We perceive the world through our senses. From the moment we’re born, we take on a discovery journey of everything around us by touching, smelling, seeing, listening, and tasting. Sensory play is perfect for encouraging your baby to explore.
For babies, it’s especially important to stimulate their senses, in order to aid their development and aquaint themselves with the world. Sensory toys can help in the process of learning through discovery and retaining information. Here is everything you need to know about them.
What are sensory toys?
You’ve probably noticed that your child wants to put everything they see and can grab hold of in their mouth and play around with it while observing it. That’s their way of becoming familiar with the object.
In order to stimulate their learning ability, engage them in sensory play – an activity that prompts any of your child’s senses.
There are toys specifically designed to aid their play and learning endeavours and are called sensory toys . They not only stimulate their senses but also provide your child with a sense of calm.
Sensory Play Silly Spinwheel
Where to buy sensory play toys?
There is a variety of sensory toys, from interactive books to ball pits that can be bought at specialised children’s shops, such as Nuby.
At Nuby, we have a wide range of sensory toys designed to stimulate your child’s cognitive behaviour. Our Sensory Toys Set is a multifunctional toy in bright colours that’s ideal for small hands and can encourage counting and learning, all while having fun.
If you’re looking for something that stimulates a range of sensors and skills, then the Electronic Activity Cube is perfect for your child. It features six different activities that help develop spacial and shape recognition skills and hand-eye coordination, while the music and lights keep your baby engaged for longer periods of time.
What are sensory toys used for?
Sensory toys not only stimulate your child’s senses; they also encourage the development of certain skills, including movement, balance, spatial awareness, and language.
Fine motor skills are especially important, and sensory toys can help develop them. They stimulate small muscle groups that are used for activities, such as writing, buttoning, zipping, and shoe-lacing. Toys that involve pouring, lacing, and pinching can be especially helpful in mastering those. Our Musical Watering Can is perfect for that.
Sensory toys are also great for developing language skills. Through exploring different objects, textures, and sounds, they’re building new ways of thinking and talking about the world. A tree can have more attributes, such as a pine scent, a rough bark, and sharp spikes.
What are the benefits of sensory play?
When babies are born, their senses aren’t fully developed yet, but through sensory play, babies can build new nerve connections in their brain, thus aiding the development process. Their memory and the ability to perform complex tasks and problem-solving are also enhanced. Staying focused and thinking independently and creativey are also encouraged through sensory play.
Certain skills such as fine motor and language skills are also being bolstered as the child learns to respond to different stimuli, triggered by sensory toys.
Another reason we use toys in general is to soothe a baby. Sensory toys in particular provide a calming effect on children’s angry or anxious behaviour, thus regulating their emotions.
Engaging your child in sensory play from as early age as possible will help develop their cognitive and learning abilities, alongside a range of other skills.
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