What do Children Learn through Sensory Play Areas?

What do Children learn through Sensory Play Areas?

Learning the senses is a key part of a child’s primary education. Ask most young children and they’ll be able to list sight, sound, smell, touch and taste (or close enough anyway). But what about learning through the senses? Sensory Play Areas engage children, helping them explore and discover the world. 

The touch & feel effect

Speak to most people about Sensory Play Areas and they’ll assume you mean touching and feeling. They wouldn’t be wrong – touch is one of the senses, and is an essential part of sensory play. Our Sensory Panels are hugely popular for this reason. But it’s also important to engage children with sights, smells, sounds and even tastes. Colourful, aromatic plants, sensory panels and textured surfaces are just some of the ways to ensure children are using all of their senses.

Two types of motor skills

Running, walking and climbing help children improve their motor skills. Or, more specifically, they develop their gross motor skills, dealing with large muscle groups for dynamic activities. But what about their fine motor skills?

No, we don’t expect kids to fix a faulty gearbox. This applies to smaller muscle groups, essential for things like writing and shoe-tying (you can find out more about fine motor skills here). Yes – all the things you want children to master in their early years. Sensory Play Areas absorb children with activities involving fine motor skills, exploring things like squeezing, pinching and lacing

Sensory Play boosts language skills

As any parent or teacher will know, language is essential to children’s development. It’s how they understand the world around them and express ideas and emotions. Can sensory play help? 100% yes! When you’re learning new words and ideas, the touch, sound and smell of objects can bring them to life.

Point at a picture of a tree and explain it to a child. They’ll probably learn it eventually. But when they can see it up close, feel the rough bark and smell the fresh leaves, it suddenly becomes more real, memorable and easier to understand.

How about concepts and comparisons? Try explaining smooth and rough objects to a child without letting them feel them and experience them. It’s almost impossible for them to understand. With sensory play providing a range of colours, textures and smells to children, this comes naturally.

Engaging children with Sensory Play Areas

With clear benefits for children’s learning, Sensory Play Areas are a superb addition to any educational environment. If you want to add a versatile, engaging Sensory Play Area to your school, Playcubed can help. We provide tailored facilities for sensory play to schools around London and the South East. Offering full consultation, planning and installation, we can provide the ideal solution to all your sensory play needs. Get in touch today to discuss your project.