Top Sensory Play Ideas to Boost Your Baby's Development

The development of sensory awareness is vital in the growth of infants. Their senses are constantly active, with each encounter sparking curiosity and wonder. Engaging in sensory activities is paramount for enhancing their experiences and fostering cognitive, physical, and emotional growth.

This article will explore various sensory activities tailored for young children.

The importance of sensory development in a child

Before we get into it, it's important to understand why sensory development is crucial for young children. For a child, sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell play a vital role in discovering the world around them.

It should be noted that good sensory development is linked to several aspects, including:

• Cognitive development:

Sensory activities push a child to be curious naturally and help them to better problem solvers.

• Motor growth:

Touch strengthens your child's muscles as well as motor skills, which is a great benefit for their coordination development.

• Emotional experiences:

Sensory activities play a very big role in managing children's emotions. In fact, these activities can help them express themselves better, calm down and relax.

Stimulate your senses with varied textures

For example, you can help your baby know the difference through sensory activities.

Stimulate touch

You can explore their senses with a variety of textures such as rubber balls, soft fabrics or even foods like fruit or simple cookies.

Encourage your child to explore and interact with various textures, fostering their sense of touch and refining fine motor skills.

To enhance tactile stimulation, consider engaging in sensory play using natural materials such as soil, water, flowers, or sand. These elements offer enriching sensory experiences for your child.

However, it's crucial to exercise caution during these activities to prioritize your child's safety.

Visual stimulation

Captivating colors and engaging patterns capture the attention of young ones. Opt for colorful books or toys with vibrant imagery like puzzles to stimulate their sense of sight.

Simple activities such as hide-and-seek with colorful blankets can also pique their visual curiosity. It's a straightforward yet effective way to engage them !

Auditory stimulation

Newborns are naturally drawn to sounds. Introduce your baby to developmental toys emitting soft sounds, such as rattles, maracas, or musical toys with gentle melodies.

To further stimulate their hearing, sing simple nursery rhymes or play musical instruments with varying rhythms and tones. This fosters your little one's musical curiosity.

Olfactory stimulation

Surprisingly, young children have a keen sense of smell too. When preparing meals, incorporate natural and familiar scents like vanilla or cinnamon. This not only stimulates their sense of smell but also creates positive associations with different aromas.

Some examples of simple sensory activities for each age category

There is a saying that nothing happens to intelligence that first passes through the senses. This quote sums up in all its integrity the importance of the senses in human development.

Whether through touch, smell, sight, taste or hearing, these five senses are used so that a child can develop harmoniously.

Furthermore, all the senses are linked and are complementary. A single sensory activity can therefore work on more than one sense at the same time. The good news is that you can plan activities in any daily situation, without necessarily needing any required materials or skills.

Here are some examples of sensory activities that can accelerate sensory development in children.

Newborns up to 6 months old

You can take advantage of every moment to do simple activities.

For example, after bathing, take a little cream, then spread it over his little body while giving him small massages.

According to a study, from birth, newborns perceive shapes and/or images with contrasting colors. You can therefore put wall night lights, mirrors or images with contrasting colors on the wall of the cradle or changing table, this will enhance its visual appeal.

You can also do little tickles to wake them up.

Speaking or singing lullabies to your baby will also help stimulate his listening skills. Another simple way to stimulate his hearing, you can also put a sound object near his head and encourage him to turn his head in the direction of the sound. However, be sure to choose the item in question carefully. Choose musical objects or objects that emit soft sounds.

Child from 6 to 12 months

It is advisable to put your baby barefoot as much as possible to help him touch different textures with his feet such as grass, rough texture, sand, etc. Of course, you have to take into account the temperature, if it is suitable, to allow him to walk barefoot.

You can also make sound bottles for your little angels. To do this, use plastic bottles and place various objects inside them to obtain different sounds. Place only one type of object per bottle, i.e. rice, pasta, stones and any other object that can emit sound.

Clear plastic bottles can also serve as visual stimulants. Put different materials in the bottles that can attract the eye such as colored water, glitter, dish soap, gel, shell or paint.

Don't throw away your round lids from your frozen juice boxes. You can use it to distract your child. You can even make a little game by creating a cut the same size as the lids in a cardboard box and your baby can have fun inserting the lids into the box.

Get your baby used to smelling different smells while you prepare meals. This will awaken their senses.

Let your baby play with plastic dishes, aluminum plates or even wooden spoons. It's a way to give your baby the opportunity to make sounds and play music in their own way.

Already teach your baby the different kinds of animals by imitating their sounds. You can use books about animals or simply stick pictures of animals around his room while imitating animal sounds and pointing to the designated picture.

Encourage your little one to vocalize with you with just hi, ha, ho, ba, pa, ma, etc.

Keep in mind that it is advisable to give your child some freedom, while remaining vigilant to avoid any accidents.

Between 1 to 3 years

From 12 months, let your child know the difference between hot and cold. You can touch him with a warm object on different parts of his body and tell him it's hot. You can do the same with a cold object.

You can also create a photo album especially for your baby. Post family photos, photos of your pets and their favorite educational objects and toys. Take the time to consult this album with your baby while letting him express himself in his own way about who is in the photo.

Stick lots of fruit and animal magnets on your fridge. Give your child the freedom to handle them as they wish while you cook.

Make paintings and crafts using the color and texture of fruit, Jell-O, compotes or other items available in your pantry. 

Fill your bathtub with water and foam and hide toys in it. Encourage your child to look for them and guess what object it is.

From the age of 3

This is the age when children discover themselves, where they like to participate and try to prove their abilities.

For example, when preparing it, let your child put cream on their body themselves. Of course, the result would certainly not be the same as that of an adult, but you can be sure that the child will be proud of him, especially since his little hands have the opportunity to discover different textures.

Another example, in the kitchen, you can let your child discover different things such as funnels, strainers, stirring with a spoon, seasoning dishes, etc.

You can also let your future child feel the different vibrations of household appliances, including the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, radio, etc. However, always be vigilant! We never know !

In the bathroom, it's also a good idea to offer your little one some foam so they can feel a whole new texture and develop their imagination.

When you prepare the meal, you can also cook with your little angels. This way, they will be able to test different textures: liquid, powder, soft, etc. This could be a big discovery for them!

Simple games like pretend play can also be a good idea. You can play selfie gestures and encourage the child to imitate you or vice versa.

Simple guessing games are also very practical. You can blindfold your child and have them try different tastes. Subsequently, ask him to guess the foods he has just tasted or vice versa to reverse the roles.

This type of game can also work very well for the sense of smell. You can put out a variety of foods with different smells and have your children smell them. Then let them guess what smell it is.

Remember that these examples of play are synonymous with fun, this means that you should solicit the attention of your young children, make them participate in activities that interest them and that make them happy.

Conclusion

Incorporating sensory activities into your baby's routine offers numerous benefits. These activities not only enhance your baby's perception of the world but also contribute to the development of their senses.

By integrating these simple activities into your baby's daily schedule, you support healthy and secure sensory development. Remember to observe your baby's cues and provide a nurturing environment.

It's important to recognize that children learn through curiosity, experimentation, and sometimes, making mistakes. These engaging sensory activities provide avenues for learning, growth, exploration, and understanding.

When playing with your child, take the time to savor the moments and cherish the bonds formed. There's immense joy in witnessing your little one revel in playtime while fostering moments of closeness and connection.