“Sensory play is essential because it can help differently-abled children learn to live fuller and happier lives.

Children with special needs often have to learn to experience the world differently. One essential and highly productive collection of activities is sensory play.

Sensory play is when a child engages their senses in various fun yet practical activities. These go a great distance in helping the child stimulate their sensations and better familiarise themselves with their surroundings.

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 using 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 play is an essential part of special needs education that Taarana School holds as a highly indispensable part of its education programme.

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

“Sensory stimulation help 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. And as in previous years, the day enabled Taarana’s children to participate in a broad range of structured, goal-oriented activities.

The indoor and outdoor events included walking a sensory pathway, playing memory grid, scavenger hunt and 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.

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.