment, and engage with materials, ideas, and environments hands-on. It's a dynamic process where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning, and curiosity is the driving force.
Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist renowned for his work on child development, argued that children learn best through doing and actively exploring. According to Piaget, as children interact with their environment, they construct knowledge by coordinating sensory experiences with physical, and motoric actions. This notion laid the groundwork for what we understand today as experiential learning in early childhood.
Lev Vygotsky, another pivotal figure in educational psychology, introduced the concept of theZone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which further supports the 'learning by doing' approach. Vygotsky's theory suggests that children learn most effectively when they are engaged in activities that are just beyond their current abilities, with the support of a more knowledgeable other, such as a teacher or parent. This interaction not only fosters learning by doing but also emphasises the social context of learning, highlighting the importance of collaboration and communication.
By integrating this approach into the core of early childhood education, educators and parents can foster an environment where learning is not just received passively but experienced vividly and personally.
Benefits of Experiential Learning in Early Years
Experiential learning, or 'learning by doing,' plays a crucial role in the comprehensive development of young children. This educational approach, which emphasises active participation and reflection, offers a myriad of benefits across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains.
Cognitive Benefits:
Enhances problem-solving and critical thinking skills by encouraging children to explore and find solutions through hands-on experiences.
Promotes creativity and imagination as children engage with materials and scenarios in innovative ways.
Social and Emotional Benefits:
Fosters collaboration and communication among peers, as experiential learning often involves group activities that require teamwork and negotiation.
Builds self-esteem and resilience by providing opportunities for children to overcome challenges and succeed in tasks.
Physical Benefits:
Supports fine andgross motor skill development through activities that require manipulation of materials and movement, such as building, climbing, and exploring natural environments.
Outdoor learning, a key aspect of experiential education, offers unique opportunities for children to connect with nature, enhance their physical well-being, and engage in creative play. It enables children to explore, go on adventures, and build confidence and self-esteem through activities like gardening, exploring natural elements, and physical play. This form of learning not only supports individual growth but also nurtures an understanding and appreciation of the environment.
In the context of the UK'sEarly Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), outdoor learning is highly valued for its flexibility and ability to adapt to each child's unique interests and needs. It enriches the curriculum by extending learning opportunities beyond the classroom, offering a dynamic and interactive backdrop for development.
Educators are encouraged to view the outdoors as an integral part of the learning environment, where children can engage in a wide range of activities that support their intellectual, physical, andemotional development.
Furthermore, experiential learning aligns with the UK's educational standards, emphasising the importance ofplay-based learning in early childhood education. This approach is grounded in the belief that children learn best through active engagement and reflection, making it an essential component of holistic educational practices.
Practical Examples of Learning by Doing Activities
Incorporating sensory and hands-on activities into early childhood education provides numerous opportunities for young learners to explore and grow.
Here are some engaging hands-on activities that emphasise learning by doing:
Homemade Playdough
Creatingplaydough at home can be a fun and educational experience for children. They can learn about colours and shapes, and even practice their fine motor skills by kneading, rolling, and sculpting the dough. For an addedsensory experience, consider adding different scents or textures to the playdough.
Sensory Bins with Various Themes
Sensory bins can be themed around different concepts like seasons, holidays, or natural elements. For instance, an autumn-themed sensory bin might include items like leaves, acorns, and small pumpkins, allowing children to explore different textures and colours. Adding tools like tweezers or scoops can alsoenhance fine motor skills.
Digging for Spaghetti Worms
A simple yet exciting activity where children dig through "dirt" made of spaghetti to find "worms." This not only is fun and messy, which children love, but it also helps with their tactile sensory processing and fine motor development as they usetools like tweezers to pick up the slippery spaghetti.
Water and Ice Play
Activities involving ice andwater play can be both refreshing and educational. For example, creating ice boats with simple materials introduces children to concepts of buoyancy and melting, while also engaging their senses through the coolness of the ice and the movement of water.
Gloopy Gloop and Soapy Slime
Mixing cornstarch and water to create ‘gloop’ or using soap flakes to make slime can offer children a unique sensory experience. These materials behave in interesting ways, acting as both solids and liquids, which can fascinate children and stimulate their curiosity about science.
Each of these activities not only engages children in hands-on,sensory play but also serves as a foundation for learning across different domains, from cognitive and physical to emotional and social development. By integrating such activities into early years settings, educators can create a rich and stimulating learning environment that encourages children to explore, imagine, and learn through their senses.
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
Field Trips and Visits in Early Childhood Education
Field trips offer a dynamic way to enhance learning by doing in early childhood education, providing children with opportunities toexplore new environments and apply what they learn in the classroom to the real world.
Here are some practical examples of field trips and visits that can significantly benefit young learners:
Visit to an Orchard or Farm
Trips to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, or farms allow children to learn about the origins of their food, understand agricultural processes, and explore the natural world. These experiences can be tied to lessons about plant life cycles, nutrition, and seasonal changes.
Exploration at Science Centers or Aquariums
Science centres provide interactive and engaging exhibits that cater to young minds' curiosity, making them ideal for lessons on various scientific topics. Aquarium visits offer a closer look at marine life, teaching children about aquatic ecosystems, the biology of sea creatures, and the importance of water conservation.
Outdoor Nature Walks or Reserve Visits
Engaging children in nature walks or visits to state parks can foster a deep appreciation for the environment while teaching them about local flora and fauna. Such activities encourage physical activity and observational skills as children explore and interact with their surroundings.
Experiencing Local Libraries or Theaters
Libraries can introduce children to the vast world of books and storytelling, sparking an interest in reading and literacy. Visits to local theatres can expose children to the performing arts, enriching their cultural understanding and creative expression.
Learning at the Beach or Water Parks
Beach visits can include lessons on marine life, ecosystems, and sandcastle construction,combining fun with educational content. Water parks offer a playful environment to discuss water physics, safety, and conservation, making learning enjoyable and memorable.
Fire Station and Safety Lessons
A classic field trip to a fire station can be both thrilling and educational, providing children with vital lessons in fire safety, emergency procedures, and the roles of firefighters in the community.
Supermarket or Local Market Visits
Exploring local markets or supermarkets can teach children about economics, healthy eating, and the source of the foods they consume. Such trips can also include lessons on money management, nutrition, and the importance of supporting local businesses.
Each of thesefield trip ideas offers a unique blend of fun and learning, helping children make connections between their experiences and the concepts they learn in the classroom. By carefully planning and preparing for these excursions, educators can ensure that children not only enjoy these experiences but also derive meaningful educational benefits from them.
Implementing Learning by Doing at Home and School
Integrating experiential learning into both home and school environments can enrich a child's educational journey, making learning more engaging, meaningful, and fun. Here are some strategies and tips for parents and educators to effectively incorporate hands-on learning experiences:
For Parents
Start with Simple Activities: Begin integratingexperiential learning at home with simple, relatable activities such as cooking projects or nature walks. These activities can teach valuable lessons in science, math, and environmental awareness.
Create a Home Office for Kids: Set up a pretend office space where children can engage in role-playing activities such as making calls, writing letters, and managing ‘important’ documents. This can help develop their communication, organisational, and creative thinking skills.
Flashlight Fun at Bedtime: Use a flashlight in a darkened room to create a playful yet educational experience. This activity can enhance communication skills and provide a comforting transition to bedtime.
Engage in Outdoor Activities: Outdoor play is crucial for developing both fine and gross motor skills. Activities like playing catch, going for a walk, or having a dance party can also boost emotional well-being.
For Educators
Incorporate Project-Based Learning: Engage students in projects that relate to real-world problems, enhancing their ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to practical situations. This approach encourages active participation and critical thinking.
Use Role Plays Based on Current Events: Role-playing activities, such as simulating a state legislature or a mock trial, can make abstract concepts more tangible and understandable, while also improving students' problem-solving and negotiation skills.
Promote Reflection and Discussion: Encourage students to reflect on their experiences and articulate what they've learned. This can be facilitated through discussions, journals, or group presentations, helping to solidify their understanding and connect theory with practice.
Adapt to Students' Reactions: Be prepared to adjust activities based on students' engagement and interests. This flexible approach allows educators to tailor learning experiences to the diverse needs of their students, making education more inclusive and effective.
By blending these strategies within home and school settings, children can benefit from a holistic educational experience that not only covers academic subjects but also fosters essential life skills such as creativity, empathy, and resilience.
Challenges and Considerations in Implementing Experiential Learning
Implementing experiential learning in early education, especially within the UK context, presents a set of challenges that educators and institutions must navigate to make learning by doing a practical and effective educational strategy.
Challenges
Resource Constraints
A significant hurdle in applying experiential learning is the lack of adequate resources and space, particularly in rural or under-resourced schools. The need for a real-world learning environment and rich experiential activities often clashes with the reality of limited resources available in schools, such as appropriate spaces for indoor and outdoor activities, laboratories, and basic equipment.
Traditional Assessment Methods
The conventional ‘paper-pencil test’ method of student assessment can be a barrier to the full integration of experiential learning. This traditional approach may not effectively capture the depth of understanding and skills developed through experiential activities, making it challenging for educators to evaluate learning outcomes accurately.
Curricular Limitations
The content of many subjects, especially theoretical ones, might not easily lend themselves to experiential learning strategies. Designing lesson plans that incorporate hands-on learning activities can be particularly challenging when the curriculum is heavily theoretical.
Lack of Teacher Training
The success of experiential learning heavily relies on the teacher's ability to facilitate rather than direct learning. However, many teachers may not be adequately trained or confident in employing innovative teaching practices, leaning towards traditional teaching methods instead.
Solutions and Adaptations
To overcome these challenges, several strategies can be employed:
Leverage Local Communities and Environments
Educators can utilise local resources and environments as extensions of the classroom. This could include nature walks, local business visits, or community projects that do not require extensive resources but offer rich learning experiences.
Innovative Assessment Strategies
Moving beyond traditional assessments, educators can adopt portfolio assessments, project presentations, and reflective journals that better capture the range of skills and understanding developed through experiential learning.
Integrate Technology Thoughtfully
Digital tools and applications can supplement experiential learning by providing virtual simulations, interactive experiments, and platforms for collaborative projects, broadening the scope of experiential activities without substantial resource requirements.
Professional Development for Educators
Investing in teacher training and professional development can equip educators with the skills and confidence to implement experiential learning strategies effectively. This includes workshops, online courses, and peer learning opportunities focused on hands-on teaching methodologies.
Curriculum Flexibility
Encouraging flexibility within the curriculum to allow for the integration of experiential learning activities can make a significant difference. This could involve modular curricula that can be adapted to incorporate hands-on learning opportunities relevant to the student's environment and interests.
By acknowledging these challenges and considering adaptive strategies, educators and institutions can more effectively implement experiential learning, ensuring students benefit from engaging and meaningful education.
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we've explored the transformative power of experiential learning in early childhood education. By engaging children in hands-on activities and real-world experiences, we can foster holistic development across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains.
Now, we encourage you to bring these insights to life. Share your own experiences with experiential learning or try out some of the suggested activities with young learners in your life. Let's enrich the educational journey together by embracing the philosophy of learning by doing.
To stay updated with great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
References
Rani, Komal & Kumar, Tarun. (2023). Experiential Learning in School Education: Prospects and Challenges. 10. 178-183. 10.5281/zenodo.7652609.
Piaget, J. (1952). The Origins of Intelligence in Children. International Universities Press.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice-Hall.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/learning-activities-in-lesson-plan2023-10-23T10:25:42+01:002024-03-14T11:41:31+00:00Integrating Effective Learning Activities in Lesson PlansRachael JonesMore]]>
Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
When faced with creating engaging lesson plans for your child's education or class, it's vital to integrate effective learning activities.
Weaving learning activities into lesson plans is not unlike spinning straw into gold. It's magical when done right but equally elusive for many educators. The question then looms: how can we turn our classrooms from barren wastelands to fertile grounds brimming with active participation and fundamental understanding?
This post is your compass, guiding you through proven strategies. It's all about catering to diverse learners, incorporating active learning tactics and offering meaningful activities across subjects like art and maths.
Ultimately, it helps you navigate achieving those key objectives outlined in your curriculum.
Understanding the Role of Learning Activities in Lesson Plans
Learning activities play a vital role in lesson plans, acting as the heart that pumps knowledge and engagement through every part of a lesson. They are not merely fillers to occupy students' time but intentional tools designed to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
A well-designed learning activity is akin to an engaging mystery novel; it intrigues students and encourages them to think critically, apply their prior knowledge, and constantly seek solutions. These active participation strategies foster deeper understanding among learners.
The importance of incorporating diverse types of these activities cannot be overstated - from case studies that enable real-world problem-solving skills development, group discussions fostering peer feedback exchange and decision-making abilities enhancement, and hands-on experiments promoting active exploration or writing tasks refining their writing skills.
Every different type serves a unique purpose while contributing to overall teaching excellence.
Differentiating Learning Activities for Diverse Learners
To cater effectively to all students within a classroom setting – one must consider differentiated instruction techniques tailored around individual needs rather than 'one-size-fits-all'. This requires understanding each student's specific learning styles and aligning appropriate learning strategies accordingly so no learner feels left out or overwhelmed.
For example, verbal instructions are fine for some; however, written instructions with pictures may be better for other learners to understand each task, and they can then return to these as needed.
Incorporating Active Learning Strategies
Active learning involves allowing your pupils to get directly involved with the subject matter by questioning existing theories or formulating new ones themselves. This helps gain feedback about what has been understood thus far, which aids in achieving intended learning outcomes.
It's like transforming the classroom into a bustling hive where learners are abuzz with questions and notions. They're not just absorbing information passively but actively engaging in constructing knowledge.
Designing Effective Learning Activities
A well-constructed lesson plan serves as a roadmap for effective teaching and learning. It enhances student engagement and outcomes by aligning diverse, engaging activities with clear objectives.
Differentiating Learning Activities for Diverse Learners
Differentiated instruction is vital to meet the needs of every learner in your class. This involves tailoring learning activities to suit individual abilities and styles.
So how can we achieve this? One approach could be using Bloom's Revised Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. This tool lets you design tasks that challenge learners at their level, whether they're just starting to grasp a concept or ready to apply it independently.
For example, an art lesson might ask some students to identify primary colours (knowledge) while others analyse how Van Gogh used colour to convey emotion (analysis). That way, everyone gets stretched, but no one feels overwhelmed.
Incorporating Active Learning Strategies
The best lessons aren't lectures; they invite students into an active role where they engage deeply with content. Take science: instead of explaining a theory straight away, why not start with hands-on experiments?
As Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed... I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." By allowing students space for trial-and-error first, we foster resilience and curiosity - vital tools for any budding scientist.
This type of active participation makes lessons more fun and helps us reach our ultimate goal: deeper understanding among all our learners. With these strategies in mind and elements from Bloom's taxonomy, creating effective learning activities becomes less daunting.
Exploring Types of Learning Activities
We've all experienced different types of learning activities, but do we truly understand their significance? Let's take a deeper look at three effective methods: case studies in lesson plans, group discussions in classrooms, and hands-on experiments for students.
Case Studies
They say experience is the best teacher. Case studies let us learn from others' experiences without making the same mistakes ourselves. Used effectively within lesson plans, they provide real-world scenarios that help students apply knowledge beyond textbooks.
Do you remember those lively debates during school lessons? Group discussions engage learners actively and foster collaboration and critical thinking skills.
By sharing ideas, asking questions, or even disagreeing respectfully with peers, students build communication skills vital for their future endeavours.
The Power of Hands-On Experiments
If there's one thing that makes learning fun yet profound - it's hands-on experiments. Nothing beats experiencing science firsthand through trial-and-error testing in labs or crafting an art piece inspired by historical figures studied earlier in the class period.
These practical exercises offer immediate feedback, helping children comprehend key concepts better while igniting curiosity and fostering creativity.
All these engaging learning activities have something in common - they enable active participation rather than passive reception, transforming traditional classrooms into dynamic hubs where knowledge isn't just transferred but constructed collaboratively.
Beyond The Traditional Methods...
Innovations like virtual reality tours exploring historical events or coding challenges promoting computational thinking are emerging as powerful tools enhancing student understanding significantly more than conventional strategies alone could achieve.
So, as educators or parents, let's strive to incorporate a variety of these effective learning activities in our lesson plans. After all, it's the varied experiences that enrich us.
Enhancing Student Learning Through Meaningful Activities
We all know that promoting student attention through activities is vital. But how do we make those activities meaningful? How can they build on prior knowledge with lessons, creating a richer learning experience?
A study found that meaningful activities promote student development. When students engage in tasks relevant to their lives and interests, it fosters greater enthusiasm for learning. These experiences allow them to apply what they have learned in different contexts, deepening understanding.
Incorporating real-world examples into the classroom enhances this process. For instance, consider an art lesson where students recreate famous paintings using items from home. This activity tests their creativity and introduces them to historical figures of the art world.
This concept isn't limited to arts or humanities subjects; science and maths can be equally engaging when taught creatively.
Here's an excellent idea for a project from Glazer Children's Museum
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
To create genuinely effective lesson plans, teachers need strategies that cater to the needs of diverse learners. Differentiated instruction meets individual needs, ensuring no child feels left out during class.
Incorporating Active Learning Strategies
The role of active participation shouldn't be underestimated. Fostering a deeper understanding of the subject enhances student engagement. Whether through hands-on experiments or lively group discussions, active learning keeps students involved and invested.
Educators must guide teaching with purposeful strategies that deliver high-impact learning experiences. These approaches need to be intentional and beneficial for achieving effective learning outcomes.
Real-World Examples Across Different Subjects
Let's go on a voyage of discovery through the realms of art, science and mathematics to find useful examples of educational activities. The beauty here is that these subjects aren't as distinct as they seem - each has an essential role in enriching our understanding of the world.
Preschool Lesson Plan Examples
Starting with preschoolers, we need to foster their curiosity while making sure they have fun. A hands-on approach works wonders at this stage. An example could be exploring colours and shapes using sensory toys. This allows children to learn basic concepts whilst developing fine motor skills.
In terms of maths, try incorporating interesting objects into lessons. For instance, use different shaped blocks to teach counting or basic addition - real-life applications always make learning more meaningful.
Primary School Lesson Plan Examples
Moving onto primary school students who are starting to grapple with more complex topics, problem-solving takes centre stage. It engages learners while enhancing critical thinking abilities.
One example of an engaging activity is a mock restaurant experience. The students would be split into groups and given roles such as chef, waiter, and customer. They would work together to create a menu, prepare and serve the food, and handle the financial transactions. This activity teaches basic math skills such as addition and subtraction and promotes teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Additionally, this activity can be used to teach about healthy eating habits and where our food comes from. The children can be encouraged to use locally sourced ingredients and create delicious and nutritious dishes.
Remember, lesson planning is not just about hitting the books. It's about sparking that flame of curiosity and watching it turn into a blazing inferno of knowledge.
Maximising Learning Outcomes with Effective Strategies
When it comes to learning, outcomes are king. The key to maximising these outcomes lies in carefully orchestrating effective strategies and tools that provide support and resources for learners.
To kick off, setting clear learning objectives is crucial. These serve as a road map guiding both teaching practices and student expectations. Consider what you'd like your learners to understand or be able to do when the lesson has finished.
This sets up a direction for all ensuing activities.
Making Assessment Work for You
The real game-changer here is assessment - it's like the secret sauce in our recipe for success. It's not just about checking whether students have grasped vital concepts; it also gives them feedback, which they need in order to learn better.
Assessment provides an opportunity not only for teachers but also for students themselves: they get valuable insights into their understanding and performance while helping educators tailor instructions accordingly.
Pacing Your Lessons Right
The sequencing of your lesson plan can impact how well information sticks with your pupils. Rather than rushing through the material within one session or unnecessarily dragging out content over multiple sessions, finding that 'just-right' pace helps maintain students' attention without overwhelming them.
Remembering these tips when designing your next lesson will help deliver high-impact learning experiences.
Tips for Creating Engaging Lesson Plans
Creating engaging lesson plans that spark curiosity and promote active learning is not an easy task. But you can make your lessons more exciting and impactful with just a few strategic moves.
Incorporating a Variety of Learning Activities
Different types of learners respond best to different types of instruction. So, mix things up. Ensure your lesson plan activity list includes visual aids for visual learners, storytelling or discussion sessions for auditory learners and practical tasks or experiments for kinesthetic learners.
Providing Opportunities for Student Choice
We all like having choices—it makes us feel empowered. This holds true even within classroom walls. When designing your lesson plans, give students options where possible: let them pick topics they're interested in exploring further or choose between several project ideas related to what's being taught.
This approach increases student interest and helps cater to individual strengths and preferences, thereby promoting greater participation and understanding.
Best Practices for Implementing Learning Activities
Effectively implementing learning activities can significantly impact student engagement and outcomes. Let's delve into some best practices to ensure successful implementation.
Providing Support and Guidance as Needed
The importance of scaffolding in helping students grasp new concepts during lessons cannot be overstated. Scaffolding, or the practice of providing support to learners as they acquire new skills, is akin to constructing a building. You start with a strong foundation, then gradually remove supports as the structure becomes more stable.
To apply this principle in teaching, let's consider an example using Bloom's Revised Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. If we aim for high-order thinking skills like evaluation or creation, we first must help students understand key concepts and apply knowledge practically.
Reflecting on the Effectiveness of Learning Activities
In addition to offering guidance during learning activities, it's also essential that educators reflect on their effectiveness. This process helps us recognise areas for improvement and gives us insights into what works well - think Sherlock Holmes inspecting his case notes.
This reflection should consider how well the activity engaged learners and whether it achieved its intended learning objectives. Encouraging student collaboration within classrooms can provide valuable peer feedback.
You could even make use of tools such as anonymous surveys or suggestion boxes to allow pupils to contribute towards enhancing future lesson plans because they give teachers direct insight into their experience with different methods used.
FAQs about Learning Activities in Lesson Plans
What are your learning activities?
Learning activities are tasks or exercises designed to engage students, build knowledge, and promote understanding of a subject.
What are the five learning activities?
The five key learning activities often include direct instruction, guided practice, independent study, collaborative work, and reflective review.
What are learning activity types?
Different types of learning activities can be group discussions, hands-on experiments, case studies, or even writing tasks for learners.
What are the four main learning strategies?
The four primary strategies for effective teaching involve explicit teaching, scaffolding student understanding, modelling processes, and giving constructive feedback.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of integrating learning activities in lesson plans is a game-changer. It's about understanding diverse learners and designing experiences that speak to them.
We've seen how setting clear objectives, using active learning strategies and crafting meaningful activities are critical pieces of this puzzle. They're the golden threads weaving successful lessons together.
You now have examples from preschool through primary school across subjects like art, science, and maths at your fingertips. The power lies in applying these insights to create dynamic classrooms brimming with engagement and understanding.
Above all else? Remember: reflect on effectiveness regularly. Your classroom isn't just fertile ground for student growth but also yours as an educator!
We'd love to hear about your experience creating learning activities for lesson plans. If you've found a fantastic resource for your child, please share it with everyone by commenting below.
To stay updated with great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-create-a-sensory-room-essential-guide2023-07-08T20:23:33+01:002024-01-29T15:49:07+00:00How to Create a Sensory Room: Essential GuideRachael Jones
Understanding how to create a sensory room is an essential skill for schools and parents of children with autism. Sensory rooms, or multi-sensory rooms, offer a safe space where these children can explore their senses in a controlled environment. These specialised areas provide the necessary sensory input that helps manage stress levels and improve focus.
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Understanding how to create a sensory room is an essential skill for schools and parents of children with autism. Sensory rooms, or multi-sensory rooms, offer a safe space where these children can explore their senses in a controlled environment. These specialised areas provide the necessary sensory input that helps manage stress levels and improve focus.
In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the different elements that stimulate various senses—from visual stimulants and tactile tools to auditory aids and olfactory stimuli. We'll also discuss safety considerations when designing layouts, including spacing requirements between pieces of equipment.
We'll further explore how specific types of sensory equipment, such as vibrating platforms and texture-filled bins, enhance motor skills development. Additionally, we will share strategies for creating an immersive yet calming area without overloading the child's sensory system through appropriate colour schemes.
You'll also learn about consulting professionals like occupational therapists in setting up home-based rooms, recommended companies providing specialised products and understanding why multi-sensory environments complement rather than replace traditional therapies.
Understanding the Purpose of a Sensory Room
A sensory room is like a magical wonderland for children with autism or sensory sensitivities. It's a safe space where they can manage stress, reduce anxiety, and increase focus. These rooms engage all the senses and can be adapted for different ages and abilities. They're so effective that they're becoming as common as unicorns.
The benefits of a multi-sensory room for children with autism
Sensory rooms offer controlled stimuli, helping children explore at their own pace. This leads to improved communication skills, enhanced learning engagement, and better emotional well-being. It's like having a secret power that makes learning and growing more fun.
How sensory rooms aid in managing stress and increasing focus
Research has shown that sensory environments are like zen gardens for autistic individuals. They reduce self-harming behaviours and boost concentration levels. With calming visual stimulants like fibre optic lights and soothing tactile tools like therapy putty, these rooms are like a spa day for the senses.
In essence, sensory rooms are like magical fortresses where kids can be themselves without any worries. They're a valuable means of tackling the difficulties that come with having ASD in everyday life.
Elements that Tickle the Senses
A well-designed sensory room is like a party for your senses. It's all about creating an environment that stimulates sight, touch, sound, and smell in a controlled and exciting way.
Eye-catching visuals for a sensory room
The visual elements are the stars of the show in these spaces. To amp up the excitement, you can use things like mesmerising fibre optic lights, dazzling projectors, or shimmering sequin wall panels. And let's not forget about the captivating bubble tubes that create mesmerising patterns while promoting focus and relaxation.
Tactile tools for touch exploration
Sensory rooms also need options for hands-on exploration. Get those little fingers moving with therapy putty or bumpy sensory balls that offer a variety of textures and shapes. You could even add sand tables or water bead trays for some squishy fun.
Soothing sounds for a calm atmosphere
To create a peaceful auditory experience, use noise-cancelling headphones and play soft background music through strategically placed speakers. This combo helps reduce distractions and fills the room with calming sounds.
Introducing delightful scents
Don't forget about the power of smell. Diffuse essential oils throughout the room to enhance the overall ambience. Lavender oil is perfect for relaxation, while peppermint oil can boost concentration. Just be mindful of individual sensitivities to avoid any unwanted reactions.
It's not just about cramming a load of stuff into one area; it should be carefully planned so that each component serves its own purpose, helping achieve therapeutic objectives effectively and efficiently. It's about thoughtful design, where each element serves a specific purpose, contributing to therapeutic goals effectively and efficiently.
Ensuring Safety While Designing Layouts
The design and layout of a multi-sensory room are crucial to ensure the safety and comfort of its users. It's not just about filling the space with stimulating equipment but also creating an environment that's safe for exploration.
Importance of safety considerations during layout design
Safety should be the top priority when designing these spaces. This means eliminating potential hazards like cords or outlet covers that could cause trouble. Ensure a sufficient distance is kept between each piece of apparatus to avoid any mishaps.
Ideal spacing requirements between different pieces of equipment
Give children enough room to move around freely without bumping into things or each other. The National Autistic Society UK recommends leaving space for wheelchairs or walkers if needed so everyone can access the room.
Padded walls and floors offer extra protection against falls, while crash mats provide cushioning during physical activities. And don't forget the bean bag chairs for those much-needed chill-out moments after all the excitement.
In conclusion, when it comes to designing your sensory room layout, remember to prioritise both stimulation and safety. Better to be safe than sorry.
Multisensory Therapy Room
Enhancing Motor Skills Development Through Equipment Selection
The right equipment in a sensory room can work wonders for motor skills development. Children with autism may particularly benefit from additional support in terms of coordination and dexterity.
Benefits of Vibrating Platforms on Motor Skills Development
Vibrating platforms are a rocking addition to any sensory room. They give those muscles and nerves a good shake, improving balance and muscle tone. Plus, they provide proprioceptive input, helping kids with autism figure out where their bodies are in space. Research has shown that vibrating platform therapy can seriously boost gross motor function.
Usefulness of Texture-Filled Bins
But wait, there's more. Texture-filled bins are another great tool for sensory exploration. Fill them with dry rice or beans, and let your child safely dive into different sensations under your watchful eye.
This hands-on adventure not only tickles their sense of touch but also hones their fine motor skills as they play with different textures. Just remember, always supervise to keep things safe while allowing for some freedom to explore. Sensory bins have been proven to work wonders for hand-eye coordination and focus in autistic children.
Creating an environment that boosts both gross and fine motor skills is vital when setting up a sensory room. Adding elements like vibrating platforms and texture-filled bins to your design will create an engaging space supporting physical growth and cognitive progress.
Creating an Immersive Environment Without Overloading the Senses
Careful planning is crucial when designing a sensory room. Strike the right balance between stimulation and relaxation, so kids can explore their senses without feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
Strategies for preventing overstimulation
Moderation is key. Use visual stimuli like fibre optic lights and bubble tubes sparingly, adjusting them to each child's comfort level. Too much of a good thing can be sensory overload.
Control auditory stimuli too. Soothing background music or white noise can provide calming sounds without being too intense. Noise-cancelling headphones are a lifesaver when things get too noisy.
Selecting appropriate colour schemes
Choose soft, calming colours like pastel blues, greens, or purples. They create a peaceful atmosphere perfect for sensory exploration and learning.
Don't forget about lighting. Low-intensity lighting with adjustable settings lets you customise brightness based on individual needs and preferences.
In essence, make your sensory room a safe space for children to explore their senses at their own pace. Remember, what works for one child may not work for another—be flexible.
Consulting Professionals and Utilising Resources
When setting up a sensory room, seeking advice from experts who know their stuff is wise. Occupational Therapists (OTs) can provide valuable insights and suggest specific items that would benefit your child. Trust the pros.
Role of Occupational Therapist in Setting Up Home-Based Rooms
An Occupational Therapist (OT) plays a crucial role in creating home-based sensory rooms. They understand the unique needs of children with autism or sensory sensitivities and can recommend suitable equipment, toys, and layouts. Let the OT work their magic.
Complementarity With Therapy Rather Than Replacement
The value of sensory rooms for children with autism cannot be overstated. Rather than replacing traditional therapy methods, sensory rooms should be seen as complementary to them.
Importance of maintaining regular occupational therapy sessions
Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in the development and well-being of children with autism. It helps them improve their motor skills, coordination, and ability to perform daily tasks independently. Therefore, while sensory rooms offer an additional avenue for growth and learning, they should never replace regular occupational therapy sessions.
Ways multi-sensory environments support traditional therapies
Promoting brain function: Sensory room activities stimulate different parts of the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities like problem-solving or decision-making.
Creative thinking: The varied stimuli in a sensory room encourage imaginative play, leading to improved creativity over time.
Teaching direct focus effectively: These environments help children learn to concentrate better by engaging multiple senses simultaneously without overwhelming them. This skill proves beneficial both inside and outside classroom settings.
In essence, sensory rooms serve as valuable supplements, enhancing the benefits derived from standard therapeutic practices. They provide a safe and controlled space where individuals can explore their senses at their own pace, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation, all while fostering critical developmental skills.
But again, it's vital to maintain balance, ensuring that the use of such facilities does not detract from the importance of conventional therapies, which form the foundation of a child's progress journey towards greater independence and self-confidence.
Conclusion
Creating a sensory room is a must for supporting children with autism—it's like giving them a superpower!
These rooms are all about stimulating the senses and ensuring children feel safe and supported. Visual stimulants, tactile tools, auditory aids, and even olfactory stimuli all play a part in reducing stress and boosting focus. When choosing equipment, don't forget motor skills—vibrating platforms and texture-filled bins are like workout buddies for those little muscles!
And remember, it's all about finding the right balance—using calming colours and getting advice from occupational therapists is like having a secret weapon against overstimulation!
We'd love to hear about your experience with sensory rooms. If you've found a fantastic resource for your child, please share it with everyone by commenting below.
To stay updated with great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/what-is-a-sensory-diet2022-02-28T22:34:52+00:002024-01-29T15:48:55+00:00What is a Sensory Diet in Occupational Therapy?Rachael Jones
A sensory diet is a tool that Occupational Therapists can use to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other special needs. A sensory diet consists of various activities and objects that provide different sensations to the child.
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Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
A sensory diet is a tool that Occupational Therapists can use to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other special needs. A sensory diet consists of various activities and objects that provide different sensations to the child.
A sensory diet can help a child focus better, keep calm, and improve their overall behaviour. There are many different ways to create a sensory diet so that it can be tailored specifically to each child's needs. Read on to find out why sensory diets are important and how they are tailored for each child.
When should I use a sensory diet for my child?
Sensory diets are a great way to help children who have difficulties processing sensory information. An occupational therapist would usually design a sensory diet, and they are tailored to the needs of each individual child.
Problems with language and controlling tone of voice
Being overly active resulting in an inability to complete tasks
Struggling to control their impulses
Being unsettled in busy environments
Not being able to notice and respond to personal space
Being too forceful in their manner and during play
Being regularly tired or daydreaming
Having difficulties with sleeping
What causes difficulties in processing sensory information?
Difficulties in processing sensory information commonly occurs with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), amongst other conditions. Sensory processing involves signals being sent from the body to the brain. When there are difficulties in processing sensory information, this is due to a disruption of this system.
Occupational Therapist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, has described this process as a "traffic jam" of signals in the body. The name initially used for this condition, coined by Ayres, is Sensory Integration Disorder (SID).
The condition is now more commonly known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and the subtype, Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD). With SMD, children will be either overstimulated or under-stimulated. As the disorder is characterised by atypical behaviour to various sensory stimulation, it was deemed appropriate to treat with sensory integration.
What is Sensory Integration?
For many people, sensory integration (SI) is a relatively unknown term. Sensory integration is the process of organising and interpreting information from the environment. This involves assessing the stimuli, determining what needs to be done with that information, and carrying out the appropriate response.
Sensory integration can be a huge challenge for those living with autism or other developmental disabilities. Occupational therapy for sensory integration would involve repeated exposure to sensory stimuli to help train the brain to recognise the signals and respond appropriately. Sensory integration often makes up part of a more extensive treatment—the sensory diet.
What is Sensory Integration Disorder?
Some children have problems with sensory processing, which can make everyday experiences feel difficult or overwhelming for them. This is called Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Sensory processing refers to how your brain interprets signals from your senses. These messages tell you about the environment around you, including sight, sound, smell and touch sensations. These senses make up what we call our "sensorium" – a term that refers to all of our senses working together to help us understand and respond to the world around us.
What are the signs and symptoms of Sensory Integration Disorder?
The main characteristics of children with SID include:
Difficulty coping with bright lights, loud noises, strong smells or busy environments
Picky eating or gagging on certain foods
Intolerance to tags in clothing or seams in socks
Drooling or difficulty swallowing due to sensitivity to food textures
Sensitivity to touch, causing children to pull away from hugs or avoid cuddles
Trouble sitting still for activities such as eating, dressing and bathing
Low muscle tone (hypotonia) which causes clumsiness
How is Sensory Integration Disorder diagnosed?
A healthcare professional makes the diagnosis of sensory integration disorder who can talk through concerns with you about your child's development. In that case, they will usually carry out a complete physical examination to check their general health, as well as take into account your child's developmental milestones.
Children with SID may appear to have delayed development of specific skills. This is because they are processing information about the world around them differently from other children, making tasks difficult and frustrating.
Their difficulties coping in different environments can also lead to frustration and meltdowns. These behaviours are often misinterpreted as behavioural problems when they are actually caused by the sensory overload of the child's nervous system.
If you think your child may have any of these symptoms, it would be best to speak with your GP or health visitor.
What is a sensory diet for occupational therapy?
A sensory diet is a personalised treatment plan for an individual with Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The purpose of the sensory diet is to identify areas where there are problems with sensory processing.
The plan may include any number of interventions, activities, or sensory circuits, depending on each child's specific needs. But it often consists of a mixture of at-home play-based activities, outdoor experiences and mindful exercises.
What does a typical sensory diet look like?
A sensory diet typically includes a mixture of activities that an occupational therapist—or parent—has specially chosen to benefit children with SPD. These may consist of sensory play at home, being outside in the garden or park or even listening to music.
Each child's needs will be different, but there are standard building blocks to creating a sensory diet. As stated by Occupational Therapists Kid Sense; these include:
Sensory processing
Planning and sequencing
Attention and concentration
Receptive language
Executive functioning
Compliance
Check out this great video from Harkla for Sensory Diets!
Where can I get a sensory diet for my child?
For professional support, your GP may be able to refer your child to an occupational therapist in your area who has experience in this field. You can also find a list of occupational therapists on the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website.
There are also many resources available online where you can download free guides and checklists designed to help parents create their own sensory diet at home. The key to creating a sensory diet is to begin by observing your child's behaviour to understand their sensory needs better.
The process of developing the most suitable sensory diet can be one of trial and error, so give yourself and your child time to try out different activities and decide on what works best.
Recording sensory diet activities
Once you introduce a sensory activity, you or your child can record how it went. It's essential to understand this to develop the best exercises for the way your child is feeling. For example, it would be good to keep track of:
What type of activity is it – movement, breathing or heavy work?
When is it best for your child to use this activity? What will they feel that may be the sign that the activity could help them feel better?
How did they feel after the activity?
Occupational therapists recommend 90 minutes of sensory diet activities throughout the week to help children. However, there are other things to consider for the best outcome for your child. These will depend entirely on their unique sensory needs.
Other things to consider are the timing of activities, intensity and duration, incorporating activities into daily routine, and always recording behaviour changes.
What are the benefits of a sensory diet for children?
People with SPD may experience hypersensitivity to certain stimuli that others don't find particularly overwhelming. This can be very distressing for them and lead to severe anxiety in some cases—especially when they're in unfamiliar situations or environments, such as going to school or visiting new places.
A sensory diet may benefit children with SPD by reducing anxiety and behavioural difficulties, allowing them to cope better with everyday experiences.
How a sensory diet helps children at home and school
Sensory diets are an essential part of treatment for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which can lead to increased anxiety and behavioural problems in children if not managed appropriately. These issues can impact the child's learning, social interaction, and participation in play activities at home and school.
A sensory diet is a plan designed by a therapist to include elements specifically chosen for their ability to provide input in different ways for the body's senses. This input aims to normalise how your child's brain and body process information, which can help to improve a child's ability to cope with various situations.
Indoor sensory diet activities
Some of the activities that may be included in a sensory diet plan at home for your child might include things like:
As with any health plan or intervention, working with a professional is essential. It is best to consult with an occupational therapist for a sensory diet to decide which activities are suitable for your child.
Once you know which activities are best, you can work with your child to help them with their sensory needs at home. As long as you stick within the recommended boundaries of safety and stimulation, there's no reason why you can't try out a range of different activities.
We'd love to hear about your experience with sensory diet plans. If you've found a fantastic resource for your child, please share it with everyone by commenting below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/5-sensory-benefits-of-playdough-for-children2021-06-02T18:28:37+01:002024-03-11T13:39:31+00:005 Sensory Benefits of Playdough for ChildrenSensory Surroundings
It might be surprising, but did you know that there is more for children to gain from this game than just passing the time? Playdough is sensory play for children to learn. It has a wide range of developmental, sensory and educational benefits for children.
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Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
It might be surprising, but did you know that there is more for children to gain from this game than just passing the time?
Playdough is sensory play for children to learn. It has a wide range of developmental, sensory and educational benefits for children. Below are some of the sensory benefits of playing play-dough.
1. Improves Motor Skills
When your child plays with play dough, they tend to develop strength, control, and agility, all of which are necessary to help them manipulate different items such as zippers and scissors. For those who don't know, motor skills are used in numerous physical activities that require the combined efforts of the child's brain and body muscles to maneuver through.
When you watch your child playing play dough, you will notice a sense of exploration and investigation as they try to play with the malleable material. They might squash, squeeze, roll, flatten, cut, chop, or poke holes. This secretly builds upon their strength within their tiny tendons and muscles, preparing them to hold items such as pencils later. Additionally, it can be an excellent way to develop focus and concentration.
These skills are essential for your child to connect with new experiences. As they engage in play, the motor movements used contribute to the child's overall development.
2. Creativity and Imagination
Playdough is one of the best games to improve your child's imaginative and creative skills. To make it even better, you can introduce open-ended play items to the game so that the child has more options to include in their imaginative play. The child will have an unlimited number of creations to play with. They will be required to use symbolic thinking by pretending that the play dough is something else. Such practices are essential in developing their cognitive flexibility and creating a channel for them to express their ideas freely.
The good thing about this is that the children will be creating objects and structures from scratch using the "raw materials " present. This will encourage them to stretch their imagination to come up with innovative ideas to make these structures.
If you carefully observe children as they play, you will realise that when children are at a younger age, they will start by making simple and familiar items such as balls and worms. As time goes by, you will realize that they start making more complex creations and structures. The creations become even better when the child starts playing with other children.
3. Science and Maths
There are so many science and math skills involved in playdough activities for children that support; mixing, measuring, predicting, experimenting, along with many others. With homemade playdough, you can even add colours, mix them, and even spice them up using additional ingrediants such as cinnamon. All these will create a new sensory experience for children to learn from and sharpen their skills.
As an adult, you are used to following procedures and recipes to achieve a predictable result. However, this might be a whole new experience for them. You can also use the opportunity to introduce several new disciptive words for them to learn. For example; smooth, lumps, and grains.
Another thing that children can pick out while shaping the play dough is getting conversant with causes and effects. They will realise that different actions create different results. You can further support this by talking about the process ('What happens when more flour is added?'). Such practices will ensure that even though you are having fun, there is still room for experimentation and learning.
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
Check out this short video showing you how to easily make playdough at home for your children!
You can also download the recipe for making playdough at home right here!
For older children, playdough can be used as a way of practicing number and letter work. There are so many ideas that can be used here. You can ask them to form letters, numbers, spell their names, create different numbers, or even count the objects they have created. Those using different colours can also be encouraged to match objects with the same colour.
Why not set a challenge for them too! For example, ask them to roll four figures, six sticks, etc.
4. Introducing a Sense of Calmness
Anyone who has ever interacted with play dough will tell you that there is just a soothing and therapeutic effect that comes with all the squeezing and moulding. It's an excellent way to relieve pressure and relieve stress.
Some children find it hard to express their emotions, while others tend to develop restlessness. Such children can benefit significantly from using playdough to play. When they sit in a single position while they squash and roll the playdough, this will generate a sense of calmness in them. It will also provide them with an alternative option to express themselves. Playdough can be an excellent activity to help children unwind after a long school day.
5. Developing Hand-eye Coordination
As children use their hands to make shapes and structures with the Playdough, they will also sharpen their coordination control of eye movements and hand movements. It becomes easier for them to process the visual input necessary for reaching along with using their hand proprioception to guide eye movemnts.
This coordination is vital in early childhood and will become more beneficial as they grow. Gaining this skill will enable children to use their hands effectively based on what they see.
Summary
Playdough is a versatile material that's a staple for early childhood play. Whether bought or homemade, it has numerous sensory benefits to children's development. The good thing about this reusable material is that it's safe for children to play with since it has no toxic traits. Yes, you might end up finding dried pieces of Playdough at home or stuck on the kitchen counter, but the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages of a little mess!
More sensory activities to do at home with children:
We’d love to hear about your experience with playdough play. If you have a good activity or a question, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/discovery-play-discovery-table-activities-educational-benefits-of-discovery-learning-for-children2021-02-26T10:25:52+00:002024-01-29T15:47:52+00:00Discovery Play: Benefits of Discovery Learning for ChildrenSensory Surroundings
In essence, discovery learning is about allowing children to explore and learn through their environment instead of direct tuition. This approach has been well researched and has even been proposed as the best learning method for areas such as science and mathematics.
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In essence, discovery learning is about allowing children to explore and learn through their environment instead of direct tuition.
This approach has been well researched and has even been proposed as the best learning method for areas such as science and mathematics. Klahr and Nigam (2004) stated that discovery learning is 'the best way to get deep and lasting understanding of scientific phenomena and procedures, particularly for young children'.
The beauty of discovery play for learning is that this is the most natural form a child learns about the world around them. Children are innately curious regarding their environments, from instances of repeatedly dropping items out of pushchairs to exploring textures with their hands.
So, what exactly is discovery learning, and how can you support this either at home or in an educational setting? This article will explore this topic further, advising on setting up a discovery learning area and discovery table activities for learning in both an indoor and outdoor environment.
Let's get discovering!
What exactly is discovery learning?
The principle of discovery learning was devised by 'developmental psychologist Jean Piaget and educational philosopher John Dewey' (Adelson, 2004). Jean Piaget believed that allowing children to learn through experimentation and 'discovery' of the environment around them created a firmer understanding of what they learned.
It is not only proposed that the concepts and knowledge learned through discovery play are firmer embedded, but that children will be more likely to apply and advance on what they have discovered in comparison to direct instruction.
As opposed to discovery play, direct instruction creates a method of learning where children remain a passive recipient. Approaches of direct instruction can include the following:
Teacher or adult-led learning
Instructions or sequenced approach
Presentation of information
Demonstration of concept or activity
Discovery play is about getting children always to ask why and then explore the topic further through their environment to answer the question for themselves. This is in opposition to direct tuition that would instead list the facts, not allowing children to become active participants in their own learning.
The use of discovery play is valuable across the curriculum. However, maths and science have a significant benefit of being taught in this way. Taking gravity and balance as an example, children will soon discover how to maintain a steady structure and what happens to objects when they fall from height by offering a range of construction items.
What are the benefits of discovery play?
The benefits to children of learning through discovery play include the following:
Increases persistence and creativity
Embeds the topics being taught
Creates an active learning environment
Offers children a firm foundation to build on what they learn
Supports independence and problem-solving skills
How to set up a discovery learning area
A discovery play area aims to establish a dedicated zone, allowing children the freedom to investigate. These could be areas set up indoors, such as a corner to a classroom or a playroom. This could also be an area set up outside, ready for children to participate in discovery play whenever you're ready to get outdoors.
The key to creating an engaging discovery play zone is to ensure a broad array of equipment and items to be used. Offering children a varied selection of articles will help keep them engaged in learning and connect different aspects of play.
Setting up a discovery zone, you may wish to consider the following:
Supplying adequate storage to keep a range of resources available
An area dedicated to messy, explorative play, such as tuff trays
Space for movement between the different areas for children
Easy to clean surfaces and containers for messy play and storage
Engaging equipment such as tubes and pipes for water play
Natural materials and plants where setting up areas outdoors
In keeping objects, materials and resources with the seasons
Using a discovery table
One thing discovery play areas have in common is a discovery table that is easily accessible for children. Here, relevant objects can be presented ready for the children to explore. Conversely, when completing an outdoor discovery session, the table could be kept clear, prepared for children to sort and examine the items they gathered themselves whilst out.
Activities can be themed by subject and range from science and messy play to nature and the arts. When using a tabletop for nature activities, think about how the items might be used. By providing water, children can experiment with the classic sink or swim experiment. By providing crayons and paper, children could opt to draw or take rubbings.
It is also worth considering the use of light, which can allow for the transparency of objects to be discovered and offer an additional sensory experience to the play session. Another interesting idea is having a chalk surface for children to draw on to interact with the environment around them.
Check out this short video showing some great ideas of tuff tray activities.
A good idea is to think of the activity as a scientific investigation and supply children with a way to test and record their findings from the environment. This could mean having clipboards, pencils and binoculars to hand. Having dividers on the table is also a useful way to allow children to sort through the objects they have found and see how they classify different items.
For more ideas on resources that you could use for different curriculum discovery table activities, download our free discovery table check sheet below.
The opportunities for children to learn through discovery play are endless. With only a few simple items, such as tables and storage, a discovery play area can be regularly updated with new resources to engage children through active learning. Sessions can be themed around any subject and can be representative of the seasons. With adult supervision and the imagination and wonder of child-led exploration, discovery play is sure to enjoyed by all!
Additional resources
A reference list is included in the footer of this post. However, we want to note a couple of great books and educational resources for further reading.
Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors by Rachelle Doorley (2014)
Taylor, Barbara J. Early Childhood Program Management. Macmillan Publishing (1993)
We'd love to hear about your ideas on learning through discovery for children. If you have an engaging activity or a question, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/understanding-emotional-regulation-and-how-you-can-support-your-child2021-01-05T20:20:57+00:002024-01-29T15:49:56+00:00Understanding emotional regulation and how you can support your childSensory Surroundings
Emotional regulation is the process by which people manage their emotional experiences and their responses to all types of feelings, including very powerful emotions such as anxiety, anger, sadness and frustration.The way we respond to our emotions, both mentally and behaviourally, has a major impact on our psychological wellbeing and our social experiences.
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Emotional regulation is the process by which people manage their emotional experiences and their responses to all types of feelings, including very powerful emotions such as anxiety, anger, sadness and frustration.
The way we respond to our emotions, both mentally and behaviourally, has a major impact on our psychological wellbeing and our social experiences. When we fail to regulate our emotions properly our resulting behaviour can put our mental health and relationships with others at risk.
We begin to develop emotional regulation during infancy and the process continues throughout childhood and adolescence. However, for some children, such as those with sensory processing disorder (SPD), emotional regulation becomes more difficult. SPD is a condition in which the brain has difficulty responding to information that comes from the senses, including touch, sight and sound. Environmental stimuli can be overwhelming to children with SPD and this can make it incredibly difficult for them to self-regulate their resulting emotions.
What is the purpose of emotional regulation?
Emotional regulation allows us to monitor and manage our emotions. It involves identifying emotions, recognising when we feel them, and understanding how to express them. This regulation begins during infancy when facial expressions of core feelings such as happiness and sadness begin to develop. Later, particularly when children start school, they begin to develop the ability to differentiate their facial expressions to portray emotion within different social contexts and in line with societal norms. As they get older, children will also begin to understand that others' emotions may not be the same as their own and recognise that others will change their emotional expressions in line with what they are feeling.
During early childhood, children tend to rely on caregivers to provide emotional regulation and soothing; this is known as external emotional regulation. However, as they get older they begin to internally regulate their emotions by observing caregivers and peers, learning self-soothing skills, and seeing the reactions of others to their own emotional expressions.
Internal emotional regulation is influenced greatly by sensory processing, and a child's threshold for sensory stimuli has an important impact on their ability to regulate emotion. Emotional regulation can therefore be difficult for children with atypical sensory function, such as those with SPD or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Alexithymia, when someone has difficulty labelling and understanding emotions, can often be a problem for those with atypical sensory function, and this can make it particularly difficult for children to recognise emotions being expressed by others and express their own emotions in ways that others can understand.
How can I help children with sensory processing disorder?
Children with atypical sensory function tend to experience emotions very differently than others and therefore behave in response to their emotions in ways which can lead to social judgements. Subsequently, they often feel pressured to change themselves in order to fit in. It is important to strike a balance between respecting and understanding their emotional responses while helping them to find suitable behaviours to cope with their feelings. The ACT Limit Setting tool is useful for this; it involves acknowledging the emotion, communicating the limit on the subsequent behaviour, and targeting an alternative, acceptable behaviour.
'The Zones of Regulation' by Leah Kuypers is an excellent book with lots of learning activities for children to understand how they're feeling, recognise different facial expressions for different emotions, and find soothing tools to help them self-regulate. It is a useful curriculum for teachers or caregivers to talk to their children about emotions and help them develop calming techniques and self-regulation tools.
For some ideas of games and activities to help children learn to self-regulate, check out the video from Kreative Leadership below.
This video outlines five games that children will find fun to play while learning important skills such as listening, controlling urges and resisting temptation, particularly in the context of interacting with other children. Games like this also offer opportunities to talk to children about the importance of developing such skills in fun and relatable contexts.
Emotion cushions to aid emotional regulation
Toys and objects can be incredibly helpful for children with sensory processing disorder to better manage and explore their feelings. The emotion cushions from Sensory Surroundings are a great example of this. Each cushion is in a different bright colour and features a monster face with a unique expression, and these embroidered designs offer a sensory feature that children with SPD or ASD might find soothing.
Children can use cushions like this to demonstrate the emotion they are feeling if they are non-verbal or are struggling to find the right words. Alternatively, the cushions could be used to open up a group discussion about emotion to help children with alexithymia to better recognise and understand different expressions. The cushion set could be useful at home or in a school, nursery or other learning environment, and young children without atypical sensory function might find them useful as they develop emotional regulation.
Emotional regulation is an important aspect of every child's development but for those with sensory processing problems, additional support is often needed to help them understand their own emotions and learn how to self-regulate. With the right support, understanding, conversations and learning activities, it is possible for these children to develop the tools they need to regulate their emotions and cope with their feelings.
Additional resources
A reference list is included in the footer of this post. However, we want to note a couple of great books and educational resources for further reading.
The Zones of Regulation (2011) by Leah Kuypers M.A. Ed., OTR/L
The Explosive Child (2006) by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D.
We’d love to hear about your experience with emotional regulation in children. If you have a good activity or a question, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-children-learn-through-heuristic-play2020-10-22T20:15:23+01:002024-01-29T15:50:06+00:00How Children Learn Through Heuristic PlaySensory Surroundings
Allowing children to create play with everyday items forms the basis of heuristic play. By playing with these items, children can access a new way to learn about the world around them. First introduced by Elinor Goldschmied to pre-school education, heuristic play is a child led activity with items that offer both intrigue and challenge but are also safe for children.
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Allowing children to create play with everyday items forms the basis of heuristic play.
By playing with these items, children can access a new way to learn about the world around them. First introduced by Elinor Goldschmied to pre-school education, heuristic play is a child led activity with items that offer both intrigue and challenge but are also safe for children.
Heuristic play allows children to develop both cognitive and physical skills and is a great way to better understand a child’s preferences with play through observation.
What is heuristic play?
The word heuristic itself has originated from the Greek word ‘eurisko’ which means ‘I discover’. It is all about developing and learning the skills needed to take on challenges and to problem solve.
It is in the nature of young children to want to discover what things are and what they do in the world around them. By engaging in heuristic play, children are able to safely explore these items with their fingers, hands and even feet. They can explore texture, colour, shape, weight and flexibility of the different objects.
Every aspect of playing with the foreign objects is a physical and cognitive exploration for young children. Do they drop when they let go of them? Do they make a sound when they fall? Is it loud or quiet? Perhaps some objects fit inside other objects?
Using manipulative skills such as pulling, pushing, poking and twisting children will learn what they can and can’t do with different objects.
The items used in a heuristic play set are not what’s seen as ‘traditional’ toys, but that’s what makes the objects so valuable to the learning experience. There are no rules, no right and wrong way to play and any ideas for play opportunities are equally valuable. Similar to free play, it's the open-ended nature of heuristic play that allows for all toddlers to investigate in their own way, expressing their own creativity and to build on their own experiences.
If you’d like to find out more about heuristic play and the activities you can do with your children, why not download the FREE TickiT Guide below!
How heuristic play supports development
Heuristic play is a great way to support multiple areas of development in toddlers. It provides sensory exploration, develops self-efficacy, supports creativity and encourages fine motor and early maths skills.
Whilst children play, be sure to keep a close eye on them for safety.
These play sessions are a great time to observe children for key aspects of development, such as:
Cognitive skills – how long can they concentrate for? What items do they find most intriguing to play with?
Awareness of others – when children play together in a group, are they noticing each other? Do they try to imitate each other or interact through play?
Co-ordination – Is there any hand preference that is evident through play? What objects seem to be easily manipulated?
All of these observations can help you understand the preferences of the child playing which can then be used to plan future play sessions. Where one child may enjoy making different noises, they will probably enjoy playing with musical instruments. Yet another child may want to use the items to build and would therefore benefit from more construction toys.
Allowing children to initiate how they play with these objects is the key to understanding their individual needs.
You can find out more about how to use heuristic play sets in the short video from Commotion below.
Approaches to play and the creative mindsets of children
Recent research by Barbara Bilewicz-Kuźnia has classified the behaviour of children during sessions of heuristic play. The research for the study took a qualitive approach with the objective of observations being to discern the creative mindsets and approaches of children.
The findings from this study were categorised under three headings, corresponding to three criteria. These were: the nature of the cognitive contact, the conceptual approach to playing and while playing, and the personality traits of the children playing.
The classifications found within these three criteria are briefly summarised as the following:
When considering the character of the child’s cognitive contact with the material while playing, four different types of experimental approaches can be distinguished:
Explorer
Enumerator
Master of structures
Master of descriptions
When considering full-blown play, one can observe such conceptual types as:
Originator
Imitator
Creator of meanings
Re-organiser
In terms of personality type, playing can reveal such types as:
Introvert
Pedant
Extrovert
Adventurer
Instructor
Altruist
The study broadly concludes that children can engage in explorative activities and assume various roles in heuristic play. Children can be passive observers, active participants or lone explorers. They can act in groups, initiate explorative interaction, and respond to the actions or invitations of others.
The specific type of exploration undertaken in heuristic play, coupled with the desire to present the obtained skills, such as counting, naming, creating classes, rhyming or making decors, makes it possible to get to know the cognitive possibilities, skills and fascinations of children.
Setting up your heuristic play session
It’s important to ensure that there’s enough time for children to feel fully satisfied that they’ve been able to explore all the resources at hand. Allowing for at least an hour for a heuristic play session should give them enough time for this, and for set up and tidy up afterwards.
It’s very important that when preparing for a session of heuristic play, the room is as clear as possible of other objects, and there’s a nice open space to group the heuristic play items in. Try to arrange the resources in different sections spaced out on the floor. Position these collections to intrigue and gain young children’s curiosity before allowing them in the room to investigate.
Your role as the adult in the heuristic play session is to observe. Watch how your child uses different items, how they manipulate them and express their very own creative ideas. It may be that during the play session the items may need to be rearranged slightly if they become too mixed up to be easily distinguished separately.
A great way to end each session is to invite children to help clear the resources away. This also gives a valuable opportunity to discuss the items with children, what they may be used for and what they do.
Don’t forget, you can find out more about heuristic play and the activities you can do with your children, by downloading the FREE TickiT Guide below!
Heuristic play is a great way to allow young children to explore through open-ended play. By using a variety of intriguingly shaped and sized objects, children can use their natural curiosity to explore and investigate. This encourages learning and development in young children, improving both physical and cognitive skills.
We’d love to hear about your experience with heuristic play. If you have a good activity or a question, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
References
Barbara Bilewicz-Kuźnia, (2017). The experimental approaches and creative mindsets of children in heuristic play. Social Research, volume 8.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-create-a-sensory-garden-path-at-home2020-07-17T11:53:00+01:002024-01-29T15:55:44+00:00How to Create a Sensory Garden Path at HomeRachael Jones
A sensory garden path is carefully designed to engage the senses. There are many elements to this, from sections with crunchy gravel, areas with tactile stimulus, as well as ones with materials like bark and plants to offer scent. They can be as passive or as interactive as your child needs.
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What makes sensory gardens such valuable spaces?
The first sensory garden opened in 1939 and was initially designed to support those with visual impairment. As our understanding of the impact of these spaces has grown, so has the scope and detail of the designs. Sensory gardens and sensory garden paths are now designed to enhance the lives of people with any sensory processing disorder and their effectiveness is beautifully described by the Sensory Garden Trust.
What exactly is a sensory garden path?
A sensory garden path is carefully designed to engage the senses. There are many elements to this, from sections with crunchy gravel, areas with tactile stimulus, as well as ones with materials like bark and plants to offer scent.
Sensory garden paths are designed to be experienced by your child, rather than exist purely as a means of getting from a to b. They can be as passive or as interactive as your child needs.
Some sensory paths are designed and created as a permanent structure to be used year-round as part of a gardens design. These require a little extra planning, to structure the route of your path, dig it in, lay a solid border for your path, and finally fill the sections with differing sensory elements.
Other options sometimes used are to create a moveable sensory path that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors, or even to sensory panels which can be fitted outside.
How do sensory garden paths work?
A sensory garden path supports children with sensory processing disorders by stimulating a range of neurological responses. The experience will be a blend of familiar and new experiences and the relationship between perception and performance means these experiences can have a significant impact. A sensory garden path allows for cognitive function to grow in a safe and peaceful environment.
What are the benefits of a sensory garden path?
UK leaders in gardening therapy describe the following benefits of a sensory garden path for people with a sensory processing disorder.
The tranquil splash of water, the cheery crunch of gravel, the nearby whisper of wind through bamboo – all of these sounds work to help create an environment that stimulates but doesn’t overwhelm.
You can curate the textures of your sensory garden path – smooth pebbles, soft moss and sturdy logs all provide a variety of experiences for the senses.
Plants like chamomile and thyme offer calming scents as they’re walked on, and even elements such as bark can add to the fragrant atmosphere.
Colour comes into its own in a sensory garden path – use paint to add stimulus with hot vibrant colours or incorporate cool blues and greys of pebbles to bring an air of calm.
This requires care and consideration and it’s vital to be sure your children understand which elements of the garden are safe to sample. Edging your path with edible herbs and flowers can add a whole new aspect to the experience.
How to build a sensory garden path
Building a sensory garden path is straightforward and is something that can be achieved in a smaller garden too, so it’s a great way of creating a sensory environment at home.
Starting with a basic sketch of where you want your sensory garden path to go, get outside and begin to mark out the path. For this, you can use a long 100 ft tape measure, some stakes and string. Try to ensure to use a stake every 1m when marking out your paths design.
Doing this part will help you visualise how the path will look and see if it works well with the space you have. Walk along the marked-out path and ensure there’s enough space, are the curves gradual enough if included, and have you got enough space for the different sections you may want?
If your happy with the initial planning, then it’s time to get muddy! Using a shovel dig out the shape of the path, being sure to make the ground level so all your sensory elements can be walked on safely. A spirit level can be used for this to ensure your finished design is easy to use.
Use bricks or pavers to define the edges and create the different sensory sections. Cement them in to keep them secure. For this stage, you will need a rubber mallet and spirit level, along with cement bricks or pavers and cement tools.
Check out this short video on laying a block edge course, which demonstrates how to complete this stage.
Laying a block edge course for your sensory path
This is the fun bit – decide how you want your path to work. Consider what senses you want to engage, as well as the tactile experience. Within each of the sections of your path, you can add each different element. Having a good variation from one section to the next can enhance the experience, such as smooth pebbles followed by rough bark, and then soft silky plants.
Here are some sensory path fillers you might consider:
Chamomile or thyme
These release a scent as you walk and feel amazing under bare feet. You can buy chamomile plants or grow them from seed, but you may find buying thyme plants easier – be sure to buy a creeping or ground cover variety.
Pebbles
Choose to leave them loose and lively or cement them in. If you have space, you can have both to provide contrast.
Wood
Choose log roll, sleepers or responsibly sourced tree branches. Bed them into sand for extra stability.
Sand
Fine sand can offer a unique addition to your sensory path as your child’s feet sink in and it surrounds their toes!
Any added extras
If you have enough space, you can bring in other elements to work with your sensory garden path. Carefully chosen plants such as lavender stimulate both scent and touch, while including chimes or water will add a calming sound.
Whether you have a whole garden to build or just a small space to play with, incorporating a sensory garden path will enhance tactile perception and support children with any level of sensory processing disorder. It’s a simple and fun project that will benefit the whole family.
Why not download our free checklist for everything you need to create your very own sensory garden tactile path?
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/five-benefits-of-sensory-circuits-for-children2020-06-05T13:48:00+01:002024-03-11T14:07:29+00:00Five benefits of sensory circuits for childrenSensory Surroundings
Primarily developed for children on the autistic spectrum, sensory circuits are designed to facilitate sensory processing and are a great way of stimulating children’s sensory-motor skills, ready for learning.
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What are sensory circuits?
Primarily developed for children on the autistic spectrum, sensory circuits are designed to facilitate sensory processing and are a great way of stimulating children’s sensory-motor skills, ready for learning.
Through a series of short, snappy actions including motor and tactile play, problem-solving and relaxation, children are able to reach a level of alertness to promote concentration, making sensory circuits an ideal activity before the start of the school day, after a lunch break, or even at home.
Activities within sensory circuits are seperated into three categories:
Alerting – Aimed at providing vestibular stimulation (movement, balance, spatial awareness), preparing the brain for learning.
Organising – Aimed at stimulating multi-sensory processing to organise and prepare the body and brain, allowing children to focus, increase their attention span and enhance learning performance.
Calming – Aimed at feeding into the proprioceptive system, ensuring children end the sensory circuit in a calm state of mind, ready for the day ahead.
Sensory circuits should last for at least 15 minutes to be effective, but equally, time shouldn't be a barrier, so they don't need to eat too much into your day.
Simply select six exercises, ensuring there is at least one activity from each of the alerting, organising and calming categories. The amount of time spent in each section may be dependent upon the needs of the individual. For example, some children will require longer in the calming phase than others.
Try to prepare space and equipment for each activity before you begin, to make it a smooth process.
Why note take a look at this great short video tutorial from Little Miricles on how to complete a sensory circuit.
Five benefits of sensory circuits for children
With Covid-19 shutting schools and many youngsters having to be taught at home, it can be a very challenging time for parents, carers and children. A good way to give children a sense of routine back and ensure they are mentally and physically prepared to learn can be to start the day with a sensory circuit. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of equipment and space to set up sensory circuits at home.
While the primary aim of a sensory circuit is to facilitate learning and prepare children for the day ahead, there can also be longer-term benefits too.
1. Enhancing attention
By stimulating different areas of the body and mind, children can enter the day in a calmer, more prepared state, enhancing attention spans and their ability to concentrate and learn effectively.
Alerting activities to incorporate include:
Running on the spot – Run quickly on the spot, with arms pumping, for 20 seconds.
Organising activities to incorporate include:
Balance beam – Walk in a straight line across a balance beam. At home, this can be a chalk line drawn on the floor or a piece of string or masking tape on the floor.
Scooter – Manoeuvre in and out of markers on a scooter. Household items can be used as markers if necessary. Perform the course three to four times depending on length.
2. Developing motor skills
By providing children with daily opportunities to practise both fine and complex motor skills, such as aiming at a target, jumping, or shape sorting, their ability to perform these and other tasks will develop.
Alerting activities to incorporate include:
Trampoline – Bounce on a trampoline/trampette for 20 seconds.
Organising activities to incorporate include:
Target practice – Throw bean bags at a target. Other items can be used instead of bean bags, such as a small ball, a cushion or even a packet of crisps! Just adjust the distance to the target depending on the weight of the object.
3. Reducing anxiety
For children who may find certain situations challenging - such as busy classrooms, noise or a lack of routine - the addition of sensory circuits to their daily program can add stability and help prepare their body and mind. This can be especially beneficial for children with sensory processing disorder.
Calming exercises to incorporate include:
Ball roll – While the child lays on their front on the floor, roll a gym/exercise ball gently up and down their back with consistent pressure and speed.
Head or hand massage – Gently and consistently massage the child’s head or hands and wrist joints.
4. Improving coordination
Through daily practice of skills such as balancing, catching, throwing, jumping and other fine and complex motor skills, children are likely to improve their coordination in a range of everyday activities.
Organising activities to incorporate include:
Egg and spoon – Walk up and down the garden or front room while balancing an egg on a spoon. You could hard-boil the egg in advance to save waste if it is dropped.
Calming activities to incorporate include:
Yoga – Search online for ‘yoga for children’ and select a short routine/flow.
5. Improving behaviour
Through sensory circuits, children who may otherwise spend time fidgeting or daydreaming are likely to be calmer and more attentive than usual.
Alerting activities to incorporate include:
Star jumps – Begin in a crouched position and explode up into a star jump 20 times.
Calming activities to incorporate include:
Push-ups – Perform 20 push-ups either on the floor or against a wall. Push-ups on the floor can be done on the knees if conventional push-ups are too challenging.
We’d love to hear about the sensory circuits you do with your children at home. If you have a good activity, please share it for everyone by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/6-sensory-and-educational-benefits-of-water-play-for-children2020-05-08T14:42:00+01:002024-03-11T13:24:50+00:006 Sensory and educational benefits of water play for childrenSensory Surroundings
There are so many sensory, educational and developmental benefits of playing with water for children. Water play, along with playing with any natural elements, offers an opportunity for open-ended play for children. This means that children are free to play without any rules or objectives that may hinder their natural curiosity and imagination.
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Why water play?
Let’s face it, children love playing with water. But it’s not just about indulging in a bit of messy play or splashing outside on a hot summers’ day. There are so many sensory, educational and developmental benefits of playing with water for children.
Water play, along with playing with any natural elements, offers an opportunity for open-ended play for children. This means that children are free to play without any rules or objectives that may hinder their natural curiosity and imagination. The great thing about this is that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ method.
Enjoying water play, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, gives your child the chance to explore on their own terms and learn new skills. So, let’s take a look at how water play benefits children…
1. Social and emotional development
Water play can be enjoyed alone or with other children, such as siblings. Where children play together, this gives a valuable opportunity for social skills development. By taking turns to use different pieces of equipment, negotiate space, playing cooperatively and sharing ideas, children can build on essential social skills.
The act of playing with the water itself can also be very soothing. Whether children like to ‘swoosh’ their hands through the water, splash the surface or scoop and pour with different vessels such as beakers and mini watering cans, the sound and sensory exploration of water is always fascinating to explore.
2. Problem-solving skills
Water is a great medium for children to learn through problem-solving activities. They may learn that by pouring water it flows, and how scooping it up in a sieve does not hold it. They can pour it along slopes or channels on a water play table to explore its movements and try and carry other objects along with it as it flows. By connecting pipes and tubes a child can try to divert water, developing both problem-solving and engineering skills.
A great activity to try out is to collect a range of objects to use with your water play session and let your child test these all out to see which will float, and which will sink. Some objects that are good for this activity include:
Boat for water
Cork
Pebbles or stones
Spoon
Twig
Waterproof plastic toys
Old key
Feather
3. Maths skills
Although it’s likely that maths doesn’t come to mind straight away when you think of water play, there are several key concepts children can learn with water. The concepts of opposites and of quantities can be taught, such as more and less, empty and full, and of greater or lesser than. Physical properties such as solid, liquid and force can also be explored.
Even by simple counting experiments such as asking you child questions like; ‘can you count the items as you move them from one container to another?’, or ‘how many scoops of water does it take to fill your beaker?’ offer valuable opportunities for gaining maths skills.
For some great ideas of activities that you can do with your children to encourage maths and problem-solving skills, check out the video below from Babble Dabble Do. The video highlights STEAM water activities for children, which encourage skills development in science, technology, engineering, art and maths.
10 Irresistible STEAM Water Play Ideas for Kids
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
With all the different equipment that you can use during water play activities, children will gain many key developmental skills. There is hand-eye coordination required by scooping, pouring and stirring water, and by squeezing sponges and carrying items they strengthen their hand muscles.
Adding different items to the water also gives children an opportunity to explore their senses further. This can be done by creating different textures, such as ‘gritty’ with sand, or ‘squishy’ by adding different sponges.
5. Creativity and imagination
Playing with water is a great way to allow children to have some fun imaginative play. Maybe there are mermaids swimming out at sea, or stormy waters to contend with. Or you could try some role play and get cloths and utensils so children can pretend to wash up and clean.
Allow your child to make up the games, and perhaps bring some favourite toys along. As long as the toys are waterproof the possibilities are endless.
6. Language development
Children will get the chance to develop their vocabulary by discussing their games with peers and by learning new words. Simply introducing new items to play with and naming them will give them new words and sounds to learn.
Children will also broaden their dialogue whilst playing pretend games with other children. This can be achieved by introducing an imaginative use of vocabulary to suit the game. You can even encourage language development by asking simple questions, such as ‘can you explain the game to me?’
From social and language skills to maths and engineering, water play has so much potential to engage every young child’s mind. It’s fantastic that there are so many sensory and educational benefits of water play for children, but the best part is there all super fun too!
We’d love to hear about the water play activities you do with your children at home. If you have a good activity, please share it for everyone by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/12-sensory-activities-for-children-to-do-from-home2020-04-17T14:17:00+01:002024-03-11T13:31:41+00:0012 Sensory activities for children to do from homeSensory Surroundings
Creating games that build a child’s sensory skills can be simple to set up, with many of the resources for these games being found at home. The core focus is on building different skills, whether that’s balance and coordination, oral motor skills and breathing control or sensory stimulation.
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What are the benefits of sensory play?
Sensory play can be essential for some children to help them engage with and develop their senses. However, all children (and adults!) can benefit from the variety of sensory engagement that these activities have to offer.
Creating games that build a child’s sensory skills can be simple to set up, with many of the resources for these games being found at home. The core focus is on building different skills, whether that’s balance and coordination, oral motor skills and breathing control or sensory stimulation.
Now, let's have a look at some of the fun activities that can be played…
Oral motor control
Playing activities that focus on oral motor control are good for developing the motor skills involved in speech and for eating. These activities require the combined use of multiple motor movements and awareness, such as the lips, cheek, tongue and jaw, along with coordination and strength.
The practice of deep breathing has also been shown to be beneficial for self-regulation, as it has a calming effect.
Oral motor activities to try at home
The Bubble Volcano
The bubble volcano is great for breathing control, deep breathing and for self-regulation. The most important aspect to note for this activity is not to breath in during this exercise.
For this activity you will need; a bowl, a straw, some washing up liquid and some water.
How to complete the activity:
Get a deep bowl and add a good squirt of washing up liquid
Add some water, no more then a quarter of the bowl full
Get a straw and blow through the straw into the water
When you do this activity, the idea to blow through the straw in long slow breaths. Whilst doing so, you will create a volcano of bubbles rising up over the bowl!
The Beans Air Lift
This activity will practice the skills of breathing control, coordination and stamina of oral motor skills. The most important aspect to note for this activity is to ensure that the dried object is larger than the opening of the straw.
For this activity you will need; two bowls, some dried beans, or even cereal such as Cheerio’s would do, and a straw.
How to complete the activity:
Place some dried beans, Cheerio’s or similar object in one of the bowls, and leave the second bowl empty next to it
Using the straw, you must breath whilst placing the straw on a bean from one bowl, and continue to maintain the suction in order to move the bean across and place it in the second bowl
Keep going and see how many beans you can move across
We found a great short video from Creative Health Solutions LLC that shows these activities being performed, along with others you may wish to try.
The Bubble Volcano & The Beans Air Lift
Turbino Blowing Game
The Turbino blowing game is designed to develop breathing control. The purpose of the game is to blow a propeller and to get the coloured side of the propeller to land on a matching coloured picture on the base.
There are two sets of pictures to choose from, which offer different degrees of difficulty.
Fine motor skills
Playing activities that focus on developing fine motor skills will strengthen the muscles and improve coordination in the hands and wrists. These skills are important for a variety of tasks, from getting dressed and doing up buttons and zips, to handwriting and using scissors.
Fine motor skills activities to try at home
The Colander & Pipe Cleaner Challenge
This activity is fantastic for children to develop their grasp and coordination for moving small objects, and for developing hand-eye coordination.
For this exercise you will need; one colander and some pipe cleaners.
How to complete the activity:
Lay out the colander and the pipe cleaners for your child
Encourage them to thread the pipe cleaners through the openings in the colander by demonstrating this activity to them
When you do this activity, you may find it useful to tape the colander in one place to maintain focus on the action of threading the pipe cleaners. Other things to consider are using a variety of different coloured and textured pipe cleaners to engage more senses. You can even try this activity with box which you could make small holes in beforehand.
Here’s a fantastic short video from Lovevery showing this activity in action. You have to just love the look of concentration on children’s faces when trying thread those pipe cleaners!
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
Building a construction with bricks such as Lego, or larger Duplo or Silishapes Soft Bricks for younger children, encourages fine motor skills whilst allowing for creative play. Simply letting children push bricks together and pull apart will be building their fine motor skills.
For this exercise all you need is an assortment of construction bricks and an open space for play.
Playing with construction bricks will allow children to develop dexterity and hand strength. For older children, this can also be a great therapeutic exercise and can develop skills in teamwork and sharing when planned constructions are done with others.
Threading String with Beads or Buttons
By using string to thread beads or buttons, children can learn the careful fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination similar to the Colander & Pipe Cleaner Challenge. Another way to use these resources is to wrap the strings around the different shaped beads and objects.
The TickiT Light Panel Colour Resources are a great for this activity. Offering a variety of colours gives the activity more visual stimulation, and the transparent quality of the shapes also means that their great to use on a light panel which creates an added sensory experience to engage children.
The set contains different coloured strings, blocks, shapes, construction blocks, beads and counters.
Gross motor skills
Unlike fine motor skills, gross motor skills involve the movement of larger muscles. These include the legs, arms and torso. Improving gross motor skills can help with the activities of running, jumping, catching and climbing.
Practising gross motor skills activities can help to develop the functions of balance, coordination, strength and reaction time.
Gross motor skills activities to try at home
Dancing
This is a fantastic activity to do with your child any time. Dancing involves the movement of large muscles, building strength, balance and coordination.
For this exercise you will need; some music or a music video to follow along to.
How to complete the activity:
Play the music or music video
Use a variety of dance moves such as jumps, arm swinging, turning and stomping
If your child is free spirited, then the dance move possibilities can be endless. If your child is more comfortable with instructions, and logical planned activities, then either following along to a dance video or using a set of dance move instructions cards may be beneficial as an aid.
Even completing this activity to well-known nursery rhymes like ‘the wheels on the bus’, which have dance motions is a fantastic way to get some large muscle movement activity!
Hopscotch
This can be completed as either an indoor or outdoor activity. Hopscotch requires the movement and coordination of the legs, with hopping, jumping and turning.
For this activity you will need; some chalk (white or coloured) or Washi tape, an object for throwing to mark which square to hop to, such as a bean bag, and space for playing.
How to complete the activity:
Mark out the numbered squares for playing hopscotch by using either chalk for outdoors, or Washi tape for hard floors indoors
Throw your object to land on one of the squares
Hop along the Hopscotch to the end, being sure to miss the square where the marker fell, then collect the marker on your return
This activity is so simple, but great at encouraging movement, planning and coordination. It also encourages maths skills and counting by hopping along the different numbered squares.
If you want to make the game a little more challenging, try adding different moves that your child has to do for different squares, such as touching their toes or spinning around.
WippWalker
For a challenging motor and balancing exercise there is the WippWalker. To complete this exercise children must learn to ‘walk’ by putting their weight on one foot whilst simultaneously moving the WippWalker forward with the other, and then alternating this motion to the opposite legs.
By continuing in this way children can create a walking motion. However, this is a challenging activity that smaller children would find difficult.
Tactile play
Playing activities that focus on tactile perception are good for developing the skills involved in the senses of pressure and touch. The tactile sense is picked up by receptors on the skin, and a signal is sent to the brain to communicate the feelings. There are more of these receptors in the hands, feet and mouth, which is why getting those hands dirty is such a good way to explore the tactile sense.
These activities require the exploration of different tactile perceptions, through textures, shapes and materials.
Tactile play activities to try at home
Sensory Box
This activity can easily be created with ingredients you find at home. Sensory boxes enable children to explore different textures with their hands and get a little bit messy…which is always lots of fun!
For this exercise you will need; a good-sized container to use for your sensory bin, white rice which you can colour with food colouring and vinegar, a container with a lid for mixing the rice, a container or tray for drying the rice, and some tools such as cups, scoops, spoons, funnels and brushes.
How to make coloured rice for this activity:
Add your rice (about 130g per coloured batch) to a clean dry container that has a lid, along with a few drops of food colouring and half a teaspoon of vinegar
Put the lid on the container and give the rice mixture a good shake to combine well, allowing the dye to be absorbed by the rice
Put your rice aside onto a tray to dry, clean out your mixing container and create another coloured batch
Once you’re done, you’ll have an assortment of colours to use for your child’s sensory bin. Once the bin is filled with the dried coloured rice, children will love to explore the texture with their hands and to use the tools to measure, mix and pour.
If you don’t have any rice you can use many other things as a filler for a sensory bin, including dried beans, lentils, popcorn kernels, sand or even shredded paper.
Tactile Hula Hoop
You can create a tactile sensory experience for your child by wrapping different textured materials around a hula hoop and letting your child explore the different sensations.
For this activity you will need; a hula hoop and a selection of different textured materials (old offcuts can be great for this), and some non-toxic glue for attaching these materials to the hoop. It is always advised to keep an eye on younger children when playing with different materials and ensure that no loose fibres or parts are left within reach.
How to make your tactile hoop:
Ensure the hoop is clean and dry before attaching any material
Applying glue to a section of the hoop, attach the material and hold in place whilst the glue dries
Try and add a variety of textured materials for the best sensory experience, adding 10 or so textured materials depending on the size of the hoop
You could use string to tie around the hoop when you add the material in order to add pressure whilst the glue dries. Great materials for texture include velvet, fleece, ribbons, fur, tinsel and thick foam material. You can also make your tactile hoop with different coloured material, making it more visually stimulating for young children.
Tactile Discs Set
Tactile Discs are made from an inviting tactile material that challenges children’s sense of touch on both hands and feet. At the same time, it develops the ability to describe sense impressions verbally.
Using the Tactile Discs for an activity, children can improve their sensory skills by the fundamental sensing of the tactile structures by either their hands or feet. The discs can also be used to play blindfold games based on memory and recognition.
We hope that you’ll have some fun trying out these sensory activities at home with your child. These are a great way to develop the senses, explore the senses…and simply have fun!
We’d love to hear about what sensory activities you do with your children at home. If you have a good activity, please share it for everyone by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/6-activities-to-do-with-your-child-to-get-them-having-fun-outside2020-03-06T13:15:00+00:002024-01-29T15:50:59+00:006 Fun activities to do with your child outsideSensory Surroundings
Some children just love the great outdoors. Playing in the mud, climbing trees and collecting nature. However, there are also other children that may need a little more persuasion to get them outside. In this post were going to share some of the activities that could help influence your little ones to get outside and enjoy nature.
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Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Getting children to play outside
Some children just love the great outdoors. Playing in the mud, climbing trees and collecting nature. However, there are also other children that may need a little more persuasion to get them outside.
Being outdoors has numerous benefits for children. It enables them to explore their senses further, get fresh air and sunshine, which is essential for vitamin D. It will also give your child the opportunity to explore their natural environment with hands on learning.
In this post were going to share some of the activities that could help influence your little ones to get outside and enjoy nature.
1. Sensory scavenger hunt
To set up this activity start by listing a collection of items that you can easily find outdoors. Obviously, these may vary based on where you live and what time of year it is. Some of the items you could list might include dandelions, acorns, feathers or ladybirds.
To make the scavenger hunt a little more challenging and exciting, instead of specifically listing the items to be found, you could ask for certain characteristics of the items instead. These might include descriptions such as:
Something smooth…
Something soft…
Something round…
Something yellow…
Something cold…
This gets children engaged with their senses whilst hunting for nature. You can either create a simple list in a table and include images of items for your children to find, or even tape down examples of the items listed onto a piece of paper for them.
When giving the children the characteristics of the objects to find, you could write these down on a piece of paper, and leave it on a surface outside for them to collect the items onto that match.
Another great idea is to use small canvas bags, like the reusable ones for fruit and vegatable shopping, or even an empty egg carton, and then write the characteristic of the objects to find on the container.
They can then fill their containers with the nature they find that matches this characteristic on their scavenger hunt.
2. Nature bingo
All you need is a simple 5 x 5 grid filled with pictures of things you can find in nature with your child. The next time you go out exploring, take one with you and get them to try and find either 5 across or 5 down of items. Get them exploring and looking out for things on their nature bingo sheet by asking them about what their looking for, and suggesting places to search for items, like under rocks for worms, or on a plant for spiderwebs.
If your running a bit short on time, why not download our free nature bingo sheet below!
3. Be explorers - make a map and treasure hunt
If your planning a family outing and would like to get your children more excited, you could create a map for them to follow of the area. Why not turn it into an adventure by making the map look really old, and even create a treasure hunt!
We all remember making those old looking maps when we were little. Well, with a little forward planning, you could map out a route for your walk and draw it up onto a piece of A4 paper. You can make the paper look old by staining it yellow with a teabag dipped in water, and even by (carefully!) burning the edges.
Crumpling it up, and then flattening it out again also adds to the ‘ye olde’ feel! To get more instructions on how to make an awesome old looking map for your little ones on your next family excursion, or just for a backyard treasure hunt, check out this YouTube video by 6th Gear Garage where a Dad does exactly that!
Map making and treasure hunt!
4. Chalk drawings
If you’ve got a patio area or a wall, this is a great way to let their inner artist out whilst outdoors. Don’t ask why, but getting to draw outside on a larger ‘canvas’ and having a bit of freedom with their art just makes drawing more fun. It doesn’t always have to be crayons at the table!
Why not join in with them? You know you want to! You could draw a hopscotch, create your family tree, or draw some leaves, bugs and pieces of nature that you find around the garden.
5. Create an obstacle course
This is a great way to get your children active outside and encourage gross moto skills. You can have them help find the equipment and set up a course to be completed. This gives them some control and allows them to plan the activity.
Items you could use for your obstacle course might include either play equipment you already have outside or small items you can move around to create the course. If you’re feeling up to it, you could even combine the two to make an even bigger challenge!
You could include any of the following:
Skipping ropes to mark out paths as well as skipping sections
Cones to mark sections
Play tunnels to crawl through
Slides to go down
Bridges to travel over
Hula hoops to hop over, hula or skip with
6. Make potions and mud pies
This one has to be one of the favourites. If you don’t mind your children getting a little (or very) messy. All you need is some kitchen utensils, such as metal saucepans, bowls and spoons to get started.
Setting up a potion mixing bench or activity table is also a great idea to give your children somewhere they can get nice and messy, (rather than the new patio furniture that’s only been used for one summer BBQ)!
We’d love to hear of the great outdoor activities you do with your child. If you have a good activity, please share it by leaving a comment below.
To stay up to date with more great ideas, activities and information for your children, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/what-is-free-play-and-why-is-it-so-important-for-children2020-02-21T13:54:00+00:002024-01-29T15:51:11+00:00What is free play and why is it so important for children?Sensory Surroundings
There are many types of play for children, and they all have their importance. Structured play allows children to learn rules, routines and social skills under the guidance of an adult. Free play, however, is about unstructured playtime where the adult’s role changes to be supportive and led by the child.
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Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
What is free play?
There are many types of play for children, and they all have their importance. Structured play allows children to learn rules, routines and social skills under the guidance of an adult. Free play, however, is about unstructured playtime where the adult’s role changes to be supportive and led by the child.
This is best described by the charity Play England as:
‘... children choosing what they want to do, how they want to do it and when to stop and try something else. Free play has no external goals set by adults and has no adult imposed curriculum. Although adults usually provide the space and resources for free play and might be involved, the child takes the lead and the adults respond to cues from the child.’
Let’s look at how this helps with a child’s development, and what the role of the adult is in free play…
The role of free play in children’s development
Allowing children time to engage in free play gives them the opportunity to explore their environments and different materials. They can learn to solve problems, and importantly, they can be allowed to learn from mistakes and taking risks. This all helps shape how they interpret the world and how they develop emotionally, socially and cognitively. It will allow them to build resilience and self-confidence.
Getting children outdoors for enough free playtime is important, even more so now with the rise in technology. It was reported in the Ofcom ‘Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2018’, that children between the ages of 5 to 15 in the UK are spending approximately 4 hours a day on media devices. This leads to children missing out on the opportunity of complex free play that aids development.
Looking to the environment for free play, it is often the case that outdoor spaces are overlooked. Ensuring you have a safe space where children can be allowed to explore physically challenging behaviour is a great way to include free play for your child at home. So how can you set this up?
The role of the adult in free play
The adult is responsible for choosing the play environment, which can be both indoors and outdoors, and for supplying the resources for children to play. The adult can choose materials aimed at developing different skills for children, and from the observation of children playing, will know what interests they have.
An important part of the adult’s role in free play however is remaining passive. Although it's much easier said then done, it's important to remember that risk is an integral part of free play and, as noted by Play England, ‘adult caution and fear reduce children’s opportunities to set themselves challenges and take risks’.
Here is a great short video from the Raising Children Network in Australia setting out how to create a play environment for your child
The importance of allowing your child unscheduled and unstructured time use their imaginations, create their own play experience and take the leading role is important. As noted in the video above, the size of the play space doesn't matter, as long as it's safe, children can create and explore during their free play time.
Additional aspects of free play to consider
Other than allowing children the time for free play and taking on the appropriate passive role of the adult during this time, there are some other considerations to be made.
As with all types of play, free play should be inclusive. Inclusion, as stated by Early Childhood Forum (2003), is described as ‘a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging’.
During play, problems with inclusion can arise from peer exclusion and from difficulties with access, either through social background, or due to physical and mental disabilities. However, there are ways of reducing these barriers to access free play for disabled children. Environmental challenges can be overcome with spaces designed to allow for easy access. Wider doorways and avoiding the use of stairs will keep an area accessible for everyone.
Balancing free play with other opportunities for learning
Although free play is an important part of development and learning for children, as with all things in life, there are other types of play to balance alongside this. For children to enhance their skills in all areas of development, such as language, and fine and gross motor skills, there are other play types to include.
Find out more about play in this short film featuring national play experts Sue Palmer and Tim Gill
There are so many ways you can incorporate free play into your child's day. Just remember to have a safe environment for them to explore, take a step back from structure and routine, and let them take the lead in doing what they do best...
We always love to hear from our readers. If you have free play experience you'd like to share, you can comment below. You can also sign up to our emails or follow us on social media to stay up to date with more great news and posts!
References
1. Play England: Free play in early childhood
2. Ofcom: Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2018
3. Early Childhood Forum (2003) Quality in Diversity in Early Learning: A Framework for Early Childhood Practitioners (second edition). London: National Children’s Bureau
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/understanding-sensory-processing-disorder-and-ways-to-support-your-child-s-sensory-needs-at-home2020-01-26T17:57:00+00:002024-01-29T15:51:24+00:00Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder for your ChildSensory Surroundings
Sensory processing is an important part of development, and affects the daily functioning of how the body responds to all sensory experiences it encounters. To get more of an idea of what this means for children with SPD, this article will discuss the characteristics of SPD, the role of occupational therapy and methods for supporting the sensory needs of your child at home.
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Sensory Surroundings is supported by its audiance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects the bodies neurological processing of sensory information.
One of the simplest ways this can be interpreted, as explained by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., is that the sensory signals encounter a ‘traffic jam’ in the body. This blocking of signals from the body to the brain can lead to sensory information being misinterpreted. For example, where SPD presents itself with oversensitivity, then sounds, touch and light can become overwhelming.
Being oversensitive to sensory input is also termed being ‘over-responsive’. However, it is important to note that SPD affects everyone differently. Others may be ‘under-responsive’, and some may be what’s known as ‘sensory seekers’.
Sensory processing is an important part of development, and affects the daily functioning of how the body responds to all sensory experiences it encounters. SPD itself is not considered a problem unless symptoms interfere with daily life. The good news, however, is that there are occupational therapists who specialise in assessing the sensory needs of individuals.
To get more of an idea of what this means for children with SPD, this article will discuss the characteristics of each of the general presenting forms, the role of occupational therapy in managing SPD and then introduce some methods and tools for supporting the sensory needs of your child at home.
SPD, symptoms and senses
The senses
One of the first steps to understanding SPD is knowing what the different channels of sensory input into the body are. There are 8 sensory systems in total. These include, as listed by the STAR Institute, the following:
Visual
Auditory
Tactile
Olfactory
Gustatory
Vestibular
Proprioception
Interoception
Some of these you may already be familiar with. We all know the basic five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell and taste) represented in this list as ‘Visual’, ‘auditory’, ‘tactile’, ‘olfactory’ and ‘gustatory’ respectively. However, there are a couple that many people are not so familiar with.
These are proprioception, the sense of the position and movement of the body, and interoception, the sensory signals for understanding your bodies internal functions. Examples of internal functions include hunger, temperature, tiredness and knowing when to go to the toilet.
Learning about the senses is also a great activity to do with children, either at home or at school. To explore and record the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, simply download our pdf 'Our Five Senses' recording sheet below for your child.
Subtypes of SPD
With so many senses to be processed by the body, there are understandably a broad variety of symptoms that SPD can present with for different individuals. The most general breakdown of SPD symptoms however fit into three patterns. These are explained by Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR, in her book (2014 edition) ‘Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder’, as the following:
Sensory modulation disorder (SMD) is a problem with turning sensory messages into controlled behaviours that match the nature and intensity of the sensory information.
Sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD) is a problem with stabilizing one’s body or thinking of/planning/sequencing or executing a series of movements based on sensory information outside and inside the body.
Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD) is a problem with sensing similarities and differences between sensations, basically a problem interpreting sensory input.
Miller (2014) then goes on to simplify these explanations as SMD being a difficulty around regulation, SBMD as a difficulty with interpreting and SDD a difficulty with responding. Within SBMD are the conditions known as dyspraxia and postural disorder. The remainder of this article, however, will focus on SMD.
Symptoms of SMD
The symptoms of each child with SMD will vary. Based on these, SMD can be divided once more into 3 sub-types. As mentioned earlier these include the following:
Over responsive to sensory input
Under responsive to sensory input
Sensory craving, or sensory seeking
There are so many symptoms and sensory environments that can be difficult for a child within each of these sub-types. To get an idea of how they present for those who experience them the table below gives an overview of symptoms for each from Miller (2014), pp. 30-37.
Symptoms of sub-sets within SMD
Dislikes sounds in certain places whilst out including:
Does not respond to certain things, including:
May constantly desire certain things, including:
۰ Large gatherings
۰When their name is called
۰Pushing, rolling and hanging from things
۰Restuarants
۰Normal volume speaking voice
۰Jumping and crashing
۰Gymnasiums
۰When given directions only once
۰Touching people to the point of irritating them
۰ Appliances/small motor noises
۰Making strange sounds
۰Watching visually stimulating scenes
Dislikes other sounds including:
They do the following:
Other symptoms might include:
۰Dog barking
۰Appear in their own world (tuned out)
۰Being on the move constantly
۰Someone talking while they try to concentrate
۰Leave clothing twisted
۰Unable to stop talking and difficulty taking turns in conversation
۰Alarms
۰Takes excessive risks
۰Prefers foods with strong flavours and tastes
Dislikes certain tactile sensations including:
May show a less intense response then others to the following:
Behaviours that may be displayed:
۰Glue
۰Bumping into things and falling over
۰Hyperactivity
۰Fuzzy or furry textures
۰Having messy hands and face
۰Angry or explosive when required to sit still
۰Having crumbs around their mouth
۰Intense, demanding and hard to calm
۰Excessively affectionate
Difficulty with certain aspects of self-care:
Other symptoms may include:
۰Having messy hands
۰Not crying when seriously hurt or bothered by minor injuries
۰Having hair or nails cut
۰Prefers sedentary activities to active ones
۰Seems unaware of body sensations such as hunger and temperature
Dislikes certain aspects of food and eating, including:
Behaviours that may be displayed:
۰Slimy foods
۰Passive, quiet, withdrawn
۰Soup with vegetables or meat pieces
۰Hard to engage in conversation
۰New and unfamiliar foods
۰Aphetic and easily exhausted
Behaviours that may be displayed:
۰Irritable, fussy, moody
۰Unsociable and avoids group activities
۰Upset by transitions and unexpected change
Diagnosis, assessment and professionals for SPD
It’s important to note that sensory processing is a completely normal part of development and doesn’t cause problems with day to day functioning for many people. Recent studies have estimated ‘that ‘5% to 16.5% of the general population have symptoms associated with sensory processing challenges’ (Miller et al., 2017). However, Miller et al., (2017) do also note that ‘these estimates are higher for clinical populations such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)’.
If the sensory symptoms are causing distress or affecting your day to day routines, then there is the process of diagnosis and assessment. This is then followed by the help of trained sensory professionals known as occupational therapists.
As SPD can present with such a complex variety of symptoms, the approach to diagnosis is usually carried out by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. These teams, as noted by Miller (2014), may comprise the following:
A paediatrician, family doctor, or other physician
A psychologist
A psychiatrist, or other mental health professional
An occupational therapist
Where an assessment indicates the need for additional sensory assessment and support, an occupational therapist (OT) should be consulted. For those that are unsure of this profession, it is stated by Miller (2014) as a therapist that specialises ‘in assisting people with the everyday activities (called occupations) that make life meaningful and productive’.
The OT may assist with different elements of daily routines for your child such as learning, sleeping, playing and eating. The treatment from OTs can be through sensory integration therapy and planned ‘sensory diets’. These consist of a schedule of sensory input specially tailored for each child, and once you know what needs your child has, you may also support these at home.
For a visual overview of SPD symptoms and how Occupational Therapists can help, here's a great animation by Andy Gattis.
Andy Gattis animation - Sensory Processing Disorder: SPD Explained and Simplified
What you can do at home to support your child with SPD
Before moving on to some of the ways you can support the sensory needs of your child at home, there are some important things to note. Firstly, this information does not take the place of a professional assessment and advice from a trained occupational therapist. Also, as already mentioned, all children are different. What may be a good option for one child could be very unpleasant for another. STAR Institute have a great post on home activities which outlines many provisional considerations before beginning any sensory support at home with your child.
Daily activities
One approach to supporting your child’s sensory needs is to fit them around daily activities. This ensures that they are compatible with your home life and that they will be easier to maintain as a way of living. Some of the ways to incorporate sensory needs into your daily routine are highlighted in the table below. The information represented below has been gathered from STAR Institute.
Bath time
Scrub with washcloth or bath brush, try a variety of soaps and lotions for bathing, play on the wall with shaving cream or bathing foam, rub body with lotion after bath time (deep massage), sprinkle powder onto body and brush or rub into skin.
Meal preparation or baking
Let your child mix ingredients, especially the thick ones that will really work those muscles. Let child mix and roll dough and push flat. Allow child to help you carry pots and pans, bowls of water or ingredients (with supervision, of course). Let your child tenderize meat with the meat mallet.
Food shopping
Have your child push the heavy cart (as long as the weight is within their capability). Let your child help carry heavy groceries and help put them away.
Mealtime
Encourage eating of chewy foods and drinking out of a straw. Try having your child sit on an air cushion to allow some movement. A weighted lap blanket may be helpful as well.
Household chores
Allow the child to help with the vacuuming or moving the furniture. Let the child help carry the laundry basket or the detergent. Let the child help with digging for gardening or landscaping.
Play time
Reading books in a rocking chair or bean-bag chair may be beneficial. You can help your child make up obstacle courses in the house or yard using crawling, jumping, hopping, skipping, rolling, etc. Listen to soft music. Play the sandwich game (child lies in between two pillows and pretends to be the sandwich, while you provide pressure to the top pillow to the child’s desired amount). Ask them "harder or softer?" as you push on the pillow. Some children will like much more pressure than you would expect. You can also go for a neighbourhood walk with a wagon and have your child pull it (make it semi-heavy by loading it with something the child would like to pull around). You can do the same with a baby-doll carriage. Swimming in a pool is a wonderful activity if you have that available, as are horseback riding and bowling. Mini or full-size trampolines are excellent for providing sensory input as well. Make sure the child is using them safely. Sandboxes, or big containers of beans or popcorn kernels can be fun play-boxes. too, if you add small cars, shovels, cups, etc.
Errands and appointments
Before visiting the dentist or hairdresser try deep massage to the head or scalp (if tolerated) or try having your child wear a weighted hat. Try chewy foods or vibration to the mouth with an electric toothbrush. Let your child wear a heavy backpack (weighted to their liking with books and with the straps padded as needed). Be sure to give the child ample warning before any changes in routine or any unscheduled trips or errands. Many children with SPD need predictability.
Other sensory input ideas to support your child at home
Another option is to have an allotted time for certain activities, special spaces and/or equipment, all to support your child’s sensory needs. This approach can be beneficial (and fun!) for your child, along with the methods outlined above. However, unlike the above approach, these activities would be interspersed through the week instead of trying to achieve these on a daily basis.
Create an indoor sensory space
This can be your child’s bedroom, a playroom, or even a sensory corner. Within this space, you can add items that support your child’s individual sensory needs. This may be a calming environment for the sensory over-responsive child, with gentle lights and soft furnishings. You may even want to set up a cosy den so they may feel safe and secluded, which can be very calming after a busy day at school. Some children may even love the sensory experience of a dark den. With these dens, you can either enjoy the calming effect of low light or use the darkness to explore fascinating sensory light illuminations.
If your child is sensory under-responsive than this area can have different items for your child to fulfil their sensory input needs. These might include tactile play items that excite the senses through touch, such as tactile discs and steppingstones, or even different textured textiles to explore. Another option is having items for exploring and engaging with movement. These are also a great resource for the sensory craving child. Such items are used to spin, rock, balance or climb. Some great examples are climbing frames or gym equipment for active play and spinning tops and carousels for the excitement of vestibular stimulation (sense of balance).
Create an outdoor sensory space
Getting outdoors is great for all children, and there’s an endless amount of sensory experiences to be enjoyed. Just being in nature offers a whole host of sensory stimulants. The feeling of rain on the skin, the smell of garden plants and the different textured leaves. There are many ways you can create a sensory-rich experience in your own garden using plants and equipment. Some great outdoor items include seating to enjoy relaxing outside, textures and even music. Engaging the senses with musical chimes and bells is great fun for children, and for those who crave activity, there’s outdoor climbing equipment.
Sensory boxes – for school and away from home
There are of course times when your child might crave sensory fulfilment or need to self-regulate, and you will not have these resources to hand. That is why the idea of a sensory box is fantastic. Within this box you can keep items that will help calm or engage your child when they need it, either at school or when you’re out and about.
What you include in your child's sensory box really depends on their own needs. Here are just a few sensory items you might consider:
Small sensory lights; torches, flashing or colour changing lights and fibre optics
Squishy items for tactile engagement such as balls, soft toys and even blue tack
Soft items such as different pieces of fabric and toys
Glittery, bright and shiny objects and toys
Soft brushes and massagers
Other more specialist items to consider for when you’re out may include noise-cancelling headphones, weighted vests and lap blankets. Fidget boards for feet or discs for sitting on to maintain motion when having to sit for long periods of time are also a good idea.
These items really depend on the child and what makes them feel calmer or more engaged. You may receive suggestions from your child’s OT, through their school, or even through the trial of different options to see what your child enjoys using.
For more great ideas on what to include in your child's sensory box, you can download our free '28 Sensory Box Ideas' checklist below!
You could also attend a local sensory play session or group to help find the best sensory items for your child. This can be a great way of meeting other parents of sensory children and share your solutions with each other. This also gives your child the chance to try out different types of sensory play equipment to see what they enjoy.
Additional resources
A reference list is included in the footer of this post. However, we want to note a couple of great books and educational resources for further reading.
Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) (2014) by Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR.
Understanding Your Child's Sensory Signals: A Practical Daily Use Handbook for Parents and Teachers (2011) by Angie Voss, OTR.
The Zones of Regulation (2011) by Leah Kuypers, MA Ed., OTR/L.
Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues (2018) by Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L, and Nancy Peske.
We would love to hear any tips and suggestions for further resources from our readers. If you have a great solution for your sensory child, you can share it by commenting below.
References:
Occupational Therapy International. Identification of Sensory Processing and Integration Symptom Clusters: A Preliminary Study (2017). By Lucy Jane Miller, Sarah A. Schoen, Shelley Mulligan and Jillian Sullivan. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733937/
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/8-clever-toy-storage-ideas-to-help-get-your-home-organised2019-12-29T19:00:00+00:002024-01-29T15:51:38+00:008 Toy storage ideas to help get your home organisedSensory Surroundings
Toys around the home can soon take over when you don’t have storage solutions in place. The good news is, that whether you’re working with a small space, bedroom or playroom, there are some great solutions for toy storage ideas around the home that can help keep those toys tidied away easily.
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Keeping toys tidy at home
Toys around the home can soon take over when you don’t have good storage solutions in place. Of course, the trick is then to get your children to enjoy tidying the toys away as much as playing with them!
The good news is, that whether you’re working with a small space, bedroom or a playroom for your child, there are some great solutions for toy storage ideas around the home that can help keep those toys tidied away easily.
1. Begin by sorting what you already have
One of the best ways to get started is to do a quick assessment of what you want to keep. As children grow, they can lose interest in toys from their younger years and periodic clear-outs and donations are a good way to stay on top of this.
2. Use all your space efficiently
One of the key areas here is to look for extra space from the shape of the room and find storage solutions to fit these areas. A great example is where you may have a recess or alcove in the wall. These spaces are ideal for fitting extra storage furniture such as shelves or cupboards.
3. Always use under bed storage space
Where you have toys stored in children’s bedrooms, under bed storage is a great way to squeeze in the extra organisation. This means the use of draws, purpose-built beds with storage, or even boxes with lids that you could then label to keep things organised. Some beds even come with extra storage in the steps too!
4. Storage containers
These could be a good old-fashioned toy box, baskets for cuddly toys or boxes that your children could decorate themselves. When you keep toys in storage containers another good trick is to rotate toys round each week so that your children don’t get bored with the same ones they have out!
5. Cube furniture and draws
These items are great as you can really brighten them up with your own storage insets. This way you can match to the colour scheme in your child’s room. The other great thing about these storage units is that you can add as many as you like together to form one larger storage area. Depending on the shape of the room this can be side by side or stacked one on top of the other. However, you should always pay attention to installation instructions with these items and ensure they are securely held in place with wall fittings before being used.
6. Keeping toys on shelves
The great thing about shelves is that if you child has favourite toys they can be displayed in the room and made easily accessible. Where you children of different ages sharing the same play space you can then keep the younger child’s toys to the lower shelves and the older to the ones above. This makes it easy to access for everyone. As noted above when fitting furniture, always ensure wall attachments are securely in place.
7. Use wardrobe space wisely
Whether you have built in wardrobes or not, using this extra space is another solution. You can add containers such as boxes to the bottom of wardrobe floors or put in extra shelves. You can even hang shoe organisers that make a great quick fix storage solution to post things into for safe keeping!
8. Wall storage solutions
Finally, in a bid to keep as much of the floor as possible, there are many ways to store toys on the walls. You can use toy hammocks in the corners of rooms and put up shelves to store books and other items. You could also add playful children’s coat hooks which you could then hang storage baskets from for even more off the floor organisation!
With so many easy solutions to keep those toys tidied away, getting organised will be a breeze and your rooms will look great too. To make it even easier we've put together a toy storage checklist for you. Just sign up with the form below to recieve your free toy storage checklist!
Making storage areas safe and accessible for young children is the first consideration when you’re planning your storage solutions. Other than that, get creative and have some fun!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/activities-for-art-and-sensory-play2019-12-13T17:57:00+00:002024-03-11T13:27:51+00:00Art and sensory play activities for childrenSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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Sensory play is an important part of the development of every child.
Getting messy, being artistic and creative will help to develop a whole host of skills. Fine and gross motor skills, imaginative skills, creativity and problem solving are all improved by sensory play. And, for children with additional needs, these activities are just as important for essential emotional regulation.
Sensory and messy play activities
Have a designated area set up for sensory play. This helps with predictability, and will also make cleaning up easier!
Why not try some of these activities at home with your child...
Water play
Water play is great for indoor and outdoor activities. At home, a tarpaulin under a water table reduces the risk of soggy carpets.
The best thing about this activity is that it's so clean and easy to enjoy. Kids love playing in water, and if they get carried away then there's no risk of staining their clothes. Water dries with no lasting marks, which means that this is one of the best messy play ideas for parents that don't like messy play.
Sand play
The texture of sand is appealing to most children, and there's so much fun to be had. When you can't get to the beach, bring it home for sandcastle building in the playroom.
Teach children to use a variety of tools, like rakes and spades, to manipulate the soft grainy sand.
You can also use the sand to teach early motor control, as children write letters and draw shapes with their fingers.
Lights
From the moment they're born, children engage with bright and colourful lights. These are perfect for mental stimulation, and development of sensory skills. Even newborns pay attention to lights and will take great delight in following a light around the room.
For older children, sensory lights create a more relaxing environment.
Slime and gloop
Playing with slime is a sensory treat for children of every age. It can be messy, so make sure that you've got an easy-to-clean work surface.
Alternatively, make your own Gloop using a combination of cornflour and water. At the right consistency, this stays solid when squeezed but turns to liquid once you release pressure.
Art activities
Children love to let their inner artists out. You'll need plenty of art and craft suppliers, to appease your child's inner Van Gogh.
Make sure that you have ample playroom art storage, with room for all belongings from paints and paintbrushes to thousands of googly eyes!
Looking for a convenient way to enhance your child's playtime with educational and eco-friendly activities? Green Kid Crafts might be the perfect solution for you and your family. Created by an environmental scientist and mum, these monthly subscription boxes deliver hands-on STEAM projects right to your door, designed to spark creativity and a love of learning in kids ages 2 to 10+ years.
Each box comes with 4-6 screen-free activities tailored to different age groups—Discovery boxes for kids ages 5-10+ and Junior boxes for the little ones aged 3-5. Plus, they include a 12-page magazine with additional fun and learning.
Why not ease the hassle of finding engaging, educational activities and let the adventures come to you? With Green Kid Crafts, you're not just giving your child a box of projects; you're gifting them a journey of discovery and learning that's both sustainable and fun.
Children go through a lot of paper, which might not be good for your bank balance. Having a chalkboard helps. With a chalkboard your children can create something wonderful, then erase it and start again. The chalkboard is a sustainable surface for drawing and writing, suitable for use from toddlerhood right up to exam revision.
Cutting and sticking
Many parents don't realise how soon their kids can use scissors. In fact, if your child goes to nursery they might already be a cutting and sticking expert. This is one of a child's early learning goals, and you can help your child to learn to use scissors safely.
Weaving
A weaving panel is a fantastic addition to a large indoor playroom. It's also perfect as an outdoor toy, used through the summer months. Weaving fabric through a frame develops your little one's motor skills. They can use their creativity to create a work of art, using only strips of colourful fabric.
Sock puppets
With a few pipe cleaners, some googly eyes, pompoms and PVA glue, your child can create a sock puppet to star in their own puppet show. Sock puppets are easy to make, and each one can be completely unique. Once the puppet is made, the fun continues as they develop their storytelling skills.
Why choose sensory and arts & crafts toys?
The benefits of sensory toys, and art and craft toys, are benefits that will last a lifetime. A child's imagination is a wonderful thing and should be nurtured and protected.
With plenty of playroom art storage, and space for a bit of messy play, you'll have everything you need to show your child the power of their own brain.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-use-light-panels-for-creative-learning-activities-for-young-children2019-11-11T06:00:00+00:002024-01-29T15:52:05+00:00How to Use Light Panels for Creative Learning Activities for Young ChildrenSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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The use of light panels within the early years setting is an approach known as ‘Reggio Emelia’ due to its origin from this location in northern Italy.
Here, the use of light from natural and artificial sources are used to add to the learning environment within settings for toddlers and young children.
Educational expert Linda Thornton has studied and used this approach for many years. In her article on ‘Learning from the Reggio Approach – Light and reflection’ she discusses how light and mirrors are used for perspective and creative learning from its source in Reggio, to its use in UK childcare settings.
Several ways to use light in learning have been highlighted, and include the following:
Allowing for large windows and natural light within the building
Use of windows to give interesting views of the outside world from within
Altering artificial light levels to allow for investigation of light and shadow
Use of shadow screens and light tables to explore the natural effects of light
Creating dark areas where light tables are used to enhance the experience
Use of light panels to explore pattern, shape, form, colour, opacity and colour mixing
Use of light panels for sensory exploration
There are many ways to include the use of light panels within either early years settings, or at home for young children. Some of the potential creative activities that can be carried out with light panels are discussed further in this article, identifying the key benefits and ways to enhance the learning experience.
Light & Colour
There are many coloured resources that can be used alongside the light panel to explore this area of learning. The primary characteristic to look for in coloured resources is their opacity or translucent qualities. This allows for children to identify colours, both individually, and by layering different colours on top of one another to explore the effects.
The use of coloured acetate and tissue paper can be a great resource for creative activities, and making ‘stained glass window’ art. Another great resource is the TickiT Light Panel Colour Resources for early years. This set contains 634 different pieces of varying shape and colour. These can be used with the light panel in a variety of ways and come with a easy storage box and an activity guide.
Numbers & Counting
Using coloured counters on top of the light panel is a great way to explore counting and numbers. The use of the objects in this way can help children to answer questions and solve problems, such as ‘Can you find me 5 blue squares?’
Written numbers can also be used on the light panel for children to learn and associate the quantities with their written form. Children can identify which number matches the number of counters or shapes and could also trace numbers to learn the correct number formations.
Letters & Words
Similarly to the use of numbers on the light panel, using coloured translucent upper and lower case letter will help children to recognise their form and shape. Children can trace their hand over the letters or could sound out the letters placed on the light panel.
Another fun activity could be for children to match the letter and its sound to objects that begin with this letter, such as the letter ‘b’ and the object ‘button’. For older children, using clear acetate on light panels can help develop writing skills by encouraging them to trace over handwriting patterns.
Language & Communication
Using different shape and colour resources with a light panel can help to develop children’s scientific language in their everyday play. Using different objects, such as translucent people shapes, can develop mathematical vocabulary. This can be done by asking questions like ‘which one is bigger/smaller?’, or ‘which one is taller/shorter?’, and ‘which one is different/the same?’
Another activity to encourage language skills is to use clear acetate on the light panel with faces depicting different emotions. This is a great way to help children identify different emotions and develop the vocabulary they need express their feelings.
Nature
Use a box of a collection of natural materials such as leaves, shells, twigs and cones, that can be placed on the light panel. These can be used for scientific exploration of opacity, shape and patterns. Shapes can be traced, and objects with similar properties can be grouped together.
Natural materials are also great for children to use in free play and storytelling. By collecting a range of materials together, including natural, reclaimed and small world characters, children can create stories on the light panel. This can help develop their storytelling skills.
Sensory Exploration
Sensory Liquid Sets are a great resource to use on a light panel for children to observe how liquids flow. You could also use clear containers such as beakers or small Petri dishes to add water to and place on the light panel. Then, by adding drops of food colouring to the water, children can see how the colours move.
Sensory play can also be enhanced with the use of a light panel by placing a clear tray over the panel which you may then add different materials to. These can include paints and marbling inks in water which you can observe the movements of, or mix together and create art. Sand can be used, and you may place other objects inside for discovering, or foam can be used to explore a different sensory medium.
If you would like more great activities and information on how these help with the learning experience, then just fill in your details below and we’ll send you a free TickiT guide written by expert Linda Thornton.
There are so many ways to enhance young children’s learning through the use of light. Of the many ways to use light, light panels are an excellent resource that aid and support multiple activities. These activities engage children in a creative way, and help develop skills in numbers and counting, writing and letter sounds, storytelling, scientific exploration and language, expression of feelings and of self, and for sensory play.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/donations-discounts-and-fundraising-for-sensory-equipment2019-10-07T12:40:00+01:002024-01-29T15:52:18+00:00Donations, discounts and fundraising for sensory equipmentSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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Who is sensory equipment for?
There are some amazing products and equipment available for supporting people who have additional needs. This equipment may be needed to create better access for disabled users, or for sensory engagement for autistic children. You may be the parent, carer or teacher for those who would benefit from these items, or an organisation or professional.
The bad news is that this equipment can be quite expensive. However, there are multiple avenues to get help with funding this equipment for those who need it. In this article, I would like to share some of the funding options and resources available for both families and for organisations.
There are also some great ways to create your own fundraiser or to get donations if you are an organisation or business supporting those with additional needs. Therefore, some ideas and resources for planning and organising your own event are also suggested.
Additional financial support for individuals
To begin, if you are a parent or carer and are looking to supply items for an individual who has autism or a disability, then one of the first things you should look into is getting additional help with finances through the form of benefit entitlement. This is different from grants where you would be receiving a one-off lump sum for equipment or events.
These benefits are known as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Whilst DLA is for individuals under 16 years of age, PIP is the benefit for anyone with a disability over 16 years old. These are monthly payments to help support the additional needs of the individual.
To check these benefits for eligibility to claim just follow these links:
There are some additional resources where you may find further information relating to help for families with financing, care, awards and support. Just follow the links below for further information.
If you are an organisation there are many other roots to funding projects with the use of available grants. We have listed relevant resources for funding below that supports either families or organisations.
Just follow the link for further information and for individual grant requirements. These grants are offered to assist with the financial support for varying projects ranging from equipment to care and wellbeing.
Finally, there is of course the method of setting up your own fundraising campaign and asking for charitable donations. When you have a project your working on, don’t underestimate the power of community support.
If you’re looking to raise funds, you should always ask for this to be gift aided where you’re a charity. This can be done by either asking people to fill out forms for their donation, and then later claiming online, or from people making their payments to you directly online for the event you set up.
We’ve included some useful links below to get this organised.
Another method is to request for the items that you need directly as a donation. This could be useful for example where a sensory garden is being made, you could ask for donations of plants. These donations could come from the parents of children who attend the setting, as well as friends and relatives. The local community who will benefit from access to the space can get involved, and any local businesses who would be happy to support your cause.
You could also ask for help in the form of time and skills from people. Perhaps someone is happy to lend a hand helping at an event, or you know a gardener or landscaper who could assist with the work being done. You could also reach out to people to get help with social media and other marketing aspects to raise awareness.
There are numerous free marketing tools for fundraisers you could consider. These include some we’ve already touched on such as word of mouth, and social media, but you can also consider press release, press coverage, sponsorship, email marketing and Google Adwords.
To use Canva you have to create an account, but this is free to do. All of the basic features are also free to use, with the option of paying for the use of images. However, you can get everything you need designed done for free. It’s available to use on the website or you can download and use the app.
With this programme, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have that eye for design, as it’s full of templates for any number of scenarios that you can simply change the text for your own event and details. If you want, you can also update the images and add your own for a personal touch. That’s it. Posters, flyers and social media posts. Just a few clicks and you’ll have all your fundraising items organised.
Depending on the size of your event and how much campaign material you’ll need, it's worth bearing in mind that getting your printing done online could be a cost saver. To make this simple, Canva also has a printing option once your designs are done. The option to purchase will come up once you click to download your finished design. This is a paid-for service, but it could make life easier as they will print and post the finished products to you.
To get an idea of the templates they have to offer, here are just a few we rounded up (all free!)
There are other resources out there for original digital designs that you can purchase online. These may be of use to larger organisations looking to create online marketing material. If this sounds like something you may need, there’s a couple of good sites to check listed below.
Hopefully this information has been helpful, however, if anyone knows of any other resources then please share these in the comments section below. Likewise, if there is further information you may need regarding any of the topics discussed, leave us a message and we’ll get back to you.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/5-things-to-consider-when-planning-a-childs-playroom-at-home2019-10-03T16:10:00+01:002024-01-29T15:52:33+00:005 things to consider when planning a child's playroom at homeSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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Why have a playroom?
Having a playroom at home can be a great solution to divide living, rest and play areas for your family. This ensures a bedroom remains a calming area to help your children relax at the end of a busy day, whereas the playroom can provide greater external stimulation and interaction.
Before setting out on this room designing adventure however, there are some important aspects of room preparation to consider.
1. Safety first
When setting up a playroom for your children, the first thing you need to consider is safety. You don’t want your children playing in an environment that could harm them. After all, the playroom is where your children will spend a lot of their time. As a result, you have to make sure that everything in the playroom is harmless.
Here are some of the things you should check the room for prior to designing;
Ventilation – is there a way to get fresh air in the room to avoid damp?
Points of access – are there child safety locks on the windows, and are these at a safe height from any planned areas of play?
Existing furnishings – are there any items currently in the room that will remain, and are these safe for children to be around?
Flooring – what type of flooring is currently in the room? Does it need carpet or rug to provide a soft surface?
2. Sensory considerations
If you have a child who has autism spectrum disorder you may also want to consider ways in which your playroom could support their sensory needs. Do they perhaps crave an area of solitude, where a secret den may be a great item? Or perhaps they love to move around and therefore may benefit from equipment which gives them the freedom to climb, swing and explore. There are also loads of ways you can incorporate tactile play items, furnishings and lights to create an engaging play environment.
3. Decide how you’ll partition the room
When it comes to creating a safe play space for your children, one aspect you should consider is how you’ll partition the room. It’s a good first step to check that you have adequate space for the types of play equipment you want to support your child’s learning and development through play.
Don’t worry if you don’t have much space to work with. There are tons of great space-saving options available, such as corner play units and playroom storage for keeping those toys tidy!
If you do have an extra room, you could separate this into sections using items of play furniture. This could be done by using a play panel or crawl though tunnel to separate one activity play area from another, such as a reading area or den. Just make sure that however you lay the room out, you leave adequate space on the floor for the children to play freely with all their toys and games.
4. Consider the materials
When it comes to designing your child’s playroom, it’s also worth considering the materials that you will use. Choose comfortable fabrics that feature interesting colours, shapes and textures. For the furniture, wooden items may be the right choice where they are in keeping with the room design and offer a sturdy playframe for larger structures. Or perhaps you have younger children to plan for, and therefore you may want soft play equipment.
It’s also a good idea to use materials in the room that are easy to clean. This ensures that you create a healthy playing environment for your children. Consider materials that can withstand moisture and are hardwearing, depending on where they will be in the room, and what activity may be planned for that section.
5. Your child’s age and interests
This is where the planning gets more exciting! Think about what special interests your child has and what they are likely to want to use the playroom for. For example, this amazing playroom design shown below has a feature lego style wall with a TV centred in the middle.
This is a great idea for those children who love this construction toy, and who may also want to use the room for gaming and therefore require the use of a TV. This room also demonstrates just what can be achieved with a small amount of space, as there is a built-in frame for climbing, along with an awesome hanging chair!
It may seem a little like stating the obvious, but when you’re designing a playroom for your child you also need to factor in his or her age. The reason this is important is so that they can get the most out of the toys they have, and for their own safety.
For example, having taller pieces of play furniture that are out of your child’s age range can pose a hazard for falls. This is also worth considering where you may have more than one child using the room, and they are of different ages. You could choose to keep a corner for younger children closed off using a playpen or room divider, and you could then safely give access to play items for older children.
When it comes to setting up a playroom for your children at home, you should always go over the room planning considerations first. During this phase, you should keep in mind the room size and any possible safety aspects that may need addressing, what equipment would best support your child’s learning, play and sensory processing. Plan the layout for an engaging use of space, and of course…keep it a fun area for them to play!
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/understanding-play-why-do-children-play-ways-to-support-this-at-home2019-09-17T10:47:00+01:002024-01-29T15:54:38+00:00Understanding play: 5 types of play and why children do itSensory Surroundings
Creating an appropriate play environment for children will ensure they have the most opportunity for learning and developing key skills. However, to understand the best ways to support this we should first delve a little deeper into the world of play. Why exactly do children play, and what skills do they learn…
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Creating an appropriate play environment for children will ensure they have the most opportunity for learning and developing key skills. However, to understand the best ways to support this we should first delve a little deeper into the world of play. Why exactly do children play, and what skills do they learn…
How has play evolved?
There have been several theories of why play exists, based on studies using observations from multiple animal groups. These theories range from the need to discharge a build-up of energy on the brain, to building up a selection of behavioural responses to unexpected events. It is interesting to note that as part of the studies carried out, that play within different animal groups is not uniform. In fact, out of 30 different phyla (this is the highest level of life as organised in taxonomy), only 5 were identified as participating in play. Not only that but out of these 5 groups, most were mammals.
What has since been agreed upon, as noted by Jeffrey Schank in ‘The evolution and function of play’, is that there are three levels of play. These are known as primary, secondary and tertiary. What is interesting is that although primary play is exhibited as a basic play type as part of development, the progress to secondary or tertiary levels is not guaranteed. It is stated that in order to achieve these more complex levels of play, that themselves lead to adaptive functions, an animal must first have resource abundance. So, it seems that these higher levels of play that are beneficial in supporting the progress to maturity are best developed where an enriching environment is present.
So, let’s take a closer look at each of these play types. What skills do children learn, and how can we enhance and support these at home?
Locomotor play
This type of play includes movement of the body, which is usually both big and strenuous. It can be running, climbing or jumping…which children love to do! This is a great form of exercise and is valuable for strengthening muscles, increasing endurance and coordination. A great piece of equipment for this type of play is a climbing frame. These can be used indoors and outdoors, and can include ladders, slides, ramps or bridges.
Indoor Climbing Frame Set
The additional bonus to this type of play is that it can lead to an increase in concentration when used to segment cognitive learning for children. Such is the case with playground breaks interspersed through the school day. It’s also a great way for children to expel some of that energy and to help them (and parents) get a better night’s sleep!
Social play
Any type of play that involves interaction between one child and another, or with a parent or an adult is classed as social play. Social play most commonly starts with children between the ages of 2 and 6 years. However, this may vary depending on the child and any other learning developmental delays that may be evident, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Other play types exhibited before social will include solitary and parallel. Solitary is playing alone, whereas parallel involves playing alongside another child, but not actually interacting with them. This type of play is more common around 2 to 3 years of age.
Object play
Playing with any object, be it a car, puzzle, doll or with toy bricks, is classed as object play. In fact, this is one of the earliest types of play. As babies grow and gain strength and coordination, they soon learn to grasp objects and pick things up. They may pass these from hand to hand and start putting objects in their mouths. This is all the beginning of exploring the things around them, which will become more complex as they grow. Once older, building blocks can be assembled, dolls can be fed, and cars can be rolled along the ground. These games can be great for developing problem solving skills, such as learning how to balance building blocks and create stable structures.
Language Play
Language play like object play, also begins from a young age. As babies mimic sounds, and toddlers repeat words, these skills are always expanding. As children get older these language skills are enhanced further from home and nursery to include the following:
Phonology – sounds of speech
Vocabulary and meaning – known as semantics
Grammar – known as syntax
Pragmatics – the proper use of language in social situations
Pretend play
Once children begin to play pretend, they’re combining so many different important skills. Think of both the object and language play which is involved in setting up that delightful café in the dining room, to the dolls that are sat having afternoon tea. Children are great at playing pretend, and it really does teach them so many skills.
As they get older, they play with others, which is known as sociodramatic play. This usually begins from around 3 years of age. They can then progress to take on different roles, have more sequences of events to play out, and use an increasingly complex quantity of language constructions. A great resource to support this type of play is role play toys such as dressing up sets or play kitchens. We especially love play kitchens as we find that children love acting out and copying what you do at home.
Blue Kitchen Set
There are many forms of play that children practice and enjoy using as they learn and grow. These forms of play help them to piece together ways to behave and respond in different situations. They practice their language and communication skills, social skills and strengthen their bodies with physical exercise. With a purposeful, adaptive environment, these skills can be further developed whilst having fun.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-create-a-sensory-garden-at-home-for-your-child2019-09-02T21:19:00+01:002024-01-29T15:54:54+00:00How to create a sensory garden at home for your childSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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Where did the sensory garden originate?
The concept of a sensory garden was first developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. Originally defined as a ‘horticultural therapy movement’, these areas were made to allow easier access and enjoyment of outdoor spaces for physically disabled people. The purpose of a sensory garden today is to develop and stimulate an array of sensory experiences using textures, scents and sounds, as well as being aesthetically pleasing.
It is now understood that these ‘multi-sensory environments’ can be used to support a variety of outcomes. These include, as stated in a study on sensory gardens by Hazreena Hussein (2012), leisure and recreation, therapy, education, or any desired combination of all three. Due to the understanding of the wide advantages that a sensory garden has to offer, these magical areas are now available in many public places from schools to local parks. However, the benefits that these spaces offer can be easily created at home too...and we’ll help show you how!
Planning your sensory garden
The first stage in planning your sensory garden, as outlined by the Sensory Trust, is to establish what the garden's primary purpose is. Are you looking to engage and stimulate the senses? Maybe create a quiet shaded area with functional aspects of seating and easy access? Do you want plants that offer shade, or vivid colours and beautiful scents?
Once you have an idea of these, you can work out what your key aspects to include are, and then build upon these for your garden design. Having somewhere to sit and enjoy the garden is a great place to start. You could add in wooden benches, or tree stumps work well for a woodland area. These magical Story Telling Chairs make a great addition and come in both adult and child sizes and are perfect for taking story time outdoors.
What plants should you include?
When it comes to planning what plants to use for your garden, you just need to consider what senses your trying to engage. A fantastic guide by RHS offers an in-depth description for those of you who are greener fingered! For colours, you can add your favourite flowers, but also try to include some plants that offer colour year-round such as chard and beetroot with their deeply coloured leaves and stems.
For adding scent to your garden look at incorporating herbs such as lemongrass, mint or rosemary. You can also find some great textures from the velvet-like leaves of rose campion or sage, to the ‘stringy’ feel of grasses. Why not also grow some edible plants you can harvest with your child? The sweetness of strawberries is a great choice for the summer and offers a fun way to incorporate taste into your sensory garden!
More ways to explore textures in a sensory garden
Introducing textures through a selection of plants is a great way to encourage your child to interact with nature whilst developing their senses. Other interactive approaches are to include activity areas where children can quite literally get their hands stuck in…and we all know they love to get messy! These areas can be incorporated easily by adding raised Troughs where a selection of textured items can be stored to explore.
Maybe this could include strips of rough bark, fine sand, smooth pebbles or maybe some leaves and pinecones you collect whilst on a nature walk! If your feeling adventurous and happy to explore more mediums, you can even use an Activity Table with its waterproof easy to clean tray.
Ever heard of proprioception?
This is basically your sense of movement and balance. By incorporating balance into your sensory garden, you can encourage active play, exercise, and learning. Activities such as a Balance Scale is a great way for children to learn through cause and effect. Why not also consider activities such as Balance Beams, Stepping Blocks and Balance See Saws, all of which can be used as an exciting and engaging course for your child to improve their own balance. You could set these items up in any number of pathways and configurations to lead them through to different areas of their sensory garden. Encouraging active participation within the garden is all part of the fun!
Including sound through nature and play
A sensory garden would not be complete without the element sound. This can be achieved with the inclusion of certain plants. Those that work well include grasses as these offer a gentle sound as the wind breezes through. For a more active enjoyment of sound through plants, why not add Love-in-a-mist as the seed heads can be sprinkled over a hard surface such as a patio area.
Other options are to include a water feature that can be of great benefit to gardens where calming elements are a priority. To get your children involved in creating sounds and interacting why not add an outdoor instrument they can actually play. Great choices are these large Musical Chime Frame, Musical Cowbell Frame, and Musical Bamboo Glockenspiel.
There are so many choices when it comes to creating your sensory garden at home. Once you have established what benefits are most important for your child to achieve from the sensory garden, designing around this is simple and fun. Including an area to sit to enjoy your garden and activities that encourage your child’s sensory development and exploration are all key. By including a wide selection of carefully considered plants with different sensory benefits will also complement and enhance your garden.
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https://sensorysurroundings.co.uk/blogs/news/playrooms-as-an-environment-for-encouraging-your-child-s-development2019-08-24T18:34:00+01:002024-01-29T15:55:07+00:00Playrooms as an environment for encouraging your child’s developmentSensory SurroundingsMore]]>
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Playrooms offer a great way for you to give your child an exciting and diverse surrounding to explore.
As we have all heard, ‘a child’s brain is like a sponge’, meaning they quite literally soak everything up. Notable influences towards a child’s brain development come from several sources, including their surrounding environment and sensory inputs. By creating the perfect play space for them, you will be helping them to explore their environment and excite their sens
So, what exactly is the best way to utilise a playroom for your child’s development? Let’s first take a closer look at the aspects of sensory development, and then consider how this can be utilised when planning your child’s playroom…
Children’s senses and development
A child’s senses begin to develop from before they are even born and continue right through childhood. These senses include touch, taste, smell, hearing and seeing. Additional to these are what is known as ‘sensory processes’.
This includes the five senses already mentioned along with proprioception, which is the positioning of the body, and vestibular input, which is the sensation of movement. By encouraging play in a diverse environment which stimulates these senses, children will be learning and developing as their brains store the information from the environment around them.
Playroom essentials to aid development
There is much play equipment available that you can use to help develop these senses. It’s what we encourage with our children as babies with the classic play mats equipped with reflective surfaces, bright colours and materials that make crunching sounds when touched.
What we forget is that this process of learning doesn’t stop once your baby has grown into a child. Keeping their senses alive with the use of bright colours and various textured soft furnishings is a great place to start. This could be with artwork (including their own masterpieces of course!), rugs, bean bags and cushions. The key is to use different coloured and textured material, such as faux fur and silk cushions in a reading corner.
To further aid their development you can add larger pieces of play equipment. This might include some of the following:
Incorporating items that encourage movement, balance and coordination will all help. You can also try to encourage their imaginative and social skills with some role play items, such as a play kitchen, and a dressing up area.
Seating is also of importance for any playroom, whether to read and relax, or get some creative artwork done. Once you have decided on the furniture for the playroom, try to ensure there is adequate floor space between items of furniture. By doing this you create more space for your child to play and move around.
Finishing touches and further sensory development
Finally, there are those little touches that really add some magic to any playroom. To decorate you could add an extra splash of colour with some wall decals and maybe include a personalised playroom sign for a unique finish. If your feeling especially crafty you could even create a chalkboard feature wall.
By including some fairy lights or a projector you can introduce another element of magic and help your child to explore their senses even further. If you’re seeking to encourage the complimentary development of all the senses, you may even like to incorporate music and aromatherapy.
With so many diverse ways to encourage your child’s learning and development, a playroom is the perfect space to bring these all to life. With the right combination of furniture, colours, textures and lights, your child can have hours of fun whilst at the same time developing core cognitive and sensory skills.
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