This look at 4 sensory benefits of leaf play, and fall outdoor activity idea for the family, is brought to us by our guest blogger Dayna of Lemon Lime Adventures.
It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are changing, the wind is picking up and the air is getting cooler. What could be a better fall activity than Leaf Play? We all know how fun a day in the outdoor air can be, but did you know the sensory benefits that can be found from a romp in your best pile of leaves with your favorite fall tools?
10 Sensational Leaf Play Ideas
Tactile
The tactile sense is responsible for the sense of touch. It allows a child to determine texture, pressure, temperature and pain. It allows us to interpret our world through our hands, our feet, our skin, and our entire body. We interpret EVERYTHING through our tactile system.
The tactile system is required for children to coordinate, organize, discriminate and interpret touch appropriately. Leaf play is an excellent way for children to feel the various textures of smooth, rough, soft and crunchy. As children carry leaves from one area to another, they will test their ability to gauge how hard or soft they need to grip the leaves. As they build the leaf piles they will learn the amount of pressure needed to push or pick up leaves. All of these simple fall games will help them organize their sensory systems and help them develop important fine motor and writing skills down the road.
Movement {Vestibular}
The vestibular sense is responsible for the sense of movement. It allows children to feel safe, know their surroundings and move their their surroundings safely.
Leaf play can be an excellent source of movement and activity that stimulates the sensory system. Jumping into the huge leaf piles, running into the leaves, and even throwing the leaves in the air, is not only fun and exciting, but also an extremely important part of developing your child's sensory systems.
Body Awareness {Proprioceptive}
The proprioceptive sense is responsible for our senses of body awareness. It relates to deep pressure and our ability to recognize where we are in the space around us.
Leaf play is an excellent source of proprioceptive input. What kid doesn't love raking, pushing, and gathering leaves for their piles? All of these actions put pressure on your child's joints, providing extremely important proprioceptive input!
Visual/ Motor
The visual sense is responsible, not only for our sight, but also for discriminating size, locating objects, and determining importance.
A huge leaf pile is a great place to develop visual motor skills by playing look and find games and scavenger hunts.
These are just a few of the many benefits of leaf play. Along with tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive sensory benefits, leaf play provides opportunities for language development, fine motor development, and creative dramatic play. Not to mention the hours of fun!
For more leaf play ideas, don’t forget to hop over to read 10 Sensational Leaf Play Ideas on Lemon Lime Adventures.
Related Sensory Resources:
100 Sensory Activities for Home or School
Related Melissa & Doug Products
Melissa & Doug Let's Explore Indoor/Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Play Set
Melissa & Doug Good Gripping Gloves
* * *
Like this post? Pin it!
