Sensory Integration is the process by which the brain receives, organises and processes all the information received from the senses. The senses include touch, sight, hearing, smell, taste, body position and movement (proprioception) and balance/position against gravity (vestibular). The information received from these senses help us to make sense of the world. Effective sensory integration and processing enables us to respond appropriately to different stimuli in our environment and informs our everyday functioning.
Sensory play is developed before other stages of play E.g. symbolic play, when a child will pretend to feed a teddy or pretend to be a doctor. A child is mostly interested in the way a toy tastes, looks, feels, sounds or smells. They may explore the toy by putting it in their mouth and/or spinning, rolling, flicking it etc for sensory enjoyment.
In toucan, we provide a sensory or ‘messy’ activity each week. With support from staff or independently, your child will explore the different textures on offer.
We sing the ‘brushing song’ whilst brushing your child’s hand with a range of brushes. This allows your child to desensitise themselves before they explore. A child’s tolerance to textures differ greatly but by using brushing it enables them to calm. It enables a child who might be nervous to build confidence, or a child who might be excited, calm.
In the infants, the children are heavily supported during sensory time. However, by the time they get to the juniors, lots of our junior toucans can brush their hands independently before exploring.