Sensory play is more than just fun and games.
It’s the feel of wet sand squishing between the fingers at the beach, the vibrant colours of a homemade “rainbow” from dyed rice, or the fragrant aroma of bunga kantan and lemongrass in a pretend masak-masak (cooking) session.
These hands-on experiences allow children to explore, experiment and make sense of the world.
It includes any type of play that stimulates the senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste.
It also incorporates the often-overlooked senses of balance (vestibular) and body awareness (proprioception), which are crucial for physical development and coordination.
In essence, it’s a child’s natural way of understanding their surroundings.
By engaging their senses, children are not just playing, they are also building neural pathways.
These early interactions support cognitive growth, information-processing, problem-solving skills and a strong foundation for future learning.
Beneficial fun
From boosting brain power to building social skills, sensory play offers a world of benefits that go far beyond the playroom.
These include:
Sensory play builds neural pathways.
Problem-solving activities like pouring water into a container or building with blocks foster critical thinking, focus and memory.
Manipulating playdough or tweezers develops fine motor control.
Jumping or climbing strengthens gross motor skills for coordination and balance.
Exploring textures teaches descriptive words like “smooth” or “sticky”, thus enriching communication.
Talking about actions and observations leads to conversation.
Sensory play can calm children and help them self-regulate.
Playing together teaches sharing, taking turns and empathy.
Regular sensory play helps children process and organise sensory input, teaching them to filter distractions so that they can focus.
Activities can reduce anxiety and frustration.
Try these out
The best sensory activities use simple, everyday items.
Here are some ideas:
Activities for touch can include playing with materials such as playdough, slime or kinetic sand, as well as fun games like finger painting.
They can also explore different textures, sizes and weights using a sensory bin filled with rice, pasta or beans, or playing with wooden blocks and stackers.
Parents can use colourful picture books or flashcards, or sort objects by their colour and size.
Watching bubbles float and pop during bath time is also a great way to stimulate sight.
Try playing with homemade or store-bought musical instruments, singing songs and nursery rhymes, or listening to the sounds of nature during a walk.
Activities for smell and taste involve taste-testing a variety of foods with different flavours, like sweet, sour and salty, and smelling flowers or herbs from a garden.
Playing in the playground, swinging, jumping and rolling – all these activities can stimulate their senses of movement, balance and body awareness.
Sensory play isn’t just a way to pass the time; it’s a vital part of childhood that sparks curiosity, builds essential life skills and helps children feel more confident in the world around them.
By weaving simple, sensory-rich experiences into everyday life, parents can turn ordinary moments into powerful opportunities for learning, growth and joy.
Associate Professor Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor is a consultant developmental paediatrician. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
