Blog · 3 October 2026

Learning through all the senses: why touch, smell and sound matter before age five

Before a child can explain an idea, they have already felt it in their hands. Weight, warmth, texture, the sound a spoon makes on a metal bowl: this is how very young children build their first understanding of the world.

The hundred languages

The Reggio Emilia approach, which inspires our teaching, speaks of the “hundred languages of children”. Children express and test ideas through drawing, building, movement, music and play, not only through words. A rich environment gives them more of those languages to use.

Touch: real materials, not plastic copies

A wooden block is heavier at one end than the other. Clay changes as it dries. A ceramic cup is cool and can break, so it is carried with care. Real materials give honest feedback, and that feedback is what builds fine motor control, problem-solving and respect for the tools we use every day.

That is why our rooms are furnished with real wood play materials, ceramic tea sets, metal utensils and natural loose parts: pine cones, shells, stones and fabric. Plastic toys tend to do one thing. Open-ended materials can be a bridge, a cake or a counting set by lunchtime.

Calm, not over-stimulated

More is not better for young senses. Rooms crowded with bright primary colours, flashing toys and constant noise can leave children overwhelmed rather than curious. We use natural colours drawn from wood, sand, clay and leaves, soft lighting and plenty of daylight, so the room stays calm and the things worth noticing stand out: the leaves on the table, the colours in a child’s own painting. Without background noise, children hear the rain stick, the story and each other.

Breathing outdoors

The senses come fully alive outside: the smell of soil after watering, wind on the skin, the crunch of leaves underfoot. Our children spend time every day in our 10,000 sq ft of outdoor space and real garden, planting, digging and watching things grow.

What this looks like at home

You do not need special equipment. A tray of dried beans and spoons, a bowl of water with a sponge, or a walk to collect three different leaves will give your child more to think about than most toys.

Come and see how it looks in our rooms. Book a tour.