How to Use Sensory Activities to Support Language Development ⋆ Parenting Chaos

It’s no secret that language development is a critical aspect of a child’s early years. However, did you know that sensory activities can play a significant role in supporting that development?

By engaging a child’s senses we can enhance their ability to communicate and comprehend language.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, let’s explore the world of sensory activities and their impact on language development!

What are Sensory Activities?

Sensory activities are activities that engage one or more of the senses, including touch, sight, sound, taste, smell, body awareness, and internal bodily sensations. These activities are designed to stimulate and develop a child’s sensory system, which plays a crucial role in their overall development.

Sensory activities can range from simple activities like playing with play dough or drawing with crayons, to more complex activities like creating art with a variety of materials or exploring different scents or flavors. Sensory activities can be designed to focus on one sense, or they can incorporate multiple senses to provide a more holistic learning experience.

The goal of sensory activities is to provide children with opportunities to learn through exploration and play, and to support their overall growth and development.

The Eight Sensory Systems

Now that we have a basic understanding of what sensory activities are, let’s explore some of the different types of sensory activities that can support language development.

Tactile Activities: These activities involve touch and texture, such as playing with playdough or sand. They can help children build their vocabulary by describing what they feel, and improve their fine motor skills.

Visual Activities: These activities involve sight, such as looking at books, puzzles, or observing nature. They can help children develop their vocabulary and descriptive language skills by talking about what they see.

Auditory Activities: These activities involve sound, such as listening to music, singing songs, or playing instruments. They can help children improve their listening skills, auditory processing, and language development.

Olfactory Activities: These activities involve smell, such as smelling different scents, like flowers or spices. They can help children develop their vocabulary by introducing them to new words and concepts.

Gustatory and Oral Activities: These activities involve taste, such as tasting different foods or beverages. They can help children develop their vocabulary and descriptive language skills, as well as their sense of taste.

Proprioceptive Activities: These activities involve body awareness, such as pushing or pulling heavy objects or jumping. They can help children develop their vocabulary related to body movement, and improve their gross motor skills.

Vestibular Activities: These activities involve balance and movement, such as spinning or swinging. They can help children develop their vocabulary related to body position, and improve their balance and coordination.

Interoceptive Activities: These activities involve awareness of internal bodily sensations, such as hunger, thirst, or fatigue. They can help children learn to express their needs and feelings, and develop their emotional intelligence.

Using Sensory Activities for Language Development

Sensory activities provide opportunities for children to engage with their environment in a meaningful way and develop important language skills. Some of the ways sensory activities can encourage language development are:

Encourages communication and language skills: Sensory activities can provide children with opportunities to express themselves and communicate their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. By engaging in sensory activities, children can develop their language skills and build confidence in their ability to communicate.

Enhances vocabulary and word learning: Sensory activities can introduce children to new words and concepts, helping them build their vocabulary and language skills. For instance, tactile activities like playing with playdough or sand can introduce children to new textures and descriptive words.

Improves listening skills: Sensory activities that involve sound, such as listening to music or playing instruments, can help children improve their listening skills and auditory processing. This, in turn, can support their language learning and comprehension skills.

Helps with understanding and expressing emotions: Sensory activities that involve awareness of internal bodily sensations, such as hunger or fatigue, can help children develop their emotional intelligence by learning to express their needs and feelings. This, in turn, can support their ability to communicate and understand emotions.

Provides opportunities for social interaction: Many sensory activities are designed to be done with others, providing children with opportunities for social interaction and communication. By engaging in sensory activities with others, children can learn to collaborate, communicate, and build relationships.

Tips for using Sensory Activities to Support Language Development

Sensory activities can be a powerful tool for supporting language development in children. By engaging their senses, children are able to explore and understand the world around them, which can help them develop their communication and language skills.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of sensory activities for language development:

Make sure to provide a variety of sensory experiences. Children learn through exploration and experimentation, so offering a range of different textures, sounds, smells, and tastes can help keep them engaged and interested.
Use open-ended questions to encourage conversation. Rather than asking yes or no questions, try asking questions that require more thought and explanation. This can help build vocabulary and critical thinking skills, as well as encourage children to express themselves more fully.
Follow the child’s lead and interests. When children are engaged in activities that they enjoy, they are more likely to be motivated to communicate and express themselves. So, try to offer sensory activities that align with their interests and let them take the lead in exploring and experimenting.
Encourage exploration and experimentation. Sensory activities are all about exploring and experimenting with the world around us, so make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for children to do so. This can help build their curiosity and problem-solving skills, as well as support their language development.
Provide opportunities for repetition. Children often need to experience things multiple times before they fully understand and internalize them. So, make sure to offer sensory activities on a regular basis and allow children to repeat activities they enjoy. This can help build their confidence and reinforce their language development.

Examples of Sensory Activities for Language Development

Here are some examples of sensory activities that can support language development:

Tactile:

Playdough: Using playdough to create different shapes and objects can encourage children to use their imagination and practice their storytelling skills by describing what they are making.
Sand: Playing with sand can provide children with opportunities to practice their problem-solving skills as they figure out how to build structures or create different designs.
Finger Paint: Finger painting can help children develop their communication skills by encouraging them to express their thoughts and emotions through art.
Water Play: Playing with water can provide children with opportunities to practice their social skills as they engage in water play with others and learn to take turns.
Sensory Bins: Sensory bins can provide children with opportunities to practice their cognitive skills as they sort and categorize different materials.
Clay: Working with clay can help children develop their creativity and critical thinking skills as they experiment with different shapes and designs.
Beads or Buttons: Stringing beads or sorting buttons can help children develop their fine motor skills while also providing opportunities to practice their counting and sequencing skills.

Visual:

Visual Scavenger Hunt: Creating a visual scavenger hunt can help children develop their observation and deduction skills as they search for specific objects or images in their environment.
Shadow Puppetry: Creating shadow puppets and performing a play can help children develop their storytelling and communication skills.
Charades: Playing charades can help children develop their communication and acting skills as they use body language and facial expressions to communicate a message.
Sensory Collages: Creating collages can help children develop their creativity and storytelling skills as they use different images and materials to create a unique work of art.
Light Table: Using a light table can help children develop their visual discrimination and sensory awareness skills as they explore different shapes, colors, and textures.
Sorting and Matching Games: Sorting and matching games can help preschoolers develop their visual discrimination skills as they identify and categorize objects based on different criteria, such as size, shape, or color. They can also practice vocabulary and language skills by describing the attributes of the objects they are sorting and matching.
Mirror Play: Using a mirror can help preschoolers develop their self-awareness and emotional recognition skills as they observe their own facial expressions and body language. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice language skills as they describe their emotions and how they are feeling.

Auditory:

Singing: Singing songs and nursery rhymes can help children develop their phonological awareness and language skills as they learn new words, rhythm, and rhyme.
Listening Games: Playing listening games such as “Simon Says” or “I Spy” can help children develop their auditory discrimination and attention skills as they listen carefully to follow instructions or identify sounds in their environment.
Storytelling: Encouraging children to tell stories can help them develop their imagination and language skills as they use words to create characters, settings, and events.
Rhyming Games: Playing rhyming games such as “Rhyme Time” or “Word Family Match” can help children develop their phonemic awareness and language skills as they identify and generate words that rhyme.
Musical Instruments: Playing musical instruments can help children develop their fine motor skills and coordination while also providing opportunities to explore different sounds and rhythms. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice language skills as they describe the sounds they hear.
Sound Walks: Taking sound walks can help children develop their auditory perception and attention skills as they listen carefully to different sounds in their environment such as birds singing, cars honking, or leaves rustling.
Audio Storytelling: Creating audio stories or podcasts can help children develop their storytelling and communication skills as they plan, record, and edit their own stories. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice language skills as they use descriptive words and phrases to bring their stories to life.

Olfactory:

Scent Guessing Game: Blindfold a child and have them smell different scents (such as vanilla, cinnamon, or lavender) and try to guess what they are. This can help them develop their sensory perception and recognition skills while also providing an opportunity to practice communication and descriptive language.
Baking and Cooking: Engaging in baking or cooking activities can help children develop their olfactory perception and memory skills as they smell different spices, herbs, and ingredients. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice sequencing, following instructions, and using new vocabulary related to cooking and baking.
Scented Playdough: Making scented playdough (such as peppermint or lemon) can help children develop their olfactory perception and fine motor skills while also providing an opportunity for them to practice imaginative play, storytelling, and communication.
Smelling Bottles: Filling different bottles with different scents (such as orange, lemon, or eucalyptus) and having children smell them can help them develop their olfactory perception and identification skills while also providing an opportunity for them to practice using descriptive words and phrases.
Aromatherapy: Using aromatherapy diffusers or sprays can help children develop their olfactory perception and relaxation skills. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice expressing emotions, using calming words and phrases, and describing how different scents make them feel.
Nature Walks: Going on nature walks and smelling different flowers, herbs, and plants can help children develop their olfactory perception and connection to the natural world while also providing an opportunity for them to practice using descriptive language and making connections between different smells and their surroundings.
Blindfolded Food Tasting: Blindfolding a child and having them taste different foods (such as fruits, vegetables, or cheeses) can help them develop their olfactory perception and taste memory skills while also providing an opportunity for them to practice using descriptive words to describe the different tastes and textures of the foods they are tasting.

Oral/Gustatory:

Mouth Movements: Practicing different mouth movements (such as sticking out the tongue, blowing raspberries, or puckering the lips) can help children develop their oral motor skills and articulation while also providing an opportunity for them to practice making different sounds and engaging in social communication (such as playing a game of “follow the leader” or making silly faces together).
Blowing Bubbles: Blowing bubbles can help children develop their oral motor skills and breath control while also providing an opportunity for them to practice making different sounds and engaging in social communication (such as counting how many bubbles they can blow or pretending to catch bubbles together).
Tongue Twisters: Practicing tongue twisters can help children develop their articulation and phonemic awareness skills, while also providing an opportunity for them to practice using different rhythms and tones in their speech.
Blowing Games: Playing games that involve blowing, such as blowing a feather or cotton ball across a table or blowing a pinwheel, can help children develop their breath control and oral motor skills. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using language to negotiate and strategize with their peers.
Chewing Activities: Chewing on gum, crunchy foods like apples or carrots, or chewy foods like licorice or gummy bears can help children develop their oral motor skills and improve their sensory processing abilities. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using descriptive language to talk about the taste, texture, and sensation of the food they’re chewing.
Sucking through a Straw: Sucking through a straw can help children develop their oral motor skills, breath control, and lip and tongue strength. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using expressive language to describe the different sensations they feel in their mouth and throat.
Taste Testing Around the World: Introducing children to different cuisines from around the world can help them develop their taste perception and cultural awareness skills. This can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using new vocabulary related to different cuisines and cultures, as well as expressing curiosity and interest in learning about different foods and traditions.

Proprioceptive:

Crawling through Tunnels: Crawling through tunnels can provide children with proprioceptive input to their joints and muscles, while also providing opportunities for imaginative play and social interaction. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using spatial and directional language to navigate through the tunnel.
Tug-of-war: Tug-of-war can provide children with proprioceptive input to their muscles and joints, while also providing opportunities for social interaction and turn-taking. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using expressive language to communicate with their teammates and strategize their moves.
Obstacle Courses: Setting up obstacle courses that involve crawling, jumping, balancing, and climbing can help children develop their proprioceptive sense, as well as their gross motor skills and coordination. These activities can also provide an opportunity for children to use spatial language to describe their movements and navigate the course.
Jumping on a Trampoline: Jumping on a trampoline can provide deep pressure and resistance to the joints and muscles in the body, which can help children develop their body awareness and coordination. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using expressive language to describe the different ways they jump, such as high, low, fast, or slow.
Yoga and Stretching: Practicing yoga or stretching can help children develop their proprioceptive sense, which is important for body awareness and motor planning. These activities can also provide an opportunity for children to follow instructions and learn new vocabulary related to body parts and movement.
Heavy Work Activities: Engaging in heavy work activities such as carrying, pushing, pulling, or squeezing heavy objects can help children develop their proprioceptive sense and regulate their sensory input. These activities can also provide an opportunity for children to learn new action words and descriptive language related to weight and force.
Animal Walks: Animal walks, such as crawling like a bear or hopping like a bunny, can help children develop their proprioceptive sense and body awareness. These activities can also provide an opportunity for them to practice following directions and imitating movements.

Vestibular:

Sensory Swings: Using sensory swings, such as cocoon swings or platform swings, can help children develop their vestibular sense and provide calming and regulating input. These activities can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using language related to emotions and sensory experiences.
Storytelling: Children can listen to or participate in storytelling while engaging in movement activities, such as dancing or acting out the story. This can help develop their listening skills and comprehension, as well as encourage their imagination and creativity.
Music and Movement: Dancing or moving to music can help children develop their vestibular sense and rhythm. These activities can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using language related to rhythm, tempo, and beat.
Riding Scooters or Bikes: Riding scooters or bikes can help children develop their vestibular sense, balance, and coordination. This activity can also provide an opportunity for them to practice using positional and directional language, such as “forward”, “backward”, “left”, and “right”.
Human Wheelbarrow: Playing a game of human wheelbarrow, where one child holds another child’s legs and they walk together, can encourage children to work together and develop their communication skills, such as giving directions and providing feedback.
Simon Says: Playing a game of Simon says with movements that involve balance and coordination, such as standing on one leg or touching your toes, can help children develop their listening and comprehension skills.
Follow the Leader: children can take turns being the leader and coming up with different movements for the others to follow, such as skipping, jumping, or hopping. This can help improve their coordination and balance, while also providing opportunities for social interaction and turn-taking.

Interoceptive:

Sensory Check-ins: children can participate in brief sensory check-ins throughout the day to help them identify and label different sensations in their body. This can also provide opportunities for them to practice expressing their emotions and feelings to others.
Mindful Eating: children can practice mindful eating by paying attention to the different textures, smells, and tastes of their food. This can help them develop their sensory awareness and language skills related to taste and smell, while also encouraging healthy eating habits.
Mindful Breathing Exercises: children can practice deep breathing exercises to help regulate their emotions and develop self-awareness. This can also improve their ability to concentrate and focus during language activities.
Body Mapping: Have children draw or trace their body and identify areas where they feel different sensations, such as warmth or tension. This can help them develop their body awareness and vocabulary for describing physical sensations.
Body Awareness Games: Children can play games that require them to pay attention to different parts of their bodies, such as “Simon Says” with body movements or “Body Part Bingo” where they have to identify and touch different body parts. This activity helps children develop their body awareness and vocabulary, as well as their ability to follow directions and communicate about their bodies.
Sensory Storytelling: Children can create their own stories based on different sensations they feel inside their bodies, such as feeling warm, cold, tense, or relaxed. This activity helps children develop their creativity, imagination, and storytelling skills, as well as their ability to describe and express bodily sensations.
Emotion Charades: Children can act out different emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear, and guess each other’s emotions. This activity helps children develop their emotional vocabulary and understanding, as well as their ability to express and recognize emotions.

Sensory activities are a fun and effective way to support language development in children. By engaging their senses, children can learn new words, improve their listening skills, and express themselves more effectively.

As parents or educators, we can encourage language development by providing a variety of sensory experiences, asking open-ended questions, and following their lead. So, let’s get creative and incorporate sensory activities into our daily routine to help our children grow and thrive!

Please Share These Ideas on Sensory Activities for Language Development

Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful. Know a friend who’d like this? Please share it on Facebook or save it to your favorite board on Pinterest.