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Using Sensory Play in Therapy

by Anne Bramlett Webmaster

Sensory play has become a great tool for educators, therapists, and parents. Through sensory play, children are encouraged to explore their imagination using a range of different materials that provide multi-sensory stimulation.  These materials could include shaving cream, beans, rice, sand, finger paints, Play-Doh, etc.

 

Sensory play encourages a positive approach to new experiences. There is no "right" way for children to do sensory play. This builds self-confidence and self-esteem. Through sensory play, children can develop motor, communication, cognitive, and social skills.  Working with others fosters self-respect and respect for others. It also presents opportunities for making relationships. Sensory play can offer an outlet for feelings, thoughts, and experiences.

 

In occupational therapy, sensory play is used to give children the tools to develop and practice fine motor skills and eye hand coordination. Activities such as stacking, pouring and spooning will develop eye-hand coordination and self help skills. Writing and drawing shapes in shaving cream and using tongs will help develop fine motor skills.  Children also learn body awareness and grading motor control to control the way they touch and handle substances.  Hands-on activities provide the tactile experience to explore and to compare a variety of textures such as smooth, rough, hard and soft.  When a child is hypersensitive to tactile experiences, an occupational therapist can engage a child with a progression of textures to help desensitize the child’s tactile aversion.  Children can participate in work behaviors such as clean up and grooming practice while washing hands after sensory play.  Many popular handwriting curriculums such as, Handwriting Without Tears, focus on children developing their writing skills through a multi-sensory and play based instruction.  If you are seeking occupational therapy in Richardson, our clinic has several OTs with sensory training and experience.  We work with sensory integration challenges at each of our locations.

 

Speech therapists can utilize sensory play to develop communication and language development. During sensory play, children can be given opportunities to speak and listen. They will learn how to use words and gestures to share resources, take turns, explain actions, and negotiate plans.  Speech therapists can ask open ended questions to develop their thinking skills. The use of letters in the activities, leads to understanding of written text.  Children will learn to group, classify, and arrange items in a logical order, identify and match, and understand cause and effect.  Through sensory play, children can work on concentration, listening and following directions.  Sensory play can foster social skills by providing opportunities for cooperative play while working alongside peers.  So if you are considering speech therapy in Richardson, our therapist all incorporate sensory activities into treatment when appropriate  Our occupational therapists and speech therapists in each location take time to work together insuring the best carry over for our clients.  Families are included as part of the team, so they will have ideas and strategies to address sensory challenges at home in fun ways.

 

In a nutshell, sensory play is an important part of pediatric treatment; offering many opportunities for learning and can promote growth in all areas of development.  Many occupational and speech therapists will utilize sensory play as a therapeutic tool.


Author Bio:  Speech and OT - We offer experienced and caring speech therapy in Richardson, TX. We also offer the highest quality of occupational therapy in Richardson & surrounding cities. Specializing in children; Partnering with Families. Contact us for more details information!


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About Anne Bramlett Freshman   Webmaster

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Joined APSense since, November 27th, 2014, From Plano, Texas, United States.

Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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