Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates a young child's senses of touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing, as well as anything which engages movement and balance.

Through sensory play, children explore and naturally use scientific processes while they play, investigate, create and discover new sensations. Austek Play’s range of sensory equipment are specifically designed to engage a child’s senses and in addition to being fun and interesting for users, sensory activities encourage children to explore and investigate. Furthermore, these activities support children to use the ‘scientific method’ of observing, forming a hypothesis, experimenting and making conclusions.

Sensory play is also linked to supporting early childhood development.  For example, listening to new sounds supports language development, and sorting unique materials, like soft versus hard items, supports fine-motor skill coordination and cognitive development.

Tactile | provide children with an enjoyable experience which they exercise and develop their sense of touch (smooth, soft, hard, rough, grainy, uneven), which can be achieved through incorporating Austek Play’s sand play, water play and sensory panels.

Auditory | assist the development of the auditory system by including play features that appeal to the auditory sense. Austek Play have a range of talk tubes and musical play activities, such as chimes, rain wheels, bongos and xylophones.

Visual | there should be features and equipment in the play space that are pleasing to the eye, surprising, delightful and that assist the development of sight and the visual sensory process. This can be achieved by including Austek Play’s large range of themed units with vibrant colours. We have playground structures such as Pirates and Medieval, to Jungle and Sea themes.

Interaction with Natural Features | including natural features throughout the play space provides a great sensory experience. This can be accomplished by including Austek Play’s bespoke faux creek beds and natural timber components, including rope play.

Cosy Places | provide places children can use for social, solitary, imaginative and role play, and which children can use to relax and destress. Austek Play offers a bespoke cubby house or individual nooks within the confines of the play space.

Sensory activities also allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information, helping their brain to create stronger connections to sensory information and learn which are useful and which can be filtered out.

BENEFITS

• Helps to build nerve connections in the brain
• Encourages the development of motor skills
• Supports language development
• Encourages ‘scientific thinking’ and problem solving
• Can involve mindful activities which are beneficial for all children!