In my article ‘Development of your Baby’s senses’ I wrote about how individual senses develop in babies and what role they play in their brain development and learning. Engaging all our senses when learning is the most beneficial and effective way of discovering the world around us and making a sense of it. The most fond memories that I have of growing up are the ones when I was able to explore and create things in the mud kitchen. Covered in mud from head to toe I learned how to make something out of nothing, being resourceful and creative. I encouraged and motivated others to join in my play and I developed my language skills using various scenarios such as serving my famous mud pies to customers of a posh restaurant! I hope that you, too, share similar childhood memories and benefitted from sensory play. Providing your child with multi sensory learning opportunities is not only an exciting way for them to learn but it creates unforgettable memories. Let's say you wanted to teach your baby a new word ‘Banana’. You can teach it to your baby using a flashcard, or even a real banana that you show to them, they will eventually remember and associate the picture of the banana/banana with the word. Now think about how much more they could learn if you gave a real banana to your baby to explore. I can already smell it, feel it, taste it, touch it … your baby can get so much more sensory feedback and learning from this simple activity. And they will definitely learn more and enjoy it more. This type of play engages all their senses - the more the better. Similar to grown ups, children are all unique and learn best in different ways. By providing hands-on experiences, such as the banana activity, you ensure that your baby can explore the activity in their own way and benefit from it. As Albert Einstein said: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Sensory play gives children an opportunity to learn in their own way and master the task regardless of their learning style as sensory play covers it all! Sensory play, apart from being a lot of fun, has other numerous benefits. It: Teaches the concept of cause and effect and understanding what impact their actions have on others; Stimulates brain activity by enhancing memory and supporting problem solving; Develops both fine and gross motor skills through tactile play which helps with school readiness activities such as using scissors for cutting or holding a pencil; Supports development of your baby’s communication skills, including language development by broadening vocabulary range and interacting socially with others, sharing experiences; Enhances memory and observational skills; Encourages creative and independent thinking; Promotes emotional regulation by providing a calming effect on children’s angry or anxious feelings. (Reference: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/what-is-sensory-play-and-why-is-it-important/)