Pops, shakes and splashing sounds fill the room, but the most prominent sound from sensory playtime are the sounds of giggles and parents talking with their little ones as they learn. The Metropolitan Library System’s sensory playtime programs stimulate children’s senses to help them develop key cognitive skills.

The Metro Library offers sensory play programs at libraries across the county. Sensory programs include a variety of activities that stimulate the senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. At one station a child may be playing with blobs of shaving cream. While at another station, children dunk different cups into a large water tub. At yet another station, children may be rattling a relaxing noisemaker.

“Early learners can learn a lot from their senses and sensory play gives them new ways to talk about and experience the world around them,” Youth Engagement Specialist at the Village Library, Sally Gray said. “And parents also like it because we do the messy part, so they don’t have to do that at home.”

Sensory play is a way of learning that allows children to build nerve connections, leading to the ability to complete more complex learning tasks. This type of play helps children develop better language and social skills as well as emotional, physical and creative skills. Sensory play promotes critical thinking in children – encouraging them to connect ideas with concrete experiences. Sensory play also helps develop motor skills by teaching children to coordinate muscle groups as they play. In addition, it can have a calming effect, easing anxiety in children.

Sensory play is beneficial to all children. However, it’s known to benefit children who have developmental disabilities including  autism, sensory integration dysfunction disorder and others. Many libraries across the U.S. host variations of sensory playtimes and storytime’s, recognizing that it is an effective teaching method and great for children with sensory processing issues. As many as 1 in 59 children are autistic, according to the Center for Disease Control, making standard storytimes challenging. Sensory play at the library offers a valuable alternative teaching method to parents and their children with sensory processing issues.

Several Metro Library System branches including Jones, Choctaw, Harrah, Capitol Hill, Luther Edmond, Midwest City, The Village and Belle Isle will host upcoming sensory playtimes.

To learn more about sensory playtime programs visit: Metrolibrary.org