Open-ended play with materials in sensory play that appeals to the senses of a child is so much more than a mere mess-making activity. It is research-based, essential learning that develops neural pathways that are connected to higher thought and physical capabilities. Among families oriented on kindergarten preparation, a combination of the intentional usage of sensory experiences is an effective, natural approach to building the basic skills. This practical philosophy is just in line with the whole child philosophy of Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready, whose philosophy embraces the importance of experiential learning. Although Kinder Ready Tutoring offers structured competencies training, cognitive and self-regulating skills developed during sensory play are essential in this approach, which is indicative of the explanatory Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley approach.
Fundamentally, sensory play is one of the main instruments for fine motor abilities and cognition. Such activities as playing with playdough, pouring rice between containers or sorting things by their texture are good exercises to develop the small muscles of the hands and fingers that are directly connected to the ability to write later in life. At the same time, such activities involve child planning, problem solving and cause and effect experience- critical thinking. The Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready method acknowledges that these touch experiences do not exist in isolation from academic learning but serve as a prelude to educational learning by developing the physical and mental nimbleness of classroom activities.
One of the greatest advantages of sensory play is its great influence on self-control and concentration. Playing with sensory material can be a very relaxing experience for a child, so that they can learn to keep their arousal levels and emotions in check. The concentrated effort to sift sand or search for water beads trains the same skill of enduring concentration involved in a Kinder Ready Tutoring session or in an instructional session taught by the teacher. This emergence of emotional management and the capacity to be engrossed in an activity is a foundation of the Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley model of school readiness.
Moreover, the need to explore the senses is a natural stimulus to language growth and scientific thought. Describing words can be introduced by parents and teachers as a child works with various materials: gritty, smooth, viscous, translucent. This will create a rich storehouse of words. Direct experience is used to introduce some of the basic scientific concepts, such as experimenting with substances such as baking soda and vinegar or floating and sinking objects.
Sensory play provides a non-academic base on which the formal academic skills are based. It trains a child to learn: to explore, to concentrate, to solve problems and to relax. To families that adhere to Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready philosophy, it is important to include frequent sensory experiences as an element of holistic preparation. This preparatory work makes it so that the child will be able to take up the more focused and specialized approach to instruction of the Kinder Ready Tutoring sessions with the fine motor skills, thinking skills, and self-control facilities needed to internalize and utilize new information efficiently. All these unite together with the Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley vision to equip a child not only with knowledge but also with the tools of learning that will make them successful.
For further details on Kinder Ready’s programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady
