Learning Through the Senses

Learning takes place when the senses are engaged in the process of retaining information.  Stop and think about your favorite memories.  Many times you can associate events with smells, tastes, or sounds.  You may associate musical lyrics with sounds that trigger your brain into recalling a flashback scene.  Many smells and tastes will remind you of childhood memories at Grandma’s house or in your mother’s kitchen.

Now think about how your learned how to ride a bike.  Did you conquer this skill in one attempt?  Did someone “tell” you how to ride and you learned it right away?  Of course not!  It took time and time again getting onto the bike, peddling, wavering the handlebars, falling off and getting back up again and again before you actually rode that bike successfully. That repeated practice and behavior molded your ability to learn how to ride a bike.  This repeated practice has to take place in all skill areas.  So when you are trying to help your child to become a reader and writer, the repeated practice of engaging ones senses in the learning process must take place.

First of all, remember to give your child many opportunities to investigate materials through: touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight.  You are helping him/her to develop and refine their learning skill set.  Exposing children to sensory play helps them develop and to refine their senses.  Engage your child in make-believe activities that will help to build self-esteem and creativity.

·         Touch: play games that require the use of muscles as in: running, jumping, skipping, and hopping.  Play leap frog, hopscotch and tug-of-war.  These activities will improve gross motor skills.  For fine motor skills, include: play dough, finger painting, coloring, and drawing.

·         Sight:  experiment with light around the home.  Make shadows with a flashlight.  Play “I Spy” and look for different colors in objects.  Play catch with a balloon or ball to improve eye-hand coordination.

·         Sound: engage your child’s musical side by playing different listening games. Talk about different sounds inside and outside your home.  Experiment with volume for loud and soft sounds.

·         Smell: utilize your kitchen to investigate smelling scents.  Go on a “smelly” walk outdoors and fine different fragrant flowers. Read Scratch & Sniff  books.

·         Taste: experiment with opposites: try frozen food versus hot foods; salty versus sweet; crunchy verses soft

Sensory play encourages children to use descriptive and creative language.  Children must experience something first hand in order to make sense of it and form a lasting memory in the brain.  When your child engages in eye-hand coordination, fine motor and gross motor activities, this will prepare his brain for learning more complicated skills.  By using sensory play, your child will feel a boost in confidence in decision making, and will be inspired to learn and experiment new learning opportunities with his/her senses. 

Slide into Summer with Fun Learning Activities

Now that the school year is coming to a close it doesn’t mean that learning stops.  There are so many ways to increase your child’s learning through everyday activities in the home.  Let’s look at a few tips that will keep your child engaged in learning throughout the summer months.

1.       Read with your child everyday: grab a book, any book, and read to your child at least three times a week.  Have your child read to you; another family member, friend, or even the family pet; for 20 minutes each day. Provide different forms of reading material: newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes, daily mail items, etc.   By showing that reading is a natural part of the day, you will plant the seeds for a lifetime of reading for your child.

2.      Encourage friendship outside of school:  give your child multiple experiences of interacting with other children in play groups, clubs, summer activity groups, camps, sport teams, and Vacation Bible Schools.  These experiences will strengthen your child’s emotional, mental, and physical development.  By engaging in group activities outside of the home, you are helping your child develop the necessary team building skills that will carry over back in the classroom setting.

3.      Bring learning into the kitchen:  why not bake a cake or cookies and have your child learn about measurement, following directions, and sequential order.  All of these skills are important in comprehension strategies; so you will be helping your child through involving him/her through practical steps in cooking.

4.      Visit local attractions: visit your community library for summer events and special guest attractions.   Check out an aquarium, museum, historical park, or other local venues that will help to increase your child’s cultural learning experiences.

5.      Teach your child to be responsible:  if your child doesn’t cleanup for himself at home, he/she is more likely to be messy at school.  Teach him/her to stow away toys, make the bed, take out the trash, and wash dishes.  Every house whole could use a little extra help and every child is old enough to start doing their part in the daily chores.  When this starts at home, keeping a clean desk at school won’t seem like such a big deal.

6.      Do step-by-step teaching at home:  make sure you have your child’s attention when you are giving step-by-step directions.  Give clear instructions for your little one to follow.  This will help your child to learn to follow directions and to listen to instructions.  Praise your child for good listening and following directions when the job is accomplished.

By following these simple tips during the summer months, you will be helping your child to experience learning opportunities that will carry over into the classroom next fall.  Have fun learning with your child this summer.  Every opportunity in life can be a learning experience that can be treasured by the whole family.  Enjoy your time together and stay safe and healthy.