The sensory center plays many roles in our classrooms. This is a space that is usually very calming for most children. Children use their fine motor skills to manipulate materials. In some classrooms this is a one person center.
When a child is overstimulated, teachers may direct them to spend some time in the sensory center. Being able to play in water, kinetic sand, or playdoh seems to have a calming effect on most children.
Fine motor skills and calming effects aren’t the only benefits to this center. Children measure different forms of materials such as water, bird seed, sand or water beads.
This center is a place for children to discover different weights, textures and colors. They use trial and error to see what works. They learn about cause and effect using different tools and testing different ideas.
Life skills can be learned as well when dolls, rags and soapy water are added. Sometimes play dishes are used as well.
Children explore different tools and what they do. A fun activity is using a colander and see what will go through and what will not. You can do this with water and with sand!
At home sensory can be a lot of fun! You can find unique tools around the house to use. Play doh, kinetic sand, bird seed and water are the most popular and easy sensory materials.
What kind of sensory materials do you like to use at home?