June 2023 | Samantha Webster, OTR

How can parents enhance their children’s sensory play at home to support learning and development?

This blog will focus on:

• The importance of sensory development and how it impacts their child’s learning and exploration of the world.

• How parents can utilize common household items to engage in sensory play activities with their children.

• A variety of sensory play ideas.

From infancy on, developing children rely on their senses to explore and make sense of the world around them. Children process the information using sensory input from their eyes (vision), ears (sound), skin (touch), nose (smell), mouth (taste), muscles and body joints (body awareness), and inner ear (balance & position of body in space), which impacts their development. Families may encourage their children's development by enhancing the sensory play activities children engage in.

You may not realize it, but your home is full of sensory items that you can use during sensory playtime with your children to support their learning and development.

To get you started with sensory play, here are just a few examples:

Pillows Squishes:

Use pillows to squeeze your child's body acting as though you are making a hamburger or sandwich. This is excellent for soothing and deep pressure which provides proprioceptive input. You can even add "toppings" to increase the pressure.

Pillow Pushes:

While standing or kneeling hold pillows up and push against each other. This is great for proprioceptive input, deep pressure, and can have a calming effect.

Pillow Crashes:

Pull pillows or couch cushions into a pile to make a crash pad. Children can roll or jump off the couch and crash onto the cushions/pillows.

Pillow Cave:

To provide deep pressure and calming input, fill a cardboard box, laundry basket, or another large container with pillows and blankets. Children can use this as a place to take a break and relax. This can be a calming spot to read a book or solve a puzzle.

Floor is Lava:

Pretend the floor is lava and place pillows on the ground to make a pathway. Children can jump, step, or crawl from one pillow to the next to avoid touching the "lava ground". Incorporate "red light"/ "green light" or encourage your child to try walking at different speeds when going across the pillows-super slow, slow, normal, fast, and super fast.

Blanket Swing:

You’ll need two adults and a sturdy blanket for this activity. Have your child lay in the middle of the blanket while each adult holds two corners. Bounce the child up and down or swing them back and forth to get sensory and vestibular input. Quicker movements are usually more alerting while slow, back-and-forth movements can be calming for the sensory system. Only one adult? Try dragging them around for movement and input. You can also include siblings by taking turns pushing one another for heavy work.

Blanket Burrito:

Wrap your child in a blanket like a burrito. Your child should lie on the blanket's edge, hang onto it, and then be securely rolled up (leaving the head exposed). Squeezing your child with your hands or rolling a ball over him or her will apply additional, deep pressure. You can then unroll the blanket by pulling the edge, providing your child with a quick burst of sensory input. While rolled up in the blanket try rolling into something like a block tower or crawling across the floor as if you are an "inchworm".

Blanket Parachute:

Holding the blanket's edges, shake or move it up and down. You can play "popcorn" by placing a ball, balloon, or stuffed animal on top or play peek-a-boo by hiding underneath. This gives your child proprioceptive input and is a fun way to play with them.

Blanket Ride:

To offer vestibular input, have your child sit on a blanket and be pulled across the room. Change your speed to deliver input of varying intensities. For proprioceptive "heavy work" input, have your child alternately pull a sibling or other objects on the blanket. This can be a great way to make transitioning from one room or activity more fun!

Build a Fort/Tent:

Place a blanket over a table or a few chairs pushed together to create a fort/tent. Your child's ability to set up the chairs requires strength and motor planning while providing proprioceptive input. This can be used for pretend play or as a quiet area for your child to relax.

Incorporating sensory play into your child's daily routine not only enhances their learning and development but also creates countless joyful and meaningful experiences. By leveraging the power of their senses, children can explore, discover, and make sense of the world around them in a unique and immersive way. Whether it's squishing pillows, building forts, or engaging in imaginative play, sensory activities offer a wealth of benefits for children of all ages.

So, why wait? Start exploring the sensory wonders that await you right in your own home. Get creative, follow your child's lead, and embrace the endless possibilities that sensory play provides. Watch as their curiosity blossoms, their skills flourish, and their joy radiates through every sensory adventure.

Need some help? Reach out to our amazing team of sensory experts at Buttonloop. We can help you create sensory diets and more ideas for your child to enjoy at home.