Sensory perception in children

When does each of my child's senses develop?

Your child's senses do not all develop at the same time or at the same rate. Even at birth, the different sensory abilities are developed to varying degrees.

Sight:

Sinneswahrnehmung bei Kindern | Baby mit Krümel im Arm

A child's sense of sight is still weakly developed at birth. At birth a newborn can only distinguish light-dark contrasts. In the first year of life, little ones do not see as sharply as adults, and it still takes a few years for the development of the visual sense in children to be fully completed. A well-developed sense of sight is important for orientation, assessing dangers and perceiving the environment.

Touch:

All touches that we perceive with our skin belong to the sense of touch – and this is already developed in the womb. Through experiences, children learn to differentiate and evaluate various touches such as strong pressure or gentle stroking. Differentiated touches with hands and feet are important for the development of fine and gross motor skills. In addition, loving touches play a decisive role in the development of the sense of touch – cuddling and hugging are good for you and your child!

Hearing:

Sinneswahrnehmung bei Kindern | Mädchen mit Zahnlücke, hört lachend über Kopfhörer

Unlike sight, newborns can already hear well. But only over time, when the toddler becomes acquainted with new sounds and auditory impressions, does the sense of hearing continue to develop. For example, children have to learn to locate sound sources — and that is not so easy! Children who do not hear well often have problems with speech development. If you notice anything unusual, have your child's hearing checked by a specialist.

Sense of smell:

The ability to smell is already formed in early pregnancy. Newborns can already smell very well, but they are mainly interested in the body odor of their parents, which gives them a feeling of security, and the smell of breast milk, which ensures their survival. The olfactory process is closely linked to memory — smells are associated with experiences and are thereby evaluated positively or negatively.

Sense of taste:

Sinneswahrnehmung bei Kindern | Asiatisches Mädchen riecht an Himbeere, in der Hand

The development of the sense of taste depends on a child's sense of smell. Everyone has experienced this: if you can't smell anything, you don't taste much either. Taste buds on the tongue already form in early pregnancy. Newborns can already taste sour, bitter and sweet; at about four months of age, babies can also perceive salty taste. By the age of three, the development of the sense of taste is complete. However, taste preferences will still change significantly over the years.

Sense of balance:

Sinneswahrnehmung bei Kindern | Kind versucht sein Gleichgewicht zu halten

The development of the sense of balance already begins in the womb. Here, shifts of the baby's head stimulate the balance organ. This is located in the inner ear. A well-developed sense of balance is important for a wide range of movements and for the overall development of the child.

When sensory perception is impaired - What parents can do

Don't despair: It is absolutely understandable that you worry about your child if you find that it is lagging behind in its development. Try to stay relaxed. Because first of all: every child develops at a different pace and sensory perception in children is no exception. In addition, perceptual disorders are relatively common in children. Often these 'initial difficulties' resolve on their own or can be remedied through targeted support.
Sensory games for children: Sensory games are a great way to focus perception on a specific sense — and they're not only fun for children. Playfully, children can train their sensory perception and thereby learn to perceive the environment more consciously.

Sinneswahrnehmung bei Kindern | Baby hält Holzring mit Rassel von HABA ans Ohr

See a doctor: If you are unsure whether your child is developing appropriately for their age, you should in any case see a pediatrician. They can tell you whether a support measure is appropriate and what it might look like.
If necessary, undergo therapy: Many perceptual disorders can be remedied or at least improved with the right methods. Occupational therapy or physiotherapy can, for example, help to train individual muscle groups specifically or to improve fine motor skills.

Checklist for parents:

You can support your child's sensory perception, but you cannot speed up development.
With play and fun, your child's senses develop almost by themselves. Involve your child in everyday life, let them help around the house: this trains perception, motor skills and much more.
Children's sensory perception is a process that takes place over several years. The senses do not develop at the same speed but each follows its own pace and course.
Children learn to get to know their senses over time and to use them purposefully.
Many children are affected by perceptual disorders. But don't worry — most problems can be managed with targeted support.