Sensory Play: Art Develops Critical Thinking, Reasoning, and Fine Motor Skills

Creative Outlets like Art and Dramatic Play Stimulate Children's Brains with Reasoning, Critical Thinking, and Advancing Fine Motor Skills

Art is creativity in action. Creating and playing with art supplies is stimulating to our brains. Our imagination takes over while art helps develop critical thinking and fine motor skills. Everyone can play and learn with art, regardless of their socioeconomic status or level of education. Read on to learn!


Sensory Play: Art Develops Critical Thinking, Reasoning, and Fine Motor Skills


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When taught in preschool, art and sensory play help every child, no matter their family income, to learn on the same plane. In early childhood, art can level the playing field and aid in other academic areas.


Creative outlets such as art and dramatic play strengthen critical thinking skills. When a child is creating, they are also solving problems. Whether they make a simple choice of what color to use or they experiment with different mediums and techniques, children learn to strengthen problem-solving skills through creation.


art supplies for kids Art Develops Critical Thinking, Reasoning, and Fine Motor Skills
Art: Let them paint with no restraints. This is supposed to be a black bat box. :)


They learn to form shapes, to match colors, to highlight areas of particular interest as they bring their vision to life. As the work begins to take shape, the child works to improve fine motor skills building a sense of pride or self-confidence in their newly discovered abilities. Learn more about how the arts can help in education by visiting Americans for the Arts.




eco crayons art supplies for kids: art develops critical thinking. It is a great form of sensory play.

ecocrayons by eco-kids



Sensory play is an art form. When we use our senses to learn, it is easier to retain information. Creating with art supplies is an ideal form of sensory play.  The powder from chalk, the way the watercolor brush slides across the page, and the smell and feel of the modeling clay in a child’s hands develops a connection between learning and the five senses.


toys for sensory play
Encourage imaginative play with a Bilbo toy.


Unstructured, investigative play with common art supplies helps build and refine cognitive skills through problem solving. How does this marker work?  What will happen if I swirl the brush in a circle? How does water affect my painting?  

Fine motor skills are refined as the child learns to draw a straight line or manipulate the clay. The exploration of language evolves by using descriptive words. For example, the clay is cold, the chalk is dusty, and the paint is smooth. Learn more about sensory play and child development at PBS.org.



Recommended Reading:

Making Sense of Art: Sensory-Based Art Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders


Get a Bilbo Toy for Sensory Play


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Lora is a homeschooling mom, writer, creator of Kids Creative Chaos, and Director of the Play Connection.