“Play is the highest form of research.” - Albert Einstein

Beyond Screens: Re‑discovering the Power of Tactile Play

Experiencing with our Hands

Finger-painting, playdough, sandboxes, all things that were part of my childhood. All of them are tactile experiences. Imagine how much is missed out on if we rely too heavily on screens during childhood. There are many fine and gross motor skills that are naturally developed through play if given the opportunity.

Consider the difference, in the past the activities a child would use to entertain themselves would by its very nature be a chance to experience touch, pinching, pulling, grabbing and many more things that strengthen the body. Whereas most of the tech of today that we put in front of our children do not give that depth of experience.

Many things today are reduced to swiping on a two-dimensional flat screen and that has its impact as stated in this article. Childhood should be an opportunity to explore and experience a three-dimensional world. To know how to work with ones hands is a great skill to have and there are many ways to develop that skill. During my own childhood I played in the sandbox, tied knots, learned how to crochet, knit and hand-sew. I would hand screws to my Father when he was fixing something. I learned how to knead dough with my Mothers help.

I ask you to consider today, how many tactile experiences do the children around you have? Are their experiences only two-dimensional? And what can you do with them to help them learn a way to work with their hands?