Any activity that engages our senses is a type of sensory play. Along with the five commonly spoken about senses– touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste– there are three additional senses.


The vestibular sense refers to balance and movement; our awareness of the body’s position in relation to gravity. Proprioception is an awareness of our body’s position in space; these signals come from our muscles and joints. Interoception refers to our perception of our body’s internal state– how we feel.

Engaging all eight senses during sensory play helps us develop motor skills, cognitive growth, language skills and social-emotional skills.