The Importance of Sensory Toys in Early Childhood Development
Sensory toys for kids are not just toys, but an important developmental aid. They lay the foundation for the child’s future learning and overall development.
Some benefits of sensory toys for young children include brain development, motor skills and social skills. They also help young children understand their physical environment better.
What Are Sensory Toys?
Anything that stimulates one or more of the senses is a sensory toy.
The senses include the five main ones- sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. This, along with the sense of our body’s position and state, the sense of our body’s balance, needs, and functions.
A sensory toy for kids could be as simple as a busy board or a homemade sensory toy such as a bin of kinetic rice or sand.
Skillmatics UK’s Animal Pattern Puzzle Set is a great play kit for this purpose. This puzzle helps in encouraging the little ones to hone their observation skills while they match the fit in the animals in their corresponding patterns. This bright and colourful puzzle not only looks attractive but is a fun way of teaching kids about animals.
Why You Should Introduce Sensory Toys to Your Little Ones?
The first few years after the birth of your child are crucial. It is a period of rapid brain development. Around 90% of their brain develops by the time they are five years old. Sensory toys for babies and newborns encourage and facilitate both physical and mental development during these initial years.
Some important benefits of sensory toys in the early years are:
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Cognitive Development
Sensory toys help boost your child’s ability to develop cognitive skills. Some examples of cognitive skills are developing the ability to focus, distinguishing shapes and colours and figuring out the hows and whys.
Children’s sensory toys help them develop all these skills. You can scale their sensory toys according to their age. Sensory toys for newborns can include squishy toys which will help them understand the nature of their physical environment. You could use wooden rattles to help them understand the concept of sound.
High-contrast flashcards are great Sensory toys for babies. It’s their first introduction to colour.
Skillmatics UK has some of the best sensory toys for sensory development.
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Language Development
Playing with sensory toys encourages kids to vocalise their needs and emotions. Sensory toys for babies such as squishy or wooden toys stimulate them to express their feelings about different textures.
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Fine Motor Skills Development
Many sensory toys for babies involve arranging or stacking items. This encourages them to use and control the small muscles in their hands. These also help in developing physical co-ordination.
- Relieves Stress
Fidget toys are one of the best sensory toys for babies. These have a calming effect on very young children. This is because they provide them with a physical outlet to channelise any extra energy.
- Promotes Independence and Self Confidence
Sensory toys for kids are an important tool for building self-confidence and independence. They provide young children with agency to explore the physical world and its many elements. They also allow them to control their reactions to these elements. This boosts their confidence and help them in developing a sense of independence.
- Helps Improve Focus and Attention Span
Kids’ sensory toys help them develop focus and develop attention spans. Since these toys engage multiple physical sensations at the same time, it encourages them to be more attuned to their environment and learn to pay attention.
- Fosters Creativity and Imagination
Sensory toys for children engage their physical senses in a very unique way. They give young children free rein when it comes to exploring their imagination and creativity. While manipulating wooden or squishy toys, they are at liberty to create their little worlds.
- Aids in sensory processing and integration
Sensory toys for children stimulate their senses and allow them to explore them, in a safe environment. They encourage their brains to receive feedback from the sensory experience. This improves their sensory processing and integration. They also help them become more comfortable with daily stimuli in their environment.
Best Sensory Toys for Sensory Development For Kids At Skillmatics UK
It is a fact that sensory toys for children are a key tool in their early years, for overall development.
Skillmatics UK is an award-winning company. We make unique and innovative toys with a special focus on helping children develop their brains and bodies most effectively.
Some of our most popular toys are:
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Flashcards
High-contrast Flashcards are one of our top-performing sensory toys for newborns and babies . They are expertly designed to help your young child’s developing visual sense.
Our Flash Cards for Toddlers: First 100 Animals is the perfect sensory toy for one year olds and two year olds. This deck of sixty cards has been specially created to help your child learn how to identify different colours and animals.
- Puzzles
Our Animal Pattern Puzzle Set is a great sensory toy for babies. It’s an excellent play kit that will help your child improve their observational and critical thinking skills.
Our “Piece and Play” is a toy with similar benefits for slightly older children.
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Fun With Clay
Our clay kits are excellent products that will help your children explore their imagination and creativity.
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Art and Craft Kits
Similarly our Arts and Crafts Kits are great for getting your child to tap into the artistic side of their personality.
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Pretend and Play Games
Our Rainbow Diner Play Set is an excellent kit that will give your child the freedom to run wild with their imagination while simulating adult behaviour.
How To Choose The Right Sensory Toy for your Little One
Sensory toys for children are an indispensable tool for every parent. They are important aids for a child’s brain and physical development. However, there are some key factors to consider while choosing the right one for your child.
1. Consider Your Child’s Age
It is important to choose the right sensory toy that is age appropriate for your child.
For Infants- Squishy toys and colourful cards are the way to go
For Toddlers- Consider getting puzzles and clay art kits for toddlers.
For pre-schoolers- Pretend play kits, puzzles and board games are a great option.
2. Consider the Education Value
Educational games for kids include STEM toys, puzzles and educational board games.
3. Identify Sensory Preferences
It’s important to be mindful of your young child’s preferences when it comes to stimuli. These could include loud sounds and rough textures.
4. Look for Safety
Safety should always be the top priority when choosing sensory toys for children.
Skillmatics UK maintains the highest safety protocols while creating unique play products for your child and your family to bond over.
Conclusion
Sensory toys for children are one of the most important tools for any new parent to have in their arsenal, when it comes to helping their young child maximise their development, during those important early years.
Along with art and craft kits, Skillmatics UK bring you an amazing collection of Stem toys and puzzles for kids.
FAQs
- At what age can I introduce sensory toys to my child?
You can introduce sensory objects as toys to your child from the moment they are born.
- Are sensory toys safe for children?
Yes, only when you are buying them from a reputed company, compliant with safety standards and use only non-toxic child-friendly materials.
- How do sensory toys help in emotional regulation?
Sensory toys for babies such as fidget toys help provide them with an outlet for any excess emotion or energy, and help them regulate their emotions.
- How do sensory toys help?