At a first glance, sensory play might seem like every parent's worst nightmare! We quickly associate the words with mess and a massive clean-up, but in actuality it can be quite the opposite. Sensory play can be whatever you make it, quite literally. The objective of sensory play is to help children explore their senses as well as aiding their imaginations and creativity with stimulation, but why is it important?

Firstly, we should begin by exploring exactly what sensory play is. Whilst you might already have an idea as to what sensory play is and what activities it can entail, you might be surprised at how simple it can be. The main objective of sensory play is to heighten and encourage children to use all five of their senses with fun and creative activities. This could include introducing them to a variety of textures or seeing what they can create with a specific item. These activities can start off with new-borns and progress in complexity as they grow older. 

There are a multitude of benefits to sensory play, however the most notable benefit is how important it can be for children's brain development. Being able to utilise all five of their senses and learning how they work is crucial to young development. Sensory play offers a fun and interactive element to this and allows children to explore genuine curiosity and creativity in the comfort of their own home. 

Not only are sensory activities perfect for development, but they also offer a fun bonding experience between children and parents. There's no age where sensory play needs to stop and this includes parents/adults too! Creative activities can be extremely therapeutic and engaging in them with your children can be mutually beneficial, whilst also allowing you all to spend some fun, quality time together.

Figuring out what activities to create doesn't have to be difficult either. Sensory play can be anything that allows children to explore their senses. This could mean introducing them to new textures, such as bubble wrap, water, sand, or even our wonderful sensory putties! 

Overall, sensory play activities are a fun and exciting way to help children explore their creativity and imagination whilst also providing them the necessary tools for some vital development at a young age. A lot of these activities can be done with simple household items too! So, if you're looking for something new to do with the kids, give sensory play a try!