Sensory Play in the Wild!

Spring is upon us, and some of us might start to get a taste of the warm weather! For many of us, this brings excitement for increasing and resuming outdoor adventures. Some things that people often say about exploring the outdoors is that they like “the flow of the wind in my hair”, “the brush of the grass beneath my feet”, or “the sound of birds’ song”. Each of these beloved experiences are sensory-based experiences. Sensory integration, the theory that describes sensory experiences, is our ability to use all of our senses to determine how to interact with our environment.

Every individual has sensory needs that we often meet through our choices in activities and environments. Some people like more sensory input; some like less; and some people have a difficult time interpreting what sensory input their system likes. Outdoor play and nature exploration are great opportunities for all people to learn more about their sensory needs and how to regulate their own systems by meeting their sensory needs independently. Below are some examples of how each sensory system may be engaged during a play session outdoors:

Sight:

Searching through rocks to find their favorites or watching flowing water.

Smell:

Smelling the freshly cut grass or wild growing flowers.

Taste:

Holding out their tongue to catch rain droplets or exploring a honeysuckle.

Sound:

Listening to find different birds songs or making music with sticks for drumming.

Touch:

Feeling and comparing rough and smooth parts of rocks.

Vestibular:

Swinging from a rope or rolling down a grassy hill.

Interoception:

Noticing feelings of fear or nervousness in risk-taking situations or noticing fatigue precursing the need to take a break.

*Information for this blog post compiled during the capstone experience of Bri Marr OTD, OTR/L partnered with the Children at Play Network through Bernheim Arboretum