Sensory play is a fun way to help children of all abilities engage their senses and learn. It can be as simple as letting kids play in the rain, exploring a sandbox with all kinds of scoops and shovels or making fluffy snow using soap flakes. Sensory activities are also a great opportunity to encourage creativity and use of the imagination. Some sensory play activities can even be used in the classroom or home to encourage learning through touch, sight, sound, taste and smell.
Developing the senses is essential for all children and sensory play can be a great way to engage them in an open-ended activity that really lets their imagination run wild. Finger painting is a wonderful sensory art activity that can be done at any age and can really help children to explore colours, textures and the different feel of paint on their hands. Other sensory art activities include marble painting, shaving cream and glue art, sand picture making and paper bag puppets.
Musical activities are another great way to encourage the senses and can be done at any age. Children love to sing, dance and move to the beat and this can be a fantastic way to stimulate their bodies as well as their minds.
Creating a musical instrument station is a simple way to encourage children to use their senses. You can set up a few items such as drums, small instruments like triangles, xylophones and flutes and other homemade instruments such as rice shakers or pot lid cymbals. Then allow kids to go wild with their imaginations and see how they can make beautiful sounds.
Adding natural materials to a sensory area is an easy and affordable way to add lots of sensory elements. Collect things from the outdoors such as shells, sticks, pine cones, leaves and rock to create a sensory bin that will inspire all the senses. You can also make this a fun activity by encouraging kids to hug a tree and explore the different textures of its bark and branches. For advice on Playgrounds Cheltenham, contact Greenfields
Having a quiet space in the playground can be great for students with autism who may find certain types of outdoor games overwhelming. You can set up activities such as a treasure hunt, a nature trail or hopscotch in the quiet areas which will still allow the students to be active but with a little less noise and distraction.
The most important thing to remember when creating a sensory playground is that accessibility is key. The more options that are available for kids to explore the more they will be able to engage their senses and the more they will be able to learn through them.
