Developing the Sense of Tactility: Preparing Children for Lifelong Learning
By Isaac Kemsley, Salmonberry Kindergarten Teacher
Madrona School, Bainbridge Island, Washington
As you might know we spend a lot of time in the Salmonberry Kindergarten working on developing sensory health. Children with healthy sensory systems are able to receive sensory inputs from a variety of systems and process the information to gain an understanding of self and surroundings. A child with an underdeveloped sensory system is easily overwhelmed or overstimulated and has a harder time learning.
Much of the work of the kindergartener is developing the proprioceptive (sensing one’s own movement and body position) and vestibular (balance) systems, through their physical work and play. The healthy construction and integration of these systems is important for the child to have a feeling for themselves and the world around them. The third sensory system that is inextricably linked with these two in that fundamental work, is the tactile system.
What Is the Tactile Sense?
Our sense of tactility comes from input from our largest sense organ, the skin. Our skin possesses billions of nerve endings that process (among other things) temperature, vibrations, pain, pleasure, pressure, and various depths of touch. There are about twenty different types of nerve receptors in our skin that process a multiplicity of sensations. Over time and with the exposure to a variety of healthy tactile inputs we learn what the world feels like to us and how we feel in the world.
We can help our children develop their tactile system by providing them with a steady diet of varied touch and sensory materials.
How Do We Nurture Tactility in our Children?
Hugging, squeezing, wrestling, massage, finger games, back/foot/hand rubs, hair brushing, and games like “Ten Little Piggies” are all examples of healthy playful touch. A fun game you can play with your child is to gently trace letters, numbers, or shapes on their back with your finger. Let them guess what it was you drew and if they get it right, it is their turn to trace one on your back.
Playing with sand, stone, sticks, cones, water, ice, and other natural materials are all great tactile experiences for young children. Washing the dishes, washing hands, and playing in warm water are gentle and soothing tactile activities that can have a calming effect. A mixing bowl filled with uncooked rice, beans, or sand that hands can be plunged into is a grounding activity that a child can get lost in for some time. Add some pebbles or glass beads to be felt for, collected, and counted and the game can last even longer.
Playing in the mud, kneading bread dough, sculpting with playdough/clay/beeswax, or experiencing the liquid/solid properties of Oobleck are all sticky and integrative play options for an indoor rainy day.
There are so many different ways to encourage our children to experience the world through their sense of touch; sometimes through activities orchestrated by us and other times by not hindering them, by not standing between them and that mud puddle for example. Either way, let the fun begin!
