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Benefits of sensory play for<br />
children with SEN<br />
by Lisa Lane<br />
Incorporating sensory play<br />
We are all different and how we learn is different too. Therefore, it is important to<br />
recognise, particularly for SEN children, how their needs can be met to give the best<br />
learning experience possible. By incorporating various forms of sensory play into the<br />
everyday learning experience we are able to enhance the learning journey of every child.<br />
Allowing children the luxury of discovering their world in more interesting and stimulating<br />
ways means they can experience challenges, success and peer teaching, whatever<br />
their ability!<br />
We know from research that sensory<br />
play allows children to engage with their<br />
environment, develop social skills,<br />
language and learn. For children with<br />
special educational needs where a child’s<br />
ability to learn in the same way as their<br />
peers is affected, sensory play can be<br />
highly beneficial.<br />
Social development<br />
A sensory play tray can engage<br />
numerous senses, creating an inviting,<br />
calming and tactile stimulus for children of<br />
all abilities. Playing alongside peers in such<br />
an environment takes away the pressure<br />
for a particular outcome and allows the<br />
children to develop their own games,<br />
scenarios and learning experience.<br />
Social relationships become more natural<br />
if children are all engaged in digging in the<br />
sand or finding letters in the tub of dried<br />
pasta. While the learning aspect is what<br />
letter sounds are found, the focus is on the<br />
fun of digging! A sensory table filled with<br />
animals, vehicles, different textures, scent<br />
pouches, nature items and sound<br />
shakers is a platform for all learning<br />
abilities and open-ended play. By theming<br />
the play table, different learning goals can<br />
be incorporated because - as Albert<br />
Einstein stated - ‘Play is the highest form of<br />
research’.<br />
Learning through<br />
sensory stimulus<br />
As children learn to use their senses more<br />
and more, the better they become at<br />
exploring the world via those senses. For<br />
instance, if a child with SEN is more open<br />
to tactile learning, then teaching with<br />
this in mind will be beneficial to their<br />
individual development.<br />
Learning to write doesn’t have to be just sat<br />
at a table with a pencil and paper, but can<br />
be mark making on a tray filled with foam<br />
or forming letters out of play-dough. Once<br />
the letter formation and hand-eye coordination<br />
is learnt, the finer motor skill of writing<br />
can be introduced.<br />
Using a combination of senses can also<br />
be beneficial to everyday learning. By<br />
listening to a story read aloud whilst<br />
following the words in a book and hearing<br />
the difference in expression, a child can<br />
develop language, emotion and social<br />
skills. Music and dance will allow gross<br />
motor skills to develop and can incorporate<br />
learning key information such as days of the<br />
week, the alphabet or number sequences.<br />
The use of different approaches to play and<br />
learning will allow a child with SEN to get<br />
the most from their environment.<br />
Lisa Lane launched Sensory Scenes in 2014 with the aim to provide<br />
themed bags of fun for play, exploring and learning. With three boys<br />
of her own, she is passionate about children being able to manipulate,<br />
explore and use their imagination. Sensory Scenes’ themed bags are perfect for<br />
individual play, sensory tray play and themed subject planning.<br />
Follow Sensory Scenes on Facebook, on Twitter @sensoryscenes,<br />
visit the website or email lisa@sensoryscenes.co.uk
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