Saturday, March 14, 2015

A Guide To Sensory Activities For Infants

By Lena Stephenson


As babies grow, they come into contact with various materials and objects. They are required to make use of their different senses to discern between these objects. It is in the child best interest that his parents engage him in sensory activities for infants so as to strengthen these senses and enable him use them to the maximum.

In choosing the type of sensory activities to use with your infant, there are various factors that need to be considered. The age of the baby is quite critical to determine the type of toys and props to be used. Any allergic reactions should be noted to avoid putting the baby imminent danger. In most cases, consulting with a certified pediatrician to ensure all runs well.

Age grouping of the children is key as they are in different stages of growth and development. The toddlers should be taught together, since they also require more attention. Preschool aged children should be taught together too. This group does not require as much attention, but will require different toys and techniques, as will they bigger kids who require physically and mentally challenging activities.

There exists a myriad of activities which may be arranged at home or at a kids park. Those targeting the sense of sight should teach the child about the importance of sight. This may be achieved by taking away the sight such as by blindfolding them and asking them to carry out certain activities such as walking or drawing. Other useful activities would include demonstration of peripheral vision and memorizing objects position after they are taken away or scrambled up.

The child sense of hearing should be practiced by use of singing games. Singing a song the kid is familiar with instantly grabs their attention and helps them focus. The child motor skills could be improved by incorporating dance into the singing games. A child auditory senses can be tested by trying to recognize two similar sounding toys and coupling them.

Engaging the child in activities that enhance their sense of touch will be of great impact as babies are naturally inclined to hold things and push them around by about four months after birth. This is done by activities such as finger painting, and walking barefoot both indoors and outdoors so as to feel the different elements. A game of guessing the object by only feeling it would also be applicable in this situation.

When approaching the sense of taste, a lot of care has to be taken as some objects used may hurt the baby by swallowing, chocking and placing dangerous items in their mouths. Engaging the child in sensory activities will show them the appropriate things to put into their mouths and those to avoid. Such activities include helping parents and guardians in preparation of simple meals and treats, tasting games, counting using snacks and the like.

The sense of smell may be explored by using various types of scented finger paints in arts and crafts. There also exists spice sprinkles which can be added into paint and glue for the kids. They can then be asked to identify the various smells based on the type of spice used. Lime dough, peppermint oatmeal, lavender and citrus dough are all available ad safe for play time.




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