Sensory play is essential because it can help children with disabilities learn to live fuller and happier lives.

Taarana School recently organised a captivating and enriching Sensory Day for its students. This event underscored the school’s unwavering commitment to fostering holistic development and ensuring every student receives the tailored education they deserve.

The indoor and outdoor events included walking a sensory pathway, playing a memory grid game, a scavenger hunt, a sponge bomb, canvas painting, and food preparation and tasting, among various activities.

“These were all designed by our teachers and therapists to stimulate the students’ brain power and improve their understanding and comprehension through fun learning activities.

“In addition, some of the activities helped the kids learn better coordination, which will help them carry out their daily tasks more effectively. Sensory play is not just about having fun; it is about learning in a fun way,” Dr Sunitha explained.

The day also enabled the students to be as independent as possible with minimal teacher assistance.

The day’s activities ended with the children having a fun time making ice cream! They created their sweet creations by whisking the ice cream pre-mixed with milk before combining it with ice and salt for the final process. They then selected a variety of toppings, including fruit bits, rice crisps, and caramel sauce.

Nurturing Cognitive, Social and Emotional Growth

Sensory play is recognised as a vital component of special needs education at Taarana. This dynamic approach to learning engages the students’ senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell – in a structured and purposeful manner.

It not only enhances their cognitive abilities but also nurtures their social, emotional, and physical growth. Sensory play at Taarana is an indispensable aspect of our education programme, providing a unique and effective means of facilitating learning and self-discovery for our students.

“Sensory play is essential because it can help differently-abled children learn to live fuller and happier lives,” said Taarana’s Principal, Dr Sunitha Sivakumaran.

The endeavours work to build skills on several levels. For example, sight play encourages children to explore colours and experiment with light. Using their hands helps them experience the world through touch. Taste play helps bring new sensations and food associations. Finally, smell and hearing let children take in stimuli and learn to process them more efficiently.

“Sensory stimulation helps grow and develop the connection between the senses and is vital for developing a child’s cognitive, language, motor, and social skills.”

Dedicated sensory days or camps have been essential to the school’s educational programme. As in previous years, the day enabled Taarana’s children to participate in various structured, goal-oriented activities.

Taarana School presents a holistic learning environment both inside and outside the classroom. From extracurricular activities to field trips, students engage in community life to gain independence, build confidence, and develop strong relationships with their peers.

The school’s dedicated sensory days enable kids to have fun through numerous multi-sensory activities that help improve awareness and alertness and promote cognitive development.