Sensory play is an excellent way to stimulate children's development and encourage learning. It provides an opportunity for children to explore and engage with the world around them through their senses, helping them to understand the environment and develop their motor skills. Introducing sensory kits to your children can be a great way to get them to engage with new activities, explore the world around them, and learn new skills.
But how do you introduce this type of play without intimidating them? Here are the following tips:
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Sit With Your Child as You Play With Them
Children can be anxious and skeptical when you introduce sensory play. After all, they can be overwhelmed by the sudden change in their environment and the unfamiliar objects that come with it. As such, you need to make them comfortable, and one way to do this is to sit with them and join in on the play.
Remember, immersing yourself in the sensory play experience with your child will help them feel more comfortable and secure. It will also help them understand the purpose of the activity and be more likely to engage in it. Aside from that, encourage them to participate in their chosen sensory-play activity. You should also congratulate them after the activity to reinforce positive encouragement.
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Pick Your Sensory Play Filler
Sensory play fillers are a huge part of sensory kits that can help create a unique and engaging experience for your child. Fillers can range from simple items like water beads, rice, or foam to more complex items like kinetic sand, slime, or colored ice cubes. Depending on the age and development of your child, you can select the best filler for them.
Simpler fillers like rice or water beads are a great choice for younger children since they are safe and won't create a mess. For older children, you can experiment with more complex fillers that require more focus and concentration.
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Set Limits on Sensory Play
When establishing sensory play, remember that you can't just get up and leave once you've set up the activity. It is important to set limits and boundaries on how long your child can play to ensure that they engage in safe and appropriate play.
For instance, set a timer for a certain time during which your child can play with the sensory materials. You can also designate a specific area where your child can play with the sensory materials and monitor their activity. This way, you know your child is safe and secure in their play.
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Clean Up When Done
Clean-up is an essential part of sensory play. You should always ensure that your child cleans up any materials they have used. This will help them to stay organized and will also help keep the area neat.
Furthermore, it will ensure that any materials from the sensory kit that might be hazardous are safely disposed of. Aside from that, ensuring that your child is cleaning up after themselves is a great way to teach them responsibility and respect for their environment.
Final Thoughts
Introducing sensory play to children can be a great way to help them explore their environment, express their creativity, and develop their cognitive and motor skills. In addition, children can better understand their environment and the objects within it by having a range of materials to explore.
Busy Box Child is an online toy store that provides a wide selection of sensory kits to help parents introduce their children to the world of sensory play. Shop from us today!