Here at The Children's Trust we believe it is vital to give the children and young people we support as many opportunities as possible to have sensory experiences, to help build their understanding of their world and to enrich their lives.
The role the senses have in building neural pathways is an important means of promoting recovery and learning after brain injury. It also a key factor in promoting brain development in young children generally.
There are many ways to provide such stimulation, from specialist multi sensory rooms, to simple everyday tasks like washing your hands with scented soap. Sensory stories – stories that engage the senses – are another such tool.
Usually there are just a few sentences in the story and each one is paired with something tangible – for example ice with the word ‘cold’. As the story relies on more than just the written or spoken word, they are fully inclusive and accessible for the children and young people we support with sensory or physical impairments.
Moreover sensory stories are great fun!