From Fun to Fundamental:
The Importance of Sensory Play for Early Years Providers

Sensory play involves fun and interactive activities that stimulate your little ones' senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. And the best part? It has some pretty amazing and important benefits for their development.

As a company that specializes in early years resources, toys, and supplies for nurseries and preschools in the UK, we're big believers in the power of sensory play. 

In this blog post, we're going to explore the benefits of sensory play for early childhood development and give you some tips and tricks for incorporating it into your curriculum. 

So, let's get started! 

What is Sensory Play? 

Sensory play is any activity that stimulates your child’s senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. It can involve a wide range of materials, textures, and sensations, from water and sand to paint and clay. Sensory play aims to provide children with a safe and engaging environment where they can explore and experiment with different materials and sensations. 

There are many different types of sensory play activities that you can incorporate into your curriculum, such as:  

• • ● Water play:
    This involves using water and various tools and toys to explore its properties, such as floating and sinking. 
  • ● Sensory bins:
    This involves creating a themed bin filled with materials that encourage exploration, such as a construction site bin filled with sand, rocks, and toy construction vehicles. 
  • ● Messy play:
    This involves using various materials, such as paint, clay, and slime, to create a messy and tactile experience. 
  • ● Sand play:
    This involves using sand and various tools and toys to explore its texture and properties, such as pouring and scooping. 

The benefits of sensory play are numerous. Here are just a few of the ways in which sensory play can support your child's development:  

• • ● Develops fine motor skills:
    Sensory play activities often involve manipulating small objects, which can help to develop fine motor skills such as hand-eye coordination and dexterity. 
  • ● Enhances cognitive development:
    Sensory play can help to improve cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, and memory. 
  • ● Improves language skills:
    Sensory play provides opportunities for children to engage in conversation and to learn new vocabulary related to the materials and sensations they are exploring. 
  • ● Boosts social and emotional development:
    Sensory play can help to develop social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, and cooperation, as well as emotional skills such as self-regulation and empathy. 
  • ● Stimulates creativity and imagination:
    Sensory play encourages children to use their imagination and creativity to explore and experiment with different materials and sensations. 

In the next section, we'll explore in more detail the benefits of sensory play for early childhood development. 

How Sensory Play Benefits Early Childhood Development 

Sensory play is not only a fun and enjoyable activity for children but it also has numerous benefits for their development. In this section, we'll take a closer look at how sensory play helps develop different skills and provide examples of skills developed through sensory play. 

Fine Motor Skills 

• 1. Sensory play activities such as pouring, scooping, grasping, pinching, squeezing, and twisting help children develop their fine motor skills. These skills involve the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers and are crucial for tasks such as writing, drawing, and buttoning clothes. By engaging in sensory play, children improve their hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and grip strength. 

Cognitive Development 

• 2. Sensory play also enhances cognitive development by promoting problem-solving, understanding cause and effect, and spatial awareness. Children learn through exploration and experimentation, and sensory play provides a safe and stimulating environment for them to do so. For example, pouring water from one container to another teaches children about volume and measurement, while building with blocks develops spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. 

Language Skills 

• 3. Another surprising benefit of sensory play is the development of language skills. As children explore and manipulate different materials, they are exposed to new vocabulary and concepts. Sensory play also encourages communication and social interaction, as children engage in conversation and collaboration with their peers. 

Social and Emotional Development 

• 4. Sensory play can also boost social and emotional development by teaching children important skills such as sharing, turn-taking, and empathy. When children engage in sensory play together, they learn to take turns, share materials, and communicate their needs and feelings. These experiences help children develop their social skills and emotional intelligence. 

Creativity and Imagination 

• 5. Finally, sensory play stimulates creativity and imagination by providing an open-ended and exploratory play environment. Children can use their senses to explore different textures, colors, and materials and create their own unique experiences. By engaging in sensory play, children develop their creativity and imagination, which are important skills for problem-solving and innovation later in life. 

In the next section, we'll provide some tips and tricks for incorporating sensory play into your curriculum.

Sensory Play Products for Nurseries and Preschools 

Sensory play products are a great addition to any nursery or preschool, as they provide a variety of opportunities for children to engage in sensory exploration and learning. At our company, we offer a wide range of sensory play products that are specifically designed for early years settings. 

Here are some examples of the sensory play products that we offer: 

1. Small world toys - Click Here: 
Miniature figures and play sets are perfect for promoting imaginative play and storytelling. Children can create their own little worlds and scenarios using small figures and play sets. These toys also help develop language and communication skills as children engage in role play and storytelling. 

2. Construction toys - Click Here:

Blocks, magnetic tiles, and building sets are great for developing fine motor skills, problem-solving, and spatial awareness. Children can build structures and create their own designs, which promotes creativity and imagination. Construction toys also encourage teamwork and cooperation as children work together to build and create. 

3. Mark-making tools - Click Here:

Paintbrushes, markers, and crayons provide children with the opportunity to express themselves through art. Mark-making tools help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. They also encourage self-expression and help children develop their communication skills. 

4. Sensory toys - Click Here:

Textured balls, squishy toys, and fidgets provide children with tactile stimulation and help develop their sense of touch. toys are also great for stress relief and can help children regulate their emotions. These toys encourage exploration and curiosity and help children learn about cause and effect. 

5. Messy play supplies - Click Here:

Sensory trays, colored rice, and shaving cream are all examples of messy play supplies that can be used to promote sensory exploration and learning. Messy play helps children develop their sense of touch, as well as their creativity and imagination. It also provides opportunities for socialization and cooperation, as children can work together to create and explore. 

These sensory play products can provide numerous benefits for children in a nursery or preschool setting. They can promote learning and development across a range of areas, from fine motor skills to language development. They can also encourage creativity and exploration while providing opportunities for socialization and cooperation. 

By incorporating sensory play products into your nursery or preschool, you can create a rich and engaging learning environment for your children. 

Conclusion 

Sensory play is a fun and interactive way to promote early childhood development. By engaging children's senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, they can develop fine motor skills, enhance cognitive development, improve language skills, boost social and emotional development, and stimulate creativity and imagination. 

As a nursery or preschool provider, incorporating sensory play into your curriculum can provide numerous benefits for your little ones. Some sensory play ideas you can implement in your setting include sensory bins, messy play, sensory bottles, and sensory walls. It's important to ensure safety and hygiene when setting up a sensory play environment, and using age-appropriate materials is crucial. 

At Talking Turtle, we offer a range of sensory play products that can benefit children in a nursery or preschool setting. Our small world toys, construction toys, mark-making tools, sensory toys, and messy play supplies can promote learning and development, encourage creativity and exploration, and provide opportunities for socialization and cooperation. 

In conclusion, sensory play is a powerful fundamental tool for early childhood development, and it's essential for nursery and preschool providers to incorporate it into their curriculum. 

We encourage you to explore the sensory play products we offer at Talking Turtle and start enhancing your little one's learning and development today!