Why Is Sensory Play Good for Your Children?

We all want to help our babies grow and develop, and at such an early age, they learn best through play; a wonderful way to encourage this is by introducing sensory toys.

Sensory toys stimulate one or more of the five senses – touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound.

Engaging these senses from a young age encourages brain development and creativity, whilst encouraging your baby to be confident through learning. 

What is Great About Sensory Toys?

Sensory play is important in a child’s development and helps to expand their motor skills, improve focus, teach problem-solving skills, and helps with textural growth and early concepts such as dry vs. wet, and smooth vs. rough.  

Engaging these senses from early childhood allows children to be brave and explore the world around them whilst developing their strength and confidence.

Sensory toys are developed for the sole purpose of being safe for children to use however their body and mind encourages them to.  

Whether they’re playing with a squishy ball and feeling how it squishes between their fingers, or a black and white board book to stimulate their vision, they’re free to explore these senses however they choose.

Allow them the freedom to make their own choices of which toy they want to try next, each one is as educational as the next.  

However, if you’re not quite sure where to start – then look no further, we’ve got some great choices to boost your child’s brain development that won’t break the bank. 

Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Music, Glow and Grow Gym Play Mat

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0 months - 3 years

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1. Fisher Price 3-in-1 Music, Grow and Glow Gym Playmat

This wonderfully bright activity playmat supports your baby’s early development and engages new muscles as they learn and grow.  

It features a self-discovery mirror, a soft rattle hedgehog toy to stimulate their sensitivity to sound, a BPA-Free snail teether, a double-sided crinkle rainbow toy to engage their sense of touch, and an otter with a soft tail that has up to 15 minutes of music and lights to engage their sight and sound senses.  

Not only is this educational fun for your little one, but it also allows you that little bit of quiet time to make cup of tea… and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to drink it whilst it’s still hot! 

Early Learning Centre Sensory Discovery Balls

6 months - 3 years

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2. Early Learning Centre Sensory Discovery Balls

These funky and colourful Sensory Discovery Balls are a great way to engage your child’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. 

This sweet set of fun sensory balls gets your baby’s senses going with its array of colours to stimulate your baby’s vision.

There are plenty of bumps and textures to get your little one’s sense of touch tingling, and these discovery balls work as a rattle when your baby shakes them!  

One ball features a self-discovery mirror to boost your child’s curiosity, and they are perfect for rolling along the floor to encourage your baby to crawl or toddle after them. 

Little Lot Sensory Stacking Blocks

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0 - 12 months

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3. Little Lot Sensory Stacking Blocks

These super cute Sensory Stacking Blocks are perfect for taking that next step in your baby’s development and learning adventure.  

They feature sweet animal faces including a Giraffe, Monkey, Hippo, and Zebra – encouraging your little explorer’s curiosity for animals. They also feature letters A-D and numbers 1-4 to start the transition to your child’s primary learning of the alphabet and early numbers.  

These lovely blocks also encourage your baby to explore stacking in fun ways and even watch them topple! 

Sensory D.I.Y.

These options are super fun and educational for your little adventurer, but sensory fun can come from simple things around the home.  

Something as simple as playing with the bubbles in the bath provides amazing stimulation for your child’s sense of touch and vision, some other beneficial experiences include exploring the texture of their food at mealtimes, and whilst it might come naturally to encourage your child not to play with their food, it’s incredibly beneficial for them to explore these senses. 

If you are looking for a quick sensory fix for your child, a great option is to fill a bottle with oil, water, and food colouring for your baby to shake and explore – parental supervision is always recommended! 

If you’re in the mood for messy play, grab some paper and paints and encourage your little one to make their own artistic creations and explore the mixing of colours – this stimulates their mind and teaches them the different combinations of colour and what they make – and if you’re looking to keep the mess to a minimum, don’t forget to lay down a protective cover (an old bed sheet works wonders) and let your little Picasso run riot with the painting fun! 

Providing sensory toys from an early age helps to strengthen a baby’s development and cognitive skills, and the earlier these are introduced, the more interested your child will be in learning and growing.  

These educational toys help to build a lifelong love of learning and build a solid foundation for the way children learn as they grow.

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