Occupational Therapy’s Role in Sensory Play Education in Daycare Setting

Sensory integration involves individuals’ ability to interpret and understand their sensations to optimize their ability to participate in daily activities. Sensory integration begins at the beginning of a child’s life and continues developing and changing as individuals grow. Early childhood education is a crucial part of development, health, and the child’s overall well-being. The purpose of my capstone experience was to explore and educate the staff on the importance of sensory play. Three approaches were utilized throughout this capstone experience to provide the staff with a wide array of activities. These included observations to understand how the center completed their daily routine, staff education through educational resources such as handouts, PowerPoints, tutorials, etc., and qualitative interviews to gain an overall well-rounded understanding of their knowledge. This capstone experience demonstrates the importance of sensory play throughout an early childhood setting