Discussion Prompts: Sensory Preferences

These prompts are designed to guide our kindergarteners in sharing their sensory experiences and preferences. Use these open-ended questions to encourage the children to think about how different sensations make them feel. Below are some discussion prompts along with space for student responses and follow-up questions.

Prompt 1: What is Your Favorite Sense?

• Teacher Instruction: Ask the students to share which of the five senses is their favorite (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch) and why.

Follow-Up Questions:

• Can someone share a specific time when that sense made them feel really good?
  
  
  

Student Response Space:

• My favorite sense is __________ because __________.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Prompt 2: How Do Your Senses Make You Feel?

• Teacher Instruction: Invite students to talk about a time when a sensory experience (like a soft sound or a bright color) made them feel a particular way (happy, calm, excited).

Follow-Up Questions:

• What did you do when you felt that way?
  
  
  

Student Response Space:

• When I experienced __________, I felt __________.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Prompt 3: What Sensory Experience Is Challenging?

• Teacher Instruction: Ask students to share if there are any sensory experiences that they find a little too much or challenging and how they cope with it.

Follow-Up Questions:

• How did you feel when you experienced that?
• What helped you feel better?
  
  
  

Student Response Space:

• Sometimes, I find __________ a bit challenging. It makes me feel __________, and I cope by __________.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Prompt 4: Can You Tell a Story About Your Senses?

• Teacher Instruction: Encourage students to share a short story about a sensory experience. This can be a time when a particular smell, sound, or texture made a moment special.

Follow-Up Questions:

• What was your favorite part of the story?
• How did your senses help you remember that moment?
  
  
  

Student Response Space:

• Once upon a time, I experienced __________ and it made me feel __________. I remember this because __________.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Teacher Tip: Ensure all students have a chance to speak and encourage empathy by reminding them to listen carefully to their peers. If a student is shy, consider having them share with a partner first before sharing with the whole group.

Feel free to adjust these prompts based on the needs and dynamics of your class. These questions are not only a way to explore sensory preferences but also a stepping stone toward understanding emotions and expressing feelings.

Happy discussing and exploring our sensory superpowers!

Sensorial Activity Kit for Kindergarten

This activity kit provides hands-on materials designed for kindergarteners to explore different textures, sounds, and smells. Through a series of exploratory activities, students will engage with a variety of sensory materials, helping them identify their sensory preferences and understand how these experiences make them feel.

What's Inside the Kit?

• Textures: A range of materials such as soft fabrics, bumpy surfaces, and smooth objects for tactile exploration.
  
  
  
• Sounds: Small instruments, rattles, and objects that produce gentle sounds to help students discern between different types of noise.
  
  
  
• Smells: Safe, mild scented items like cinnamon sticks, lavender sachets, and citrus peels for olfactory exploration.

Activity Instructions

1. Texture Exploration

• Objective: Identify how different textures feel and describe them in simple words.
• Instructions:
  • Spread out different textured materials on a table or floor area.
  • Invite the students to feel each one, encourage them to say if the material feels soft, rough, bumpy, or smooth.
    
    
    
  • Guiding Questions: What does this material feel like? Can you find something that is as soft as a teddy bear?

2. Sound Discovery

• Objective: Explore various sounds and correlate them with related feelings.
• Instructions:
  • Use small instruments or everyday objects to produce sounds (e.g., shaking a rattle, tapping on a box).
  • Encourage students to listen carefully and discuss if the sounds are soft, loud, rhythmic, or calming.
    
    
    
  • Guiding Questions: Which sound do you like the most? Does a soft sound make you feel calm?

3. Scent Sampling

• Objective: Discover different smells and the emotions they evoke.
• Instructions:
  • Present small containers with various scents.
  • Have students close their eyes, smell each container, and then describe the scent using simple adjectives like sweet, fresh, or spicy.
    
    
    
  • Guiding Questions: What scent makes you think of your favorite place? Which smell makes you feel happy?

Teacher Tips

• Rotate the stations so each student gets the opportunity to experience all sensory activities.
  
  
  
• Encourage students to share their feelings and describe what they experienced at each station.
  
  
  
• Ensure safety by checking all materials for any potential hazards and supervising the activities closely.

Reflection

After the activities, gather the students in a circle and ask them to share which station they enjoyed the most and why. This debriefing session will enhance group discussion and empathy, allowing everyone to learn from each other's sensory experiences.

Happy exploring your sensory superpowers!

Game Cards: Sensory Emotions (Printable Card Outlines)

Below is an ASCII-art layout showing each card as a rectangle. Print this page at 100% scale, cut along the outer borders, then separate each pair along the space between boxes.

+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| 👁️ 😊 | | 👁️ 😌 |
| Sight – Happy | | Sight – Calm |
+----------------------+ +----------------------+

+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| 👂 😊 | | 👂 🤩 |
| Hearing – Happy | | Hearing – Excited |
+----------------------+ +----------------------+

+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| 👃 😌 | | 👃 😊 |
| Smell – Calm | | Smell – Happy |
+----------------------+ +----------------------+

+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| 👅 😲 | | 👅 😊 |
| Taste – Surprised | | Taste – Happy |
+----------------------+ +----------------------+

+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| ✋ 🤩 | | ✋ 😌 |
| Touch – Excited | | Touch – Calm |
+----------------------+ +----------------------+

Enjoy exploring your sensory emotions! Each card shows the sense and emotion on one side for easy identification and discussion.

Sensory Storybook

A simple, engaging journey with Sammy the Squirrel to explore our five senses!

Page 1: Sight

Text:

Sammy the Squirrel loves to look at the world around him. He sees bright red apples on the tree, soft green moss on the rocks, and rainbow butterflies fluttering by. Everything around him shines with color!

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
What do YOU see that is your favorite color?

Page 2: Hearing

Text:

Sammy listens carefully. He hears the gentle rustle of leaves, the cheerful chirp-chirp of birds, and the whispering wind in the branches. Some sounds make him feel calm, while others make him smile!

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
What sounds do you hear around you? Which one is your favorite?

Page 3: Smell

Text:

Sammy takes a big sniff. He smells sweet strawberries, fresh pine needles, and a hint of warm sunshine on the earth. Each scent tells him a story about his forest home.

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
What is your favorite smell? How does it make you feel?

Page 4: Taste

Text:

Sammy nibbles on a juicy berry. It tastes tangy and sweet! Sometimes he tastes crunchy nuts, and other times he tastes juicy petals of wildflowers. Every bite is an adventure.

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
What is something you like to taste? Describe how it tastes.

Page 5: Touch

Text:

Sammy touches soft moss with his paws, rough bark on a tree trunk, and silky petals of a daisy. He loves feeling how different things feel under his little paws.

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
What textures do you like to touch? How do they feel?

Page 6: My Sensory Superpowers!

Text:

Sammy realizes his senses are his superpowers. They help him see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the wonderful world around him. What a special superhero inside each of us!

Illustration Cue:

Your Turn:
Which sense is your favorite superhero power, and why?

Parent Guide: Sensory Preferences

As your child explores the world, they rely on their five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—to learn, play, and grow. Every child has unique “sensory preferences,” meaning they may enjoy or avoid certain sights, sounds, textures, tastes, or smells. Understanding these preferences can help you support your child’s emotional well-being and daily routines at home.

What Are Sensory Preferences?

• Sensory Seekers love rich, strong sensory input. They might crave loud music, bright colors, or bumpy textures.
• Sensory Avoiders prefer gentler, quieter experiences. They may cover their ears during noisy events or shy away from sticky or rough surfaces.
• Balanced Responders enjoy a mix of sensory experiences and can usually adapt to new sensations with minimal stress.

Why Sensory Preferences Matter

• Emotional Regulation: When children get the right amount of sensory input—neither too much nor too little—they feel calm, focused, and secure.
• Behavioral Impact: Over- or under-stimulation can lead to tantrums, meltdowns, or withdrawal as children try to adjust their environment.
• Learning & Development: Recognizing preferences helps you create activities that engage your child, making learning more enjoyable and effective.

Observing Your Child’s Sensory Style

1. Take Notes: Keep a simple log for a few days. Jot down moments when your child seems very happy or upset because of a sensory experience (e.g., loud vacuum cleaner, scratchy sweater).
2. Ask & Listen: Use everyday moments—during meals, playtime, or bedtime—to ask questions like, “Do you like how this feels?” or “Is this too noisy?”
3. Look for Patterns: Over time, you’ll see which experiences bring joy and which cause discomfort.

Strategies to Support Sensory Preferences at Home

1. Create a Sensory Toolbox

Gather a small collection of your child’s favorite items—soft fabric swatches, noise-canceling headphones, scented playdough, or crunchy snacks—and keep them handy for comfort or play.

2. Build Sensory-Friendly Routines

• Calming Transitions: Before a potentially overwhelming activity (like grocery shopping), offer gentle sensory input: turn on quiet music or let your child squeeze a stress ball.
• Sensory Breaks: Schedule short breaks between tasks. A quick dance, jumping on a soft cushion, or sniffing a lavender sachet can reset energy levels.

3. Adapt Daily Activities

• Mealtime: If textures are challenging, offer crunchy and smooth options side by side so your child can choose what feels best.
• Bedtime: Use dim lighting and soft bedding to create a calming sleep environment. A favorite plush toy or white-noise machine might help.

4. Turn Learning into a Sensory Adventure

Incorporate sensory preferences into play and learning. For example, if your child loves textures, invite them to help with a craft using feathers, fabric, and sand. You can use ideas from the Sensorial Activity Kit for Kindergarten to spark inspiration.

When to Seek Additional Support

If your child’s sensory needs are significantly limiting daily activities or causing frequent distress, consider consulting:

• Pediatrician: Rule out medical issues such as hearing or vision concerns.
• Occupational Therapist: Specializes in sensory integration and can provide personalized strategies.
• Early Childhood Specialist: Offers guidance on adapting learning environments for sensory needs.

Remember: Every child’s sensory journey is unique. By observing, listening, and adapting, you can help your little one feel safe, supported, and ready to explore their world with confidence.

For more playful ways to connect senses and emotions, explore our Game Cards: Sensory Emotions. Happy exploring!

Sensory Emotion Feedback Chart

Use this chart to track how each student feels when they use their senses. Fill in a check (✔) or a brief note in each cell after the student shares their experience.

Student Name: __________________________ Date: _______________

Emotion \ Sense	Sight	Hearing	Smell	Taste	Touch
😊 Happy
😌 Calm
🤩 Excited
😲 Surprised
😞 Upset
😟 Worried
😣 Uncomfortable
🤒 Sick
😴 Tired
Other: __________

Teacher Observations / Notes:

Use this chart after sensory activities or discussions. Repeat for each student to build a profile of their sensory–emotion connections over time.

Sensory Like/Dislike Chart

Example Sensations:

• Soft Fabric: 👍 Like
• Loud Music: 👎 Dislike
• Sweet Smell (e.g., cookies): 👍 Like
• Scratchy Texture (e.g., wool sweater): 👎 Dislike

Use this chart to record each student’s reactions to different sensory experiences. Write the sensation in the left column, then check “Like” or “Dislike.”

Student Name: __________________________ Date: _______________

Teacher Notes / Observations:

Use this sheet after activities to quickly see which sensations each student enjoys or finds challenging.

Sensory Preference Questionnaire

Use this fun questionnaire to tell us which sensory activities you like!
Circle the happy face if you like it, circle the sad face if you don’t.

1. Sight

I love looking at bright colors and pretty pictures!
Circle how you feel: 😊 😞

2. Hearing

I enjoy listening to music, birds, and sounds around me!
Circle how you feel: 😊 😞

3. Smell

I like smelling flowers, yummy snacks, and fresh air!
Circle how you feel: 😊 😞

4. Taste

I love tasting sweet candies, sour fruits, and crunchy treats!
Circle how you feel: 😊 😞

5. Touch

I enjoy touching soft blankets, smooth stones, or bumpy toys!
Circle how you feel: 😊 😞

6. Something Else

Is there another sound, smell, taste, sight, or touch you like or don’t like?
Write it here: ________________
Circle: 😊 😞