Sensory Activities for Children

Sensory activities are extremely important to children's development. Learning through the senses helps them develop attention, coordination and many other important skills. There are certain activities you can do with children to arouse their senses and help them learn about the world around them.

Definition

• Simply put, sensory activities are activities that appeal to the senses. These senses include sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, which, when combined, result in body awareness.

Benefits

• Children who do sensory activities on a regular basis develop better socially, emotionally and intellectually. They will be prepared to learn in school and will ultimately feel better about themselves.

Sight and Sound

• Children can learn a great deal by looking at and hearing the world around them. Go out on nature hikes with your child. As you hike, have the child describe what she sees and hears.

Smell and Taste

• Cooking is a great way to explore the senses of smell and taste. Another idea would be to try to guess what a food is by tasting or smelling it without looking at it.

Touch

• Allow children to feel items of different textures, weights and sizes without looking at them. Try having a mystery box where children have to identify things without seeing them.

Body Awareness and Balance

• Jumping is a simple way for kids to try to maintain their balance and to learn where their bodies are in space. Bouncing on a hopping ball also has these same benefits.