Benefits of Sensory Play at Pond Early Learning Center in Bloomington, MN

Our project goal is to increase opportunities for sensory play for young children and educating the grownup caregivers on the why of the importance. All too often young children are told to “not touch” when their little brains learn through touch and exploration. Sensory play is a lot of fun! It also offers many benefits for child development, including: Helping children understand how their actions affect what’s around them. Supporting brain development, enhancing memory, complex tasks and problem solving.

At our Pond Early Learning Center in Bloomington, MN Public Schools we have the honor of being the first school for hundreds of children in our community. Our center hosts Early Childhood Screening, Preschool for 3s and 4s, Early Childhood Special Education Services, ECFE Early Childhood Family Education classes, and Head Start classrooms. Over the course of a year approximately 580 unique children and families pass through our hallways. With this project we would like to expose and promote sensory exploration and learning by adding sensory wall boards to a hallway in our school. Here is a picture of the hall currently where this project would be added.

We were overjoyed to receive this grant funding. When notified we decided to have our staff vote on the placement locations. The pictures showcase the locations we were able to place them for young explorers to get to work playing!

We grown-ups usually see play as a break or a putting-off of learning or serious work. But as famous child psychologist Jean Piaget said, “Play is the work of children.” Or in the words of Fred Rogers, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.” This sensory project allows for opportunities for our educators to showcase and model what research says about the power of sensory experiences for children. Sensory opportunities build lifelong connections and pathways in the brain for healthy development. The time is now to educate policy makers, community stakeholders, and adult caregivers on the importance of hands-on learning and play. Children are constantly learning about the world around them. Sensory play, specifically sensory boards to touch in the hallway of our school would set the tone of we understand children development and we are ready for you here!

A child playing with an educational wall-mounted toy featuring shapes and colors.
A child playing with an educational wall-mounted toy featuring shapes and colors.
Child interacting with a cat-shaped educational wall toy.
Child interacting with a cat-shaped educational wall toy.
A framed informational poster about jean piaget affixed to a textured wall.
A framed informational poster about jean piaget affixed to a textured wall.
The text below is the information framed by the sensory panels available to young children in our center:

Jean Piaget said, “Play is the work of children.” Or in the words of Fred Rogers, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”

Sensory opportunities build lifelong connections and pathways in the brain for healthy development.

Children are constantly learning about the world around them. Sensory play, specifically sensory boards to touch in the hallway of our school set the tone of we understand children development and we are ready for you here! These sensory boards have been funded through a mini grant opportunity through Defending the Early Years (DEY).

Defending the Early Years (DEY) is a non-profit organization working for a just, equitable, and quality early childhood education for every young child. DEY advocates for strong economic and social safety nets for all children because equitable education can only occur when society meets children’s basic needs for whole health and well-being.