Sensory development in childhood

sensory development

A smiling preschool boy with curly hair against a yellow background.

With all senses to school readiness

We use our senses to taste, touch, smell, see and hear. They are the gateway to the world and allow children to perceive, explore and actively experience their environment. Healthy sensory development is particularly important as it forms the foundation for learning ability, motor skills and social competence. However, children's senses are not equally well developed when they start school, meaning they differ from their peers in language, motor skills, or behavior. Possible reasons for this include growing up in an environment that provides them with little opportunity for free play. A lack of time, too much screen time and limited opportunities for movement also play a role. If, for example, spatial perception is not sufficiently developed at the start of school, children often have problems with their balance. They stumble more easily, struggle to keep their balance, and feel insecure when climbing or riding a bike. In addition to balance, fine motor skills, such as writing, cutting, or fastening buttons, may also be affected. Boys in particular tend to cover up their insecurity by disrupting class to seek attention. For the brain to develop optimally and for new connections to form, a variety of sensory experiences are crucial. These develop through regular physical activity and a variety of experiences with parents. It is up to us to support children in everyday life so that they actively use their senses and continuously discover new things.

Cute little boy barefoot, riding a tricycle in the rain with a teddy bear.

A happy girl with long hair against a blue background.

A world with fewer and fewer sensory experiences

Children are growing up in a digital world where active sensory experiences are moving into the background. The number of children who are described as restless or hyperactive by teachers, educators, and parents is increasing year by year. The constant sensory overload, especially from screens and noise, is putting more and more children under stress. At the same time, speech delays are increasing, which experts attribute, among other things, to a lack of linguistic stimulation in daily life and excessive media consumption. To counteract this, children should actively explore their environment, move, smell, feel, experiment, and experience, because this forms the foundation of all learning.

Thoughtful preschool girl hides her face behind a tablet.

Children are growing up in a world where they experience more and more content through screens. Instead of being active themselves, they only passively take in content. Rapidly changing images leave little time to comprehend what they see, remember it, or make connections. A child, for example, sees ducks on television, but only when they observe the animals at a pond, hear their quacking, notice their appearance, and throw pieces of bread into the water do they experience the ducks with all their senses and store this experience in their memory.

Little boy holding a soccer ball with both hands at home.

Children are growing up in a world where they have too few opportunities to move and fully feel their whole body with joy. Instead of experiencing their environment with all their senses, they sit in their rooms at an early age in front of the television, tablet, or computer. Teachers and educators report for good reason that children are particularly restless after the weekend and need physical activity to release their excess energy. Even small changes every day help children be more active: Taking a walk together, climbing on the playground, or playing ball games not only promote motor skills but also foster the interplay of all senses.

Big brother and little sister preparing pizza dough in the kitchen.

Children are growing up in a world where quick meals have become the norm because, in a hectic daily routine, there is often no time for elaborate meal preparation. As a result, they lose their connection to fresh ingredients and the process of cooking. They do not experience kneading dough, rolling it out, cutting fresh vegetables, spreading tomato sauce, or sprinkling cheese. At the same time, valuable learning experiences are lost: Children do not weigh ingredients, shape dough with their hands, or wait for the pizza they have topped themselves to come out of the oven crispy and ready to be enjoyed together. But it is through cooking or baking together that children develop valuable sensory experiences: They see, smell, feel, and taste.

Asian child smiling while playing as a pilot.

Children are growing up in a world where digital devices are increasingly replacing children's play. Yet it is through play that children gain sensory experiences and develop their imagination, whether they take on the role of a pilot, sell fruit and vegetables in a pretend shop, cook in a play kitchen, or build a cave out of cardboard boxes. In the sandbox, they build a castle using a bucket and shovel, and natural materials like branches, stones or leaves encourage creativity. It is no coincidence that it is said: Play is a child’s occupation. Play is a child’s occupation. Through play, children gain valuable experiences about themselves, their environment, and their interactions with others. They explore their surroundings in their own unique way. After all, discovery begins with curiosity, and curiosity is the foundation of all learning.

Why sensory overload overwhelms children

Our everyday lives are loud, colorful and fast. Children are just as exposed to this flood of stimuli as we are. Anyone walking through a busy shopping street or using public transport sees it everywhere: posters in bright colors, sweets at the checkout, while the noise of road traffic surrounds us, and even at night, there is no rest. Children have no defense mechanisms to shield themselves from the many stimuli that constantly surround them. This is why it is important for children to find peace at home. However, when parents turn on the television or hand their child a tablet after a stressful day at work, the constant sensory overload continues. The images change rapidly, accompanied by music, speech, and background sounds like radio music, which affect them without pause. Instead of feeling relaxed afterward, children are restless, fidgety, or overexcited. This is exactly the opposite of what parents hope for. In addition, they become increasingly accustomed to being entertained rather than playing or being creative themselves. It is different when playing, indoors or outdoors, where children set their own pace. They decide on their own how fast or slow they do an activity and when they stop, whether it’s building with blocks, painting, or playing with playdough. Even when swinging, riding a scooter, or roughhousing, they move in ways that bring them joy. Free play improves their concentration and endurance. And this is exactly what is crucial for healthy sensory development: that a child learns to be aware of itself and recognize what feels good. This also involves enduring boredom without parents instantly suggesting an activity or switching on the television. Children don’t constantly need new stimuli, but most of all, time to discover themselves.

Little girl in a checkered dress lies relaxed on the floor.

A smiling boy in a striped shirt against a blue background.

Learning with the whole body

With curiosity and open eyes, children observe their surroundings, try things out, and discover the world in their very own way. The ability to act on their own initiative is a fundamental need of every child and a key to holistic learning. Nature offers them a space that neither instructs nor directs them, but invites them to act freely and with their own initiative.

Two sisters discover the first spring flowers in the forest.

A walk through the forest

Sitting in front of a screen is tiring for the body and does not match children's natural need for movement. As everyday life becomes increasingly digital, sensory experiences quickly fade into the background. Yet it is especially in early childhood that the world should be discovered with all the senses, through movement, play and practical experiences. During the first seven years of life, sensory experiences support not only cognitive development but also imagination and creativity. Even a simple walk in the forest engages all of a child's senses. The narrow, uneven path winds through the underbrush, branches hang low over the path, and leaves rustle underfoot. Fallen trees invite children to balance on them and support the development of coordination. The air is filled with the scent of earth and moss. A stream gurgles nearby. Birds are chirping, and a woodpecker taps on a tree trunk. Insects dance above the forest floor, while beetles and other woodland creatures crawl slowly between moss and leaves. With a bit of luck, a squirrel might scurry past or leap nimbly from branch to branch. The forest path offers many small opportunities that challenge the body and spark the imagination. In these moments, children are completely in tune with themselves. They observe, listen, smell, touch, and move. Nature encourages independent activity while also providing a sense of calm. At the end of the path, everyone wears a smile and feels relaxed. In contrast, a walk through the city usually offers little variety and few chances for small discoveries. That’s why a weekend trip into nature is well worth it: with a magnifying glass, a small backpack, and maybe even a children’s camera, to discover and collect treasures along the way and bring home a favorite photo for the children’s room.

A child is feeding a squirrel nuts in the sunny forest.

Nature is the best playground for a child.

A little girl in a white shirt stands in front of a yellow background and smiles.

Experiencing the world with all the senses

Children explore their surroundings with their whole bodies. They smell the rain, feel the sand between their fingers and hear the birds chirping in the trees. But sensory experiences are not limited to nature, they are also part of everyday life, such as playing with sand, blowing soap bubbles or cutting fruit. Everyday activities are essential for the healthy development of the senses, whereas screen media mainly provide passive entertainment for children.

A happy father and his young son having fun while preparing healthy food in the kitchen.

Children enjoy helping their parents

Children not only like to play, but are also happy when their mother or father includes them in everyday tasks. Instead of just watching while adults prepare food, tidy up, or dig in the garden, they prefer to help. With a smile on their face, they set the table, toss the salad, or water the plants. Along the way, they learn how things work, improve their fine motor skills, and build confidence. But what happens when we say: »Go play, I don't have time.« or when we lack the patience to include them in small tasks? Then we don’t give them the chance to discover new things and learn responsibility. Without realizing it, we make children feel like they are in the way. So they lose interest in helping, and we overlook how much they learn and continue to develop through these experiences. For this reason, it is beneficial to involve children in small tasks. While you, as a mother, cut the tomatoes and your child puts the pieces into the bowl, you talk, laugh together, and enjoy your time together. These moments of togetherness help children develop patience and perseverance while actively engaging their senses, smelling, touching and feeling. Even if it means taking more time and staying calm. Because a child’s development does not unfold on its own. Especially in the first ten years, children learn step by step through social interaction, new challenges, and practical activities. We best support children by asking ourselves every day: Did our child get the chance to move, play, and help today? Dear parents, the demanding years of childhood pass in the blink of an eye, and the teenage years come with entirely new challenges. Over time, children become more independent from their parents and go their own way. But the values and experiences they receive in their early years accompany them for a lifetime.

A little girl puts vegetables on the pizza.

Baking pizza together

Children love it when they prepare a homemade pizza together with their mom or dad. With fresh ingredients, it’s not only healthy and delicious but also a treat for the senses. Everyday activities help children understand that individual steps follow a meaningful order. Take pizza making, for example: preparing, measuring, kneading, letting the dough rest, rolling it out, spreading sauce, adding toppings and finally waiting. In the process, children playfully learn how good planning and thinking ahead make things easier. This understanding also supports children later in school, for example when writing a short story that begins with an introduction, has a main part, and ends with a conclusion. Or in math, when they think through the solution step by step and come to the correct result. When we trust children to do something and involve them in small tasks, they join in with enthusiasm and learn new things. While doing so, a conversation often comes up naturally, maybe about the day, kindergarten or their friends. Preparing the pizza starts with small rituals: putting on an apron, washing hands, setting out the ingredients, and then making the dough. »Come on, let’s put on our aprons and wash our hands. Can you get the flour? Would you like to measure the water and crack the egg? I’ll show you how. Is the dough still sticky? Let’s keep kneading until it becomes soft and smooth. Now we’ll cover it and let it rest. Can you see how the dough has risen? Let’s roll it out and spread tomato sauce on it. I’ll cut the tomatoes, and you can place them on the pizza. You can even use the tomatoes and corn to make a face. Finally, we sprinkle the cheese on top and put the pizza in the oven. Now it’s time to wait, watch and smell. What should we call our pizza?« And in the end, it’s not just a tasty meal on the table, but shared family time that sets aside everyday stress and brings a smile to everyone’s face.

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