LATEST STORIES
Totara Room sensory play
In the Totara room, we have been focusing on sensory play as we have had an influx of 2-year-olds join the Totara room and noticed there was a significant interest in this area of play. We have been exploring sensory play through, full body painting, baking, water play, messy play, sand play and so much more.
Through sensory play, children are playing, inventing and experimenting whilst making sense of the world by generating and refining their working theories. Tamariki are also creating connections between people, places and things by using a range of strategies and skills to learn and play with others. Messy play provides satisfying sensory experiences that can stimulate the emotional wellbeing of the tamariki.
In the Totara room, Kaiako are providing all children with a variety of opportunities to interact and have meaningful conversations with their peers and Kaiako through sensory play. Kaiako do this by regularly conversing with groups, using descriptive language, connecting their sensory experiences to their wider learning and asking questions, such as, what do you feel and what kind of texture is this etc.
Through sensory play, Kaiako are ensuring the they are being mindful when setting up experiences for the tamariki by ensuring there are a variety of sensory recourse and experiences out each day. This is to ensure that there is a sensory experience that will fit each child’s interests as well as encouraging children to try new things, textures and use all of the senses.
Through sensory play, Kaiako are ensuring that they are continuously scaffolding children’s learning theories, modelling how some of the sensory resources may work, motivating- connecting by providing new experiences to stimulate the children’s interests and actively listening to tamariki throughout sensory play.