My Five Senses - post

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They touch, smell, listen, taste, and look at everything with wonder. These experiences help them learn and grow. That’s why teaching children about the five senses is such an important part of #early-education.

Understanding the five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—helps children become more aware of their bodies and their surroundings. It also helps #develop thinking skills, #language, and emotional awareness. In this article, we’ll explore each sense, why it’s important, and how child care providers and #educators can use simple activities to support #sensory #development.

What Are the Five Senses?

The five senses are how we experience the world. Here’s a quick look at each one:

• Sight – using our eyes to see light, colors, shapes, and movement.
• Hearing – using our ears to listen to sounds like music, voices, and noise.
• Touch – using our skin (especially our hands) to feel textures, temperatures, and pressure.
• Taste – using our tongue to recognize flavors like sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
• Smell – using our nose to notice scents like flowers, food, or even danger (like smoke).

Teaching young children about these senses can be fun and hands-on. They get to explore and discover, and you get to watch their excitement as they learn something new.

Why Teaching the Senses Matters

Children rely on their senses every moment of the day. They use them to #play, solve problems, make decisions, and communicate. When children understand how their senses work, they can:

• Better describe their feelings and thoughts
• Understand how to stay #safe (like not touching something hot)
• Learn how to enjoy and respond to different experiences
• Become more mindful of themselves and others

In #early-childhood settings, sensory learning supports language, science, social-emotional #growth, and cognitive development.

Exploring Each Sense with Activities

Here are some easy ways to help children explore and understand each of the five senses.

1. Sight

Children use their sense of sight to take in everything they see around them.

Try these activities:

• Go on a color hunt around the room or outside.
• Use magnifying glasses to look at leaves, rocks, or insects.
• Play “I Spy” games with colors, shapes, or letters.
• Show picture #books with bright images and talk about what they see.

2. Hearing

Hearing helps children recognize sounds, enjoy music, and understand language.

Try these activities:

• Make a sound guessing game using different objects (shaking rice in a jar, tapping a spoon).
• Listen to nature sounds and try to identify them (birds chirping, wind blowing).
• Sing songs and use rhythm instruments like drums or shakers.
• Read aloud with different voices and sound effects.

3. Touch

Touching helps children learn about different textures and temperatures.

Try these activities:

• Create a feely box with items like cotton balls, sandpaper, or sponges
• Use play dough or kinetic sand for hands-on fun.
• Talk about how things feel: soft, rough, sticky, cold.
• Explore water play with warm and cool water.

4. Taste

Taste helps children explore flavors and make choices about food.

Try these activities:

• Have a taste test with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter foods (make sure to check for allergies).
• Encourage them to describe what they like or dislike.
• Talk about the importance of #healthy-eating and variety in taste.
• Introduce international foods and discuss different flavor profiles.

5. Smell

Smells can bring strong memories and help children recognize their environment.

Try these activities:

• Use scented #playdough (with vanilla, mint, or cinnamon).
• Play “What’s that smell?” with covered jars (e.g., lemon, coffee, soap).
• Smell flowers, herbs, or spices in the garden or kitchen.
• Talk about good vs. bad smells and how they help us stay safe.

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Conclusion: Discovering the World One Sense at a Time

Learning about the five senses is one of the most exciting parts of early childhood. It helps children understand their bodies, notice the world around them, and #express themselves better. With the right support, young children can grow their thinking skills, creativity, and confidence through simple sensory activities.

As an educator or caregiver, you have the opportunity to guide these joyful discoveries every day. By making time for sensory learning, you’re helping children connect with the world—and themselves—in meaningful ways.

Ready to learn more and support sensory learning in your #classroom? Visit www.childcareed.com for training opportunities.