
Sensory development in young children is essential for their physical, emotional and cognitive growth. The senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell are the window to the world through which children explore, discover and learn. Stimulate these senses from an early age, using activities y games, not only fosters their ability to perceive, but also strengthens their emotional connection with the environment and with the people around them.
Next, we explore different activities y games, designed to stimulate each of children's senses in an entertaining and educational way. Whether you're looking for activities to do at home or ideas to enrich playtime, these suggestions will help you make the most of the time you spend with your children.
Games to stimulate the ear
The sense of hearing is fundamental for the development of language and communication. Through sounds, melodies and noises, children not only learn to identify their environment, but also develop cognitive habilyties such as memory and attention.
- The alarm clock game: This game involves hiding an alarm clock in a corner of the room. The child must find it by following the sound it makes. It is a simple activity that encourages auditory skills and can even be adapted to different levels of difficulty depending on the child's age. For younger children, the alarm clock can be placed in accessible places; for older children, it can be hidden in more challenging places.
- Auditory lottery: This game requires recording different sounds, such as a dog barking, a doorbell ringing, or a moving train. These sounds are associated with cards with related images, and the child must identify which card corresponds to each sound. In addition to working on auditory discrimination, it encourages associative memory and concentration.
Did you know that music is also a great tool to stimulate the ear? Discover how songs and melodies can improve hearing. sensory skills of your child in our section of educational games for kids.
Games for the sense of taste
Taste is not only a fundamental sensory experience, but it is also closely related to emotional development and connection with new foods and flavors. The goal of activities To stimulate this sense is to help children develop a richer perception of flavors and become familiar with different food textures.
- The mysterious flavor game: Place different foods (sweet, salty, sour and bitter) in small containers. Blindfolded, the child must taste each food and guess what it is. This game helps to identify flavours and develop the ability to describe sensations, and is also very fun for children.
- The three apples: Present your child with a red, a yellow and a green apple, inviting him to touch them and observe the differences before tasting them. This game not only encourages the sense of taste, but also touch and sight, as the child associates colours with different taste sensations.
Games to stimulate touch
The sense of touch is essential for children to discover the textures, temperatures y forms of the world around them. Stimulating them is a way to foster their curiosity and cognitive development, as well as strengthening motor skills fine and thick.
- The Mystery Box: Fill a box with objects of different textures and shapes, such as a rubber ball, a piece of soft fabric, or a plastic toy. Blindfold the child and invite him to guess which object he has touched using only his hands. This game encourages tactile exploration and imagination.
- Texture panels: Create a board with different materials such as cotton, sandpaper, velvet and sponge. Ask the child to explore each section with their hands and describe how it feels. This activity can also be adapted to games for the feet, encouraging comprehensive sensory exploration.
Looking to introduce your kids to more structured play? Discover more ideas in our guide to types and classification of the game.
Activities for the eyes
Visual stimulation is crucial for the development of spatial perception, attention and recognition skills. From a simple game of lights to activities Like painting, there are many ways to strengthen this sense in children.
- Finger painting: Allow your child to experiment with colors while working with their hands to create drawings on a sheet of paper. In addition to stimulating the sight, it complements the tactile experience.
- Soap bubbles: Blowing and chasing bubbles in the air helps improve eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Activities to stimulate the sense of smell
The sense of smell is closely linked to taste and memory. It can be stimulated in many simple and entertaining ways.
- Distinguishing odors: Collect different spices, fruits or herbs and place a small sample in opaque containers. Ask the child to smell the contents and describe what they smell. This activity can also be done with hygiene products such as scented soaps.
- Outdoor Exploration: On a walk, invite your child to identify the smells of flowers, plants and other elements in the environment while enjoying nature.
Remember that sensory development in children not only connects them with their environment, but also strengthens emotional, motor and cognitive skills. Spending time on these games and activities not only encourages their growth, but also creates unforgettable family memories.