Sensory play is an important part of childhood development as it encourages learning through exploration and it encourages children to actively use their senses. Down Syndrome children may have challenges in coordination or experience delays in cognitive skills.
Sensory play activities may help to strengthen the hands, develop eye-hand coordination, provide sensory input to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are many ways we can engage children with down syndrome with sensory activities.
An Occupational Therapist from Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre (KDSF-NC), Nur Wahida Mahmud Pauzi shared more about this with Sinar Daily.
Here are some sensory play activities that may be suitable for children with Down Syndrome:
TACTILE (TOUCH)
This type of sensory play is helpful for hand and finger awareness, attention, and fine motor skills. When children with Down Syndrome explore an object with their hands, they’re using tactile play. A fun way to play this is by using food! Use cooked pasta with some food coloring and let them touch and explore the texture.
OLFACTORY (SMELL)
Provide opportunities for children with Down Syndrome to explore scents that are either alerting or calming to fulfill their sensory needs. Some of the activities are playing with scented playdough, exploring the smell of various types of foods, or as simple as going to the garden and smelling the variety of flowers.
AUDITORY (SOUND)
This is to help children differentiate sounds and develop their hearing. This play also will enhance the child’s ability to process the information they are receiving.
An example would be to sing or listen to songs that require following movements such as Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes or Wheels on the Bus. Make your own instruments like rain sticks and drums.
VISUAL (SIGHT)
Playing with or identifying colors and patterns is a fun and engaging way to encourage visual sensory play. Other than that, playing with light-up toys, exploring books with colors and pictures, and doing some painting activities can also promote this type of sense. Light, color, and movement will activate visual sensory inputs.
GUSTATORY (TASTE)
This is about exploring textures and taste through sensory bins or messy sensory play. Letting the kids compare chewy, crunchy, dry, soft, and moist foods could be an activity for gustatory sensory play.
VESTIBULAR (BALANCE)
Rolling around, hanging, swinging, and jumping can all contribute to the child’s development of balance. Vestibular sensory play will help to calm and soothe a child. It will also improve development like coordination, handwriting, attention, and even reading. Proprioception sensory play helps children to develop body awareness. Pushing, pulling, and jumping help the child to develop spatial awareness of their body.
"Different children with Down Syndrome have different sensory needs. It is always best to get the recommendation and advice from the professionals such as Occupational Therapist for the best strategies to fulfill their sensory needs,” said Wahida.