Every parent of a tiny adventurer knows their baby moves fast. That’s because Baby is learning just as quickly, with their brains making rapid-fire connections at every turn.

From the moment they’re born, babies begin soaking up information via their five senses. It’s how they make sense of their environment — by touching, seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting it.

The Science of Sensory Processing

Sensory play — any activity that stimulates the senses — is not just fun and games, although it’s certainly fun. It plays an essential role in developing children’s cognitive functions, fine motor skills, emotional regulation, language acquisition, and creativity.

Here’s how it works: When a child experiences something through their senses, like touching a soft blanket, it activates specific neural pathways in their brains. These pathways process and integrate information from all over the body, helping the child develop an understanding of the rules by which the world operates.

Think of it as the brain’s way of organizing and understanding sensory input. When a baby feels the texture of a soft blanket, the receptors in their hand send signals to their brain. These signals are then interpreted and stored as tactile memories, so that your child can interpret this sensation in the future.

As babies explore their surroundings, they form memories, develop preferences, and begin to understand cause and effect. These early sensory experiences lay the groundwork for later cognitive skills like problem-solving and decision making.

And suddenly, the fact that your baby is going through the garbage makes a little more sense;
she’s actually learning.

Sensory Activities

If you're looking for ideas on how to encourage sensory play, we’ve got some low-mess, low- cost ideas below.

• Music and movement: Play your child’s favorite songs and encourage them to dance, engaging both auditory and kinesthetic senses.
• Finger painting: Use washable finger paints and let your child explore painting on the bathtub walls. They can mix colors, create patterns, and enjoy the sensation of the paint's texture with minimal mess. And they’re all ready to be washed up when they’re done.
• Pasta necklaces: Nothing like some carb-inspired accessories — show your child how to thread pasta (like macaroni or penne) onto colorful yarn to form a necklace.
• Homemade play dough: Make play dough using flour, salt, water, and food coloring. Encourage your child to use their fine motor skills by kneading, squeezing, and shaping the dough.
• Texture bin: Fill a container with materials like rice, beans, or sand. Hide small objects in the container, and let your child explore the textures using their hands and feet. You can also try this with a bowl of water and floating slices of fruit — your child will love the different sensations and tastes.

For Children with Sensory Sensitivity‍

Some children have sensory sensitivities, making them likely to shy away from these kinds of activities. For these children, engaging in sensory play can be more challenging, but it's all the more beneficial.

Here are a few tips for parents of children with sensory sensitivities:

• Start small: Introduce sensory activities in a controlled, gradual manner. Begin with activities that involve less intense sensory input. e.g. instead of finger painting, start with painting with a paintbrush.
• Create a sensory-friendly environment: Ensure that your child’s play area is calm and comfortable. Soft lighting, gentle music, and a clutter-free space help create a space in which they’ll feel comfortable trying something new.
• Encourage participation through modeling: Show your child how to engage in the activity by doing it yourself first. Sometimes, seeing a trusted adult go ahead can make the experience less intimidating.
• Offer choices: Give your child options and let them decide which activities they want to do. Providing a sense of control can help reduce anxiety and increase their willingness to participate. If your child seems uncomfortable, don't force it. Instead, offer other activities or take a break.
• Be patient and supportive: Progress may take time, and that's okay. Celebrate small successes and be encouraging. This slow-but-steady approach not only supports their sensory processing development but also helps them gain confidence in trying new experiences.

Your child will also get lots of sensory stimulation through everyday activities. With just a little extra planning, you can encourage additional exploration. Consider adding bubbles to their bath, taking walks together, narrating what you’re doing throughout the day, or letting your child bang pots and pans.

These activities naturally engage multiple senses at once, which will help enrich your child’s development and set them on the path of lifelong learning. However, whatever you do — don’t look away. Your child may be three seconds from touching something off-limits, jumping off of something way too high, or eating something that’s definitely not edible.