Infant research; occupational therapy-informed practice

Sensory play

The senses are the curriculum of the first years — texture, weight, sound, and movement write the brain's first maps.

Principles

Mouthing is research. Supervise, don't shame
One or two rich materials beat a noisy toy with five buttons
Vestibular and proprioceptive input (spin, jump, crash, climb) organize attention
Follow the child's sensory appetite: some seek, some avoid

Warm water, dry rice, playdough, a brush, a heavy pillow to crash into. Name the qualities: rough, heavy, cold, loud.

Before sit-down work, 3 minutes of animal walks or wall pushes. Many 'can't sit still' stories are underfed sensory systems.

Hands over ears, fleeing, or frantic dumping means too much. Dim, simplify, offer a cave (blanket, corner, quiet).

Everything in the mouth

Try: Your mouth is learning about this. This one is for chewing. This one stays in our hands.

Avoid: Gross. Take that out. Why are you always so messy?

They crash into people

Try: Your body wants heavy work. Let's push the wall / carry the books / do ten frog jumps. Then we use gentle in the group.

Avoid: Keep your hands to yourself. What's wrong with you?