The environments that we plan and provide can be amazing resources to support children’s sensory development. Whilst we want to offer sensory rich and interesting environments, there is a balance to be achieved, as we can easily overwhelm children’s sensory processing systems with just ‘too much’. In this blog learning environments expert Elizabeth Jarman, explores some of the considerations for children’s tactile sensory experiences when planning the environment to support children’s well-being, learning and development.
There are a wide range of benefits to sensory play, which can help to engage children’s natural curiosity to explore, encourage problem solving, and help them to make sense of the world around them. Providing a range of sensory play opportunities can help to develop children’s emotional awareness, language skills, and support their physical development such as fine and gross motor skills.
All children respond very differently to sensory experiences, which will influence the way that they engage with and explore the environment, or sometimes avoid what’s on offer. Environments need to be created with the children who use the environment firmly in mind, so stay connected to your context and children as you consider this blog about the tactile sense, touch. If you’re looking for further inspiration to help review your environment, take a look at our Inspiring Environments toolkit.
What is the tactile sense and why is this important?
The tactile sense is our largest sensory system and helps us to organise our nervous systems, feeding information from receptors in our skin to the brain. Receptors are all over our bodies, not just in our hands. They help us to gauge pressure, texture, whether something is hot or cold, alert us to pain, and help us know about the placement of our arms, legs, feet etc.
Did you know?
- An embryo may develop sensitivity to tactile stimulation in the early stages of development.
- Research shows that tactile sensory experiences in the first-year lead to improved visual-motor skills and gross motor development.
- Sensory environments allow children to develop physical literacy.
When reviewing or creating your environment it is important to pay attention to the tactile sensory opportunities for children to engage with, touch, and explore, and to think about texture more broadly within your space, both inside and outside.
Texture
Studies show that the textures used can alter behaviour, mood, and perception in a space. For example, Nadine Goepfert suggests that some materials like silk can have a cooling effect, while others like wool can have a warming effect. Texture also alters how we see colour, because of the way that colour absorbs and reflects light from its surface. Rough fabrics tend to absorb light and make a colour look warmer whereas shiny surfaces will help reflect light making the space appear lighter.
Offering a variety of textures inside and out in terms of materials and resources can help to expand children’s vocabulary; rough, smooth, hard, and soft, for example, are all useful and familiar descriptive words that we perhaps want children to understand. Experiencing these different surfaces and materials can help children to acquire an authentic understanding of their meaning.
Reflect
Take a moment to reflect on your environment. Consider the layers of texture in your space both indoors and outdoors such as fabrics, materials, plants, and resources etc. Explore this textural mix and consider the following questions:
- What do you notice?
- Is there enough contrast?
- Is there too much?
- How does the space make you feel?
- Does this support the environment vision you want to create for your children? Do you need to make any changes?
Consider the sensory materials and activities that you offer, there are some further thoughts for consideration at resources and experiences and you can hear how registered childminder Amanda, supports sensory play in an interview on resources, materials and experiences.
Looking for activity ideas? PACEY members can access ideas for activities and downloads, including a Winter sensory play activity suggestion. For further ideas explore the CEY smart courses developed with Early Arts such as creativity and the arts in the early years - malleable and modelling materials in the Let’s get creative theme.
We know that a well-developed tactile system is so important and will help to give children confidence to explore their environment fully. Use the links provided to find out more and deepen your understanding about the tactile sense further so that you can respond with appropriate provision for the children in your setting.
Signposts
- Activities and downloads (PACEY members)
- Inspiring Environments, including creating effective spaces, interview on resources, materials and experiences, and resources and experiences.
- Spotlight on enabling environments
- Treasure baskets and heuristic play (PACEY members)
- Winter sensory play (PACEY members)
PACEY members can access a range of CEY smart courses on a broad range of topics including creativity and the arts in the early years - malleable and modelling materials which can be found in the Let’s get creative theme, and supporting the development of self-regulation skills in the You, me and us theme.
Further reading
- The British Psychological Society, Living with Touch
- Kinderley, five types of play in early childhood education
- NHS Humber Sensory Processing Hub, what is sensory processing?
- Natural Resources Wales, Natural senses activities and games
- Sensory Trust, Nature activity ideas
About the author - Elizabeth Jarman
Elizabeth is an internationally recognised learning environments expert. She is an award-winning author. Elizabeth developed The Communication Friendly Spaces™ Approach, which uses the environment to support communication skills, emotional well-being and physical development. Elizabeth’s work is widely recognised and respected and her thinking is professionally challenging the way that environments for children are viewed. See www.elizabethjarman.com for more information.
