Sensational Sensory Play by Dana Smith Bader in OTR Blog
“As parents, we often worry about the wrong things. For example, we worry about the messes our children might make rather than the educational benefits they will gain through messy sensory play. This week, we take a look at sensory play and it’s great value to encourage you to have more fun and get over the mess.”
When my eldest daughter was little, I hated messes. I was always washing her hands, changing her clothes, and, of course, doing everything for her instead of allowing her the freedom to explore, just so she wouldn’t make a mess. Nine years after she was born my second daughter came along, and, by then, not only had I changed my mind about messes, but I actually encouraged my children to make messes to fully experience the joy and value of sensory play. It was a good thing because my youngest daughter turned out to be the ‘Queen of Messes.”
Fortunately for my children, I had become educated in the nine years from my first born to my second and third children. I had learned that, although sensory play can sometimes be messy, it also has many benefits. According to research, sensory play helps young children learn about their environment and become more creative. It also promotes skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, language development, problem-solving, cognitive, and social skills. Essentially, through sensory play neural connections are built in the brain that supports learning, thinking, and creativity. More specifically, sensory play can:
- Build Self-Esteem and Problem-Solving Skills
- Increase Self-Control
- Enhance Creativity and Imagination
- Grow Relationships and Confidence
- Move with Courage
Click here to read the full article
by Dana Smith Bader, Director, Over The Rainbow Nursery
