The Sensory Way

It has been determined that the first three years of a child’s life are critical in the development of language, attention span, problem-solving capabilities, and social skills.  Because of this sensitive time period, it is important to promote verbal learning and social development. 

The sensorial learning approach focuses on making learning an inviting and independent experience.  This is done through the use of the senses to acquire information from the environment for the purpose of understanding.  These exercises are completed through the use of visual (sight), tactile (touch), baric (pressure/weight), thermic (temperature), auditory (sounds), and olfactory (smelling) senses.  Because sensorial learning focuses on the child completing learning tasks independently, these materials should be aesthetically pleasing.  Sensorial learning creates an inviting environment with the use of open shelves and fun manipulatives to encourage new experiences.  Open shelving is defined as a shelving unit with no back present (or if there is a back, it is transparent).  This creates an open and enticing area that allows children to see all of the materials available and encourages them to want to explore it.  This “openness” also allows students to see through the shelves, allowing them to make use of their visual senses while learning and provides them with the ability to access the materials at all times.  As they are better able to USE their senses, they are then better able to LEARN through these senses.  This interest in learning is important because studies have shown that children who do not come to school with a readiness to learn are likely to struggle throughout current and future educations.  

Sensory and science tables are excellent ways to encourage sensorial learning.  Sensory tables encourage the use of tactile and baric senses while science tables provide space and tools for young students to examine and observe objects in order to categorize and learn from them.  It is pretty clear that a successful classroom is accomplished through the use of appropriate sensorial furniture and materials.  Visit WoodDesigns.com to view our Natural Environments™ line of furniture to see how we can accommodate your sensorial needs.