The Two Forgotten Senses – Start Noticing These Senses With Your Child | Terra Minds

Did you know?

Apart from the five basic senses - sight, olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), tactile (touch), and auditory (hearing), we have two other senses, related to body movement. The vestibular and proprioceptive systems are the two senses that are frequently overlooked. These two senses are key to our children’s development as they use them to make sense of the world around them.

Check out our previous post on the five senses. 

Vestibular

Supports children’s body coordination and their sense of balance (for walking, jumping, etc.)

Proprioceptive

Supports children’s body awareness in relation to the environment (e.g. sense of direction, distance from obstacles, physical effort needed to complete a task)

What Are We Doing At Terra Minds?

Research suggests that children learn the most effectively through movement and exploring with their bodies. Our hands-on science and robotics programmes incorporate opportunities for children to exercise all of their senses, including their vestibular and proprioceptive systems. 

For example, movement activities incorporated in our Junior Robotics Programme help children understand the concept of directions - an important concept in robotics and also a crucial life skill.

What Can You Do?

Start simple! Here are some comments and questions you can say/ask to bring your children’s attention to their vestibular and proprioceptive systems:

• Vestibular System

  • “You are jumping on the sofa. How does it feel as compared to jumping on the floor?” (Concept: Materials; Forces)

  • “How do you feel when you are on the swing?” (Concept: Gravity)

  • “How did you manage to walk to the tree with your eyes closed?” (Concept: Spatial awareness)

• Proprioceptive System

  • “That looks like a steep step. I wonder how high do you have to lift your foot so it lands right on the next step?” (Concept: Measurement)

  • “What do you see on your left/right?” (Concept: Spatial awareness)

  • “How did it feel going down the steeper slide?” (Concept: Speed)

To get started, download this free template and bring it along for your next sensory walk in the neighborhood!

Here's an example:

Sources/Additional Readings:

• Stevens-Smith, D. (2016). Active Bodies/Active brains: The relationship between physical engagement and children's brain development. Physical Educator, 73(4), 719-732. 

• The Effect of Integrating Movement into the Learning Environment of Kindergarten Children on their Academic Achievements | SpringerLink

• The Sixth and Seven Senses: The Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems (eyaslanding.com)