
Sensory play, a type of play that stimulates children’s senses, plays a crucial role in child development. By immersing children in rich, tactile experiences, sensory play helps to build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which are essential for a child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks. It involves activities that engage a child’s sense of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing, thereby fostering their cognitive, physical, and emotional growth. Through these engaging and often novel sensory experiences, children develop critical skills such as problem-solving, decision making, and social interaction, while also enhancing memory and attention span.
Importance of Sensory Play in Child Development
The significance of sensory play in child development cannot be overstated. It lays the foundation for learning through exploration and discovery, encouraging children to use the ‘scientific method’ of observing, forming hypotheses, experimenting, and making conclusions. Sensory play acts as a natural way for children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information, helping their brains to create stronger connections to process and respond to sensory information. Some of the ways this can aid child development include:
- Physical Development
- Cognitive Development
- Emotional & Social Development
Physical Development
Sensory play often involves activities that require movement and coordination, thereby improving a child’s physical abilities. Activities such as stacking blocks, moulding clay/playdough, or scooping sand help refine motor skills, balance, and coordination, laying the groundwork for more complex physical activities in the future
Cognitive Development
Through sensory play, children can learn about their environment and develop problem-solving skills, enhancing their cognitive abilities. This form of play helps them understand cause and effect, supports language development, encourages scientific thinking, and problem-solving skills. It also allows them to use their imagination and creativity, further expanding their cognitive skills.
Emotional & Social Development
Sensory play offers opportunities for children to express their emotions and interact with others, promoting emotional intelligence and social skills. It provides a natural way for children to explore their feelings and learn how to share, negotiate, and cooperate with others. Through group sensory play activities, children learn about taking turns, respecting the play ideas of others, and developing empathy towards their peers.

Moreover, sensory play is inclusive, catering to children of all abilities, including those with special educational needs. It provides a unique opportunity for non-verbal communication, thereby promoting inclusivity and understanding among children. This form of play can be particularly therapeutic for children with sensory processing issues, as it can help them to regulate their sensory input and learn how to process it more effectively.
Role of Sensory Play in Enhancing Motor Skills
Motor skills, which involve the use of muscles to perform various tasks, are a crucial aspect of child development. Fine motor skills refer to the ability to make small movements, such as picking up small objects between the thumb and finger, while gross motor skills involve larger movements that engage larger muscles, like jumping, running, or climbing. These skills are essential for everyday tasks from writing and buttoning clothes to playing sports and navigating physical spaces.
Sensory play plays a vital role in the development of both fine motor skills (small movements like grasping) and gross motor skills (larger movements like jumping). Engaging in sensory play allows children to naturally explore and practise these skills in a fun and stimulating environment. For instance, a child playing with playdough can improve their fine motor skills as they mould and shape the material. This activity requires the use of small muscle movements in the hands and fingers to pinch, roll, and flatten the playdough, enhancing dexterity and hand-eye coordination. The tactile experience of feeling the texture, resistance, and pliability of playdough also provides essential sensory feedback that aids in the development of neural pathways critical for fine motor skill development.
Impact of Sensory Play on Cognitive Growth
Cognitive growth in children involves the development of skills such as thinking, learning, problem-solving, and creativity. Sensory play is a powerful tool in promoting cognitive growth. It stimulates creativity as children experiment with different materials and textures, and enhances problem-solving skills as children figure out how to accomplish a given task. Through sensory play, children engage in activities that challenge them to think critically and make decisions, thereby fostering an innovative mindset and an ability to approach problems from multiple angles.
Effective sensory integration is crucial for children to understand and interact with the world around them. Sensory play aids in this integration by providing children with varied sensory experiences, which help in developing their ability to process and respond to different sensory inputs. This leads to better coordination, concentration, and an enhanced understanding of the environment. Activities such as playing with kinetic sand, water tables, or sensory bins not only offer a multitude of textures and sensations but also require children to use their senses in coordination, promoting cognitive connections and the ability to focus on complex tasks. This foundation is critical for academic learning and social interactions, making sensory play an integral component of early childhood development.

Role of Occupational Therapists in Sensory Play
Paediatric occupational therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in supporting the development of these skills. They can help to design and implement various sensory experiences that can facilitate a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. An occupational therapist (OT) will assess each child’s unique sensory needs and preferences, ensuring that sensory play activities are tailored to support individual developmental goals.
They might employ various techniques and strategies in implementing sensory play, such as creating sensory-rich environments or designing sensory-based activities that align with a child’s specific developmental needs. For example, an occupational therapist might design a sensory bin filled with rice, beans, or water beads to help a child with tactile sensitivities gradually acclimate to different textures, or they might incorporate obstacle courses to enhance gross motor skills and proprioceptive feedback.
The combination of occupational therapy and sensory play can lead to significant improvements in a child’s development, including enhanced motor skills, better sensory integration, and improved problem-solving and social skills. OTs will work closely with children and their families, providing guidance on how to incorporate sensory play into daily routines and activities, making therapy more enjoyable and impactful.
- Clinic Location: Robina
2/201 Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina, 4226
Gold Coast, Queensland
At Therapy Partners, we understand the transformative power of sensory play in child development. Our occupational therapists are dedicated to supporting individuals and families in navigating the journey of growth and development. Whether your child is facing challenges with sensory processing, motor skills, or cognitive development, we are here to offer tailored support and expert guidance. Contact us today to discover how we can enhance your child’s development journey through the thoughtful integration of sensory play and occupational therapy.