Self - regulation
The brain is a big processing machine. It attempts to give meaning and make sense of all the information it receives from our bodies and the outside world, so we can respond to situations appropriately.
Sensory Integration is the process by which the brain organises and filters all this information from the senses – taste, sound, sight, touch, small, movement ( vestibular), gravity and body position (proprioception).
The brain locates and organises sensation a bit like a traffic policeman would direct traffic. If the brain gets muddled and disorganised like in a traffic jam, the brain can get stressed, a bit like being in constant rush hour.
Through physical play, children have the opportunity to organise the brain and the body. They repeat movements again and again in order to provide the brain with the sensation it needs, which enables them to increase their capacity for sensory integration.
Below are some useful links/documents that we use to inform practice at school, credit to the authors.