Our five senses, such as hearing, smelling, seeing, tasting, and touching, help to interpret or perceive the world around us. For children, it’s important in their development and learning to use their senses. A cognitive theory supports how children gather new information and understand what’s before them.
Jean Piaget on Child’s Sensory Play
In Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory, 0-2 is the sensorimotor stage, where a child can know object permanence and the cause-and-effect relationship of things. For example, in object permanence, if you hide an object behind your back, the child can still know that the object isn’t gone but hidden behind you.
Through their senses, they get to manipulate the objects around them, such as throwing a ball and repeating it. Thus, they understand the cause-and-effect relationships of how they use their senses to control their senses and motor skills through play.
From this, you can observe what skills you should be able to do at this age. Special Needs Resources can help you overcome cognitive and skills challenges for your kids so they can be back on track with their development.
1. Language Skills Development
With different games your child can play, their senses would be used. Hence, they can express themselves by verbalising their thoughts, especially feelings.
2. Hone Fine Motor Skills
Active child’s play enhances hand-eye coordination, manipulation of objects, balance, and muscle strength. A child should also understand nonverbal skills in coordination with one’s verbal and social skills, especially expressing emotions. Sand castle building can help hone their fine motor and social skills with their peers.
3. Exploration of Different and Complex Concepts
As your child grows, one begins to be curious, and one has to learn more than simple concepts to understand and respond to the world around them. Through sensory play, they’ll be exposed to real and different situations. Thus, they can apply and understand certain complex concepts better.
For example, dropping a pen on the ground can help them observe gravity, or a simple force can be tested by moving an object from one place to another.
4. Build Social Skills with sensory play
Your child’s emotional development includes interpreting and understanding other people’s emotions. During sensory plays, they can see their playmates may be upset because their toy has been broken. Thus, they’ll also understand the causes of their emotions and help them deal with or react to people’s emotions.
Also, this will let them create bonds and friendships with their peers with whom they can connect and feel supported.
Know Your Child’s Emotional Development Needs
Sensory play would help your child grow with emotional stability and better social adaptability with their peers. They’ll be able to have more responsive behaviour and will know how to acknowledge and express their emotions. Thus, they’ll be more open to new experiences and less afraid whenever they face new information or human interactions.
A child’s emotional development is part of their growth towards facing challenges and how they’ll handle their emotions appropriately when encountering them.
