Teaching Preschoolers Using Sensory Play
Psalm 139:13–14 tells us God created and knit us together in our mother’s womb. We praise Him because we know we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He created us to use our senses every day to enjoy and explore His world, to praise Him, and to share His love.
Throughout Scripture, God uses the senses to teach. When He spoke, the waters were still. His touch brought sight to a blind man’s eyes. Frankincense and myrrh were aromatic gifts. He created the rainbow for all to see His promise. He encouraged us to taste and see that what He gives us is good.
Preschoolers use their five senses through sensory play. This shapes their brain and impacts their behavior and decision-making processes. They learn and retain information using their senses.
Mission Friends curriculum engages as many of the senses as possible in each activity so preschoolers can learn about missions through their five senses.
As leaders, we encourage the use of all five senses in Art, Blocks, Books, Homeliving, Music and Movement, Nature, Puzzles and Manipulatives, Group Time, and prayer activities.
Using the Five Senses in Preschool Learning
See
Preschoolers are visual learners and are eager to explore everything around them. Using colorful and captivating images will help convey missions learning and Christian concept areas. “I Spy with My Little Eye” is a game that will help preschoolers recognize words, patterns, and objects. Every interest area and group time uses the sense of sight. Preschoolers will see pictures of missionaries, notice traffic signs in blocks, look at pictures in books, and work colorful puzzles.
Hear
Hearing helps to develop the listening ability of preschoolers. Go on a listening hike and ask preschoolers to identify the sounds they hear. Shake sealed containers filled with jingle bells, coins, pebbles, or buttons and ask preschoolers to close their eyes and guess the sound. Preschoolers will hear directions, missionary stories, songs, music, prayers, and the voices of friends as they interact.
Smell
Smell is a sense that preschoolers enjoy learning through Homeliving and Nature and interactions with others in the room. Engage their sense of smell with spices, foods, or flowers. Make homemade play dough and add vanilla to make it a multi-sensory experience. Preschoolers will discover the importance of smell as they experience God’s world with their nose.
Touch
For babies and younger preschoolers, touch is one of the most important senses. They use touch to explore age-appropriate resources. Babies and younger preschoolers reach out to touch soft blankets, a bumpy ball, or even your sweater. Older preschoolers experience touch through hands-on activities. Many of the activity areas provide tactile materials for preschoolers to explore and begin to understand their world and the missions learning area.
Taste
Homeliving and Nature provide opportunities to taste and smell food from different cultures. Eating age-appropriate snacks connected to the missions area allows preschoolers to physically connect with missionaries. We can reinforce that God cares for us as He provides food to eat.
Our senses are an amazing gift from God. Engage as many of the senses as possible in each activity so preschoolers can learn about missions through their five senses.
by Beth Campbell
