As a parent to a little preschooler, you’ll know all too well that while daily life is filled with laughter, excitement, love, and new experiences, it’s also filled with a whole lot of mess!

When we look at how much of a mess our preschoolers make, we understand that on the surface it can feel slightly inconvenient! Yes, while it may take time to clean up the hand paints that have spilt all over the kitchen floor, or pull the sticky play dough out of the living room carpet, let’s look at this on a deeper level for a moment.

For children of this age range, there’s something about experiencing the sight, touch, texture and smell of different materials and substances that lights them up inside and allows them to learn and grow in a fantastic way.

So, when you observe your little one pouring the yolk from their dippy egg onto the table, or emptying an entire can of shaving foam and smearing it onto the bathroom walls, understand that they are engaging in something called sensory play.

But what is sensory play, and why is it important?

What is sensory play, and why is it important for my child?

Sensory play (which is also known as messy play) is a wonderfully liberating and free form of play children like to engage in, that significantly aids their wellbeing and overall happiness as they grow. It allows them to learn about and discover things about the world around them through the stimulation of their senses.

For a child at the preschool age, sensory play is central to them developing a proper understanding of the world. Although from an adult's perspective, playing with playdough, messy paints, or a box of dried pasta may feel like a relatively simple and even boring activity, these relaxed and unrushed moments are very impactful for little children. Not only do they strengthen the neural pathways in their brain and allow them to grasp concepts that are difficult for adults to explain, but they are also given the space to analyse what they themselves feel about all of it, too.

For example, giving your child the opportunity to play with ice – seeing how it feels on their skin and watching it melt – allows them to understand what the word ‘freezing’ means, and to think about what this sensation makes them feel. Excited? Happy? Hot? Cold?

The wonderful thing about sensory play is that it isn’t a competition. A child doesn’t have to feel pressured to attain something, to do well, or to be ‘the best’. Sensory play gives them a chance to learn in their own time, at their own pace, and develop confidence and skills naturally.

Now that we understand a bit more about the meaning of sensory play and why it is important, let's deep dive into what you can do to help your little one engage in it themselves.

How can I help my child engage in and learn from sensory play at home?

While your child will probably have the opportunity to engage in sensory play in their nursery or preschool setting, it’s good to understand the ways in which you can help them have the same experiences in your home.

Consider the following tips regarding sensory play:

Use playdough. Sensory play can be very enjoyable for your child, even by using something as simple as playdough, which you can get from most supermarkets or even make at home. An idea for an activity you can do with your child with this material is to make your own playdough and add lavender from the garden to it, or perhaps another sweet-smelling flower.

Create a sensory play resource box. Some parents like to create a sensory play resource box that can be stored in the home somewhere. This way, when your child is ready to do sensory play they will have a selection of things to choose from. Items you could put in the box could include pots of litter, paper for drawing, playdough, bubbles, shredded paper, feathers, dried pasta/rice/oats, cotton wool balls, baby lotion/hand cream, paints and brushes, chalks, water, and crazy soap.

Be on hand when they are playing. Sensory play isn’t just useful for a child’s individual development, it’s also a chance to help them strengthen their bond and attachment with you as their parent. Sensory play creates opportunities for shared enjoyable experiences that you can both indulge in. In addition, it’s important that you are keeping watch of any items that they could potentially choke on.

Know that it doesn’t always have to be messy. While activities like hand painting, bubble painting, and foot painting can be extremely messy, not all sensory play activities have to be – if you prepare properly.

What is sensory play?

Get messy! Here’s how sensory play aids your child’s development.