Hooked on Sensory Toys….
Over the last year, I have become hooked on the benefits of Sensory Toys; not just for children with disabilities but for everyone! It started with some “fidget items’ on the bench; shells and stones with different textures and colours. Then I got a bit more intentional and bought a Sensory Kit from Sensory Sam’s website. Then I noticed some cool ones at Kmart in the pet section, then the toy section and so on. I now have quite a big range of sensory toys, in my house placed in bowls and sorting trays, and in my car. The ones in the house are mainly used by adult visitors, as I make a cuppa they sit at the kitchen island and then before you know it they are fiddling with some fidget toys. This is when I bring out my favourite ones and soon we are just exploring, playing and relaxing.
In the vehicle I have bags of them for different children that I support, which I keep by their usual seats. I’ve noticed the first thing they do once seated in the vehicle is to get their bag out and start playing. When I travel with children who are siblings; this is particularly helpful to reduce those after school “snitchy moments” as we drive home from school. They can do turn-taking and swapping of toys while I focus on driving in the after-school traffic.
Because we engage with the world through our senses, sensory play is vital for children to integrate what they are experiencing. It is important for everyone, but especially for people with disabilities as it can help them improve their cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills in various ways.
Some of The Benefits of Sensory Play for People with Disabilities (qualityhealthcare.com.au)
- Cognitive skills: sensory play can help people with disabilities develop their attention span, concentration, memory, problem-solving, creativity and language skills. For example, sensory play can help people with dementia recall past memories or people with intellectual disabilities learn new words or concepts.
- Physical skills: sensory play can help develop their fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance and spatial awareness. For example, it can help strengthen their muscles or improve their mobility.
- Social skills: it can help people with disabilities develop their communication skills, social interaction skills, cooperation skills and self-confidence. For example, sensory play can help people with autism express their emotions or communicate their needs or preferences.
- Emotional skills: it can help develop their self-awareness, self-regulation and coping skills. For example, sensory play can help people with anxiety calm down or relax or people with depression feel happier or more motivated.
Sensory play can also provide a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction for people with disabilities. It can make them feel valued and respected as individuals who have unique abilities and preferences. It can also make them feel more connected to themselves and others.
If you have never experienced the joy of sensory toys, I recommend you have a go. You can make your own, use found objects that appeal to you or buy some. Pick one up and don’t think about what you are doing with it. Chat to someone or watch TV or read and then after a while take a moment to see how you feel. Try out some different ones, squeeze balls, pompoms, keys on a keyring, heavier metal ones, soft fluffy ones. You will soon discover your preferences. I have always been a “phone pacer” I will find myself walking up and down the room when on the phone. I discovered that if I have a something to fidget with in my hand, I don’t walk around! Given that I have patchy mobile reception; this has been a real game-changer!