Why is Sensory Play Important in Child Development?

Sensory play is an integral part of early childhood development, engaging children’s senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell through hands-on activities. It’s more than just messy fun; sensory play provides crucial opportunities for children to explore their world and develop essential cognitive, social, and motor skills.

4 Key Benefits of Sensory Play

Brain Development

One of the key benefits of sensory play is its ability to support brain development. As children interact with various textures, sounds, and materials, they strengthen neural pathways in the brain that contribute to problem-solving, language acquisition, and creativity.

For example, playing with water or sand can help children understand concepts like cause and effect, while exploring different objects can expand their vocabulary as they describe what they’re feeling or seeing.

Motor Skill Development

Sensory play also promotes fine and gross motor skill development. Manipulating small objects, pouring liquids, or moulding clay helps refine hand-eye coordination and dexterity, preparing children for more complex tasks like writing.

Additionally, engaging in activities like running their hands through sand or jumping in puddles can support their larger motor skills and physical strength.

Regulate Emotions

From a social-emotional perspective, sensory play is vital in helping children regulate emotions. It provides a calming effect, allowing them to focus and self-soothe, which is particularly helpful for children with sensory processing challenges.

Promote Curiosity

Incorporating sensory play into early education helps promote curiosity, creativity, and emotional well-being, making it an essential component of a child’s growth and learning journey.

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Hi Georgina,

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the recruitment of Centre Directors and Educators to join the expanding Nido family.

With so many open roles in the sector at the moment, I think we should be talking about the differences that really sets Nido apart. From my own experience, they are not always obvious from the outside, but when you get to meet the Nido family you really feel it.

Leaving my previous employer, who I was with for over 10 years, was not an easy decision. I had interviews with a few different companies, before finding my home at Nido.

I remember walking out of that initial interview, literally with tears in my eyes, I knew I had finally found what I had been looking for.

As you mentioned, honesty and integrity are critical and a given, our Services, resources and environments speak for themselves, and candidates merely need to look at our website to understand how engaging and wonderful they are.

We really need to focus more on what a Centre Director and an Educator will experience at Nido;

Authenticity; At Nido they will get honesty with heart
Trust and understanding; At Nido you are treated from day one, as competent and capable
We have the opportunity to inspire Educators and children to reach their full potential and change their worlds for the better, this still delights me everyday
At Nido you can make your mark in the world and are given the respect and autonomy to do what you love and truly make a difference
Collaboration – we are one team, far and wide we inspire and challenge each other
Nido is a family, for me, I have the overwhelming sense of belonging at Nido, my people and my home, this is what drew me to Nido in the first place

I am continually driven by our purpose;

To provide our Educators with the training, environment, motivation, and empowerment to deliver exceeding quality education to children, partnering with families, and giving children a voice and the opportunity to lead wonderful fulfilling lives.

I love that we seek to make quality early education available to everyone, regardless of their economic position. That we focus more on suburban children and advocate for their rights, Nido is truly a movement and not one to join without knowing you will need to put your heart on the line every single day.

Mary Oliver asked “What will you do with your one wild and precious life”, I cannot think of anything more fulfilling than what I get to do every day at Nido.

Kind regards,
Danika x