Calm in the Chaos: The Brain-Building Power of Sensory Play

By Jessie

Messy sensory play, like making slime or finger painting, can sometimes look like chaos, but powerful brain-building is taking place beneath the gloop and glitter.

Sensory input lights up the lower parts of the brain, specifically the brainstem and limbic system, which are areas that help process emotions and control our basic survival responses, like fight, flight, or freeze. The level of our emotional reaction depends on how the brain interprets that input: is this safe or is it a threat?

When a child is engaging in messy play and safely exploring a variety of sensations (textures, sights, scents, sounds), the hands-on experience offers the brain a chance to practice responding. Over time, repeated messy play opportunities strengthen the brain pathways that support the child in navigating big or overwhelming feelings.

Every time a child buries their hands in shaving foam or covers their toes in sand, they are learning about how their body responds to different sensations and how to manage the emotions that come with them. This helps expand their Window of Tolerance, which is their nervous system’s ability to handle big emotions without becoming overwhelmed.

Just as muscles strengthen with use, the brain strengthens with use of repeated messy play, with each session helping children handle big feelings with more ease over time.

During summer, when routines often change, many children may experience an increase in dysregulation. There may be more meltdowns, clinginess, trouble sleeping, or just seeming off. Messy play can provide a predictable, calming respite from this.

Even more powerful is when a loving caregiver is involved in the activity, offering a calm and focused presence. Being grounded and emotionally attuned with the child during the mess and unpredictability of the play models how to cope in the face of stress. Bit by bit, the child learns from the caregiver’s responses. These shared moments of connection, even while elbow-deep in gloop or covered in bubble mixture, do not just soothe the child in the moment. They form the building blocks of long-term emotional resiliency. The child’s nervous system learns, “When things feel chaotic, I can find safety and regulation. First with you and eventually on my own.”

While messy play might sometimes feel intimidating, it is a powerful tool that lays the foundation for long-lasting emotional resilience. Each crunch, crackle, and squish helps the child build the tools they will use to manage stress, handle overwhelming feelings, and stay grounded for years to come.

Why not try some more this summer?