5 reasons why sensory integration is crucial for child development
3 minutes read | Written by Tink Things
During their first years of life children set the foundation for all the skills necessary to grow and learn and, for future emotional and mental capacity. One of the most important foundations is sensory integration. If nurtured correctly, it will become a basis for their emotional regulation, mental capacity and learning in adulthood. Here are five reasons why good sensory integration is so important during early childhood.
1. Provides a foundation for learning
Sensory integration, which is closely related to movement, helps build a foundation for learning by helping children focus and pay attention to their environment. This allows them to take in new information easily, which is essential for academic success later in life. Additionally, it helps them learn how to respond appropriately to different situations, and people, throughout their lives. When we move, our brains work better. It’s as simple as that.
Photo by Allen Taylor
2. Enhances motor skills
Natural, instinctive movement encourages sensory integration which is critical for good motor development. It also helps with balance, coordination and physical strength as kids interact with different objects or surfaces. In today’s technology-driven environment, it’s easy for children to become dependent on screens rather than using their bodies to explore their world. Providing opportunities for sensory exploration is essential for the development of motor skills.
3. Helps with socialisation
As children get older, socialisation becomes increasingly important for developing healthy relationships with other kids, caregivers and family. By incorporating open-ended objects into a child’s environment from an early age, we provide the tools necessary for self-regulation while also nurturing their focus and memory skills, all of which are components of meaningful socialisation later on in life.
Mia sensory hoodie chair by Tink Things
4. Builds problem solving abilities
By providing children with continuous, and well-directed, sensory experiences during their early years of development we nourish their brain and help enhance their memory skills as they grow older. This is an essential part of learning, problem solving and communicating effectively with others, throughout life.
5. Increases emotion regulation
Through play or studying, good sensory intelligence helps children be focused and grounded while having fun or relaxing at the same time. This allows them to better regulate themselves emotionally throughout the day. Improved self-regulation helps develop decision-making capabilities as kids grow older, since they will be able to better manage their emotions when faced with difficult situations, or decisions, later in life.
Strong sensory integration forms building blocks for development, mental health and overall learning. It plays an integral role in our lives from early childhood, into adulthood. It provides us with a strong foundation for learning, through enhanced memory skills, all the way up to aiding in emotional regulation & socialisation throughout our lives. By encouraging free, outdoor play – paired with incorporating open ended sensory friendly objects – such as our Hoodie and Swing Chairs into your child's environment, you'll be able to provide your child with all the tools necessary & create memories that will last forever.
Ika sensory swing chair by Tink Things
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Tink Things is an independent future-oriented startup rethinking the principles of children’s design. With the belief that kids' surroundings should serve as food for their brains, our first award-winning line of EU made & certified sensory furniture is paving the way for a more inclusive and holistic approach to designing for children. We are on a mission to make the emotional intelligence design methodology a mainstream.
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